People have strong opinions on legalizing pot and against legalizing pot. I personally don’t give a rat’s a*s if someone wants to put that crap into their bodies. As long as it doesn’t directly affect me, then I say, get high. What can’t be argued though is the tremendous amount of tax revenue that legalizing pot generated in Colorado. In the state of Washington, legalized pot means smaller budgets for police. That doesn’t mean everyone should go out and form a choomgang like Obama, but it’s welcome news to those who advocate for smaller government. Of course, the best anti-pot ad might just be a young Obama drugging out in high school.
In Washington’s Snohomish County, legalization means that the local drug task force is faced with a 15% budget cut. The task force’s commander, Pat Slack, is an outspoken critic of legalization, which he says will mean less money for overtime, training and new equipment.
Law enforcement is an essential part of a functioning society. At first glance, then, some might be tempted to agree with Slack’s criticism of legalization.