Yes, Stretching the Truth Is Really Lying

A favorite political ploy is to exaggerate a simple fact to its ridiculous extreme for effect. Stretching the truth is problematic because once stretched it can never regain its original shape. Many single-issue opponents of a universal liberty can be so perverted that it begins to seem like the ultimate evil. 

One example of political exaggeration is the common argument against Libertarian candidates that they are all just potheads looking to legalize marijuana and get high. When you think about a group of people passing around a joint, we have been conditioned by movies and the media to consider it more irresponsible than passing around a bottle of booze. I’m not sure this is really about removing marijuana as a DEA Schedule 1 Drug as much as it is about the underlying belief that punishing victimless crimes is an infringement on our personal liberties. It is hard to justify that alcohol is legal, and marijuana is not. The punishable crime is when either of those substances or any other action by an individual causes harm or injury to another person.

Public opinion is shifting toward a more libertarian view of marijuana use. Politifact reports that there are 14 polls over the past two years that show support for legalization of marijuana. All but two of those polls showed an absolute majority of respondents favored legalization. We have come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness propaganda, but that does bring up the consideration that marijuana is considered by many to be a gateway to hard drugs and addiction. Actually, one of the benefits of legalization is that it offers the opportunity to look at the whole spectrum and do research on other drugs. When asked if all drugs should be legalized, Gary Johnson said no, but he would like to conduct studies and treat it as a medical problem instead of a criminal problem. Mandatory sentences and incarceration is not the answer.

Wait for it… the pothead memes are already on the drawing board, and the name callers will attack with a vengeance when this topic hits the presidential debates. I’m probably going to have a few friends raising eyebrows at me as well… even though I’ve never used pot and would prefer it that my kids don’t do it either. Is this being a hypocrite? I don’t think so. I believe that any responsible adult should be able to decide on what they put in their body and the government shouldn’t criminalize their behavior for doing it. To be productive as a contributor in our society, there must be restraint from impairment when doing important things like driving a car, doing a job, or raising children. That view is not inconsistent with the Libertarian Party Platform plank on decriminalization of victimless offenses: “Therefore, we favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.”

There will be those who will have a different opinion than I do. Isn’t that great? We can debate issues based on facts and search for solutions that benefit everyone.