I read an interesting article in the Christian Post about Christians for the legalization of marijuana. It mentioned that the White House online petition tool has the biggest response from those who want to repeal the federal restriction on cannabis, over 30,000 signatures (electronic) in the first few days. It also claimed that legalization was the Christian thing to do to alleviate harsh sentencing and penalties.

I’ve been wrestling with this question lately, and not because I’m a pot smoker. I’m not, and I have no intention or desire to start smoking marijuana. But I’m struggling with how to justify that alcohol can be legal in the “freest” nation on earth, while cannabis is a federal crime. There is some logical flaw there somewhere.

We experimented with prohibition in the first part of the last century, and it was a disaster! Americans rebelled against being treated like children, and organized crime became wildly successful and enriched as they were willing to flout the law to sell booze to willing customers. Many politicians, law enforcement officers, judges, and other community leaders partook in hidden speakeasies or moonshine operations.

The courts and prison system were overwhelmed with cases from raids of illegal bars and lounges, filled with “criminals” with no other record of crimes but drinking illegal alcohol. The criminals who were invested in the illegal booze trade became violent about defending or expanding their territory, as it was so lucrative and the customer base was so large.

After three years of this disaster, America came to its senses and repealed the 18th amendment to the Constitution with the 22nd Amendment. The ONLY Constitutional Amendment to ever be repealed, because it was so harmful to American society.

So… how much different is the issue of cannabis? The reason I struggle is that the two are so similar, and if alcohol is legal for adults, why is pot a major no-no? Again, I’m not advocating because I want it, I’m asking a question because I don’t have a good answer.

I see how much we spend on enforcement, prosecution, mandatory sentencing, and prisons, and I wonder why we are expending such a huge amount of capital and manpower on such a ridiculous double-standard. I see how violent street gangs and international drug rings are enriched by trade in a substance that has similar characteristics and effects as legal alcohol and I wonder why we are pouring money into the criminal world?

Just today, another tunnel was found under the US border with 30 tons of pot being transported when it was discovered. How much had gone through each day before it was found? Who was profiting from it, and who is purchasing it?

Now, I don’t like alcoholism or drug addiction, and I don’t personally know anyone who I am aware is addicted to any sort of drugs, but I do know dozens of people who drink alcohol occasionally and never get drunk or drive impaired. There are millions of people who can take a drink and not spend the rent money away. Conversely , there are horrible abuses out there as well. But do we hold individuals responsible for their behavior, or do we just ban anything with the potential for abuse?

Then we shouldn’t have paint, guns, cars, heavy machinery, glass, cooking knives, transfats (oh, that’s right, we already banned that one), cholesterol, pizza or twinkies. I had a heart attack two years ago from eating a fatty diet and choosing not to exercise for 20 years of my adult life. Is it my fault, or is it the food makers? I knew somewhere in the back of my head that I was eating things that were not the best, but I wasn’t disciplined enough to change my habits. And I had to pay the consequences.

See, the thought of banning dangerous substances is like a parent trying to put his child in a bubble so nothing bad will ever happen. It doesn’t teach them responsibility or awareness. God didn’t even do that at the beginning of creation!!! In the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden, God puts the most dangerous substance available right in there with all the good stuff He made.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was a radioactive, nuclear bomb just waiting to explode all over Adam and Eve. All they had to do was reach out and take it. It was readily available and worse, it was FREE! (No, I am not advocating free pot or booze.)

If God in His infinite wisdom and goodness gave mankind that kind of choice, is government any wiser to try to make illegal anything potentially harmful? I think some safety guidelines are wise, building codes are probably a good idea so our homes and workplaces don’t fall in on us and kill us. I appreciate the yellow line on the road that tells the other driver to stay on their side and not drive into me. I guess I am just wrestling with where the line should be drawn.

As my kids get older, I am more and more allowing them to make their own choices and enjoy the rewards or suffer the consequences of their decisions. As a loving father, I want them to learn individual responsibility, by letting them experience life. I give them counsel and direction, but more and more I am letting go of control. If I don’t, I will stunt their growth as adults and they will be worse off in the long run.

Where should government draw the line in regulating the populace? In Europe, they monitor your garbage and fine you for not recycling! Is that too far? But, on the same continent, heroine is legal!

At the very least, the federal government should return decisions on regulating marijuana to the states, as suggested by, of all places, National Review Online.

I am not taking a black and white position on the issue of legalization for marijuana, I’m just sharing with you the logical wrestling match that I go through more and more as I look at our current policy and it’s effects on individuals, law enforcement, border issues, prison reform, and tax policy.

It just gnaws at my mind and heart that there has got to be a better way…..