Curious Incidents of a Flailing Mermaid

Let them eat cake

30DBC - 10th Jan - Prompt: This week, New York State opened its first medical marijuana dispensaries  . Should governments support the decriminalization of marijuana in small amounts for recreational users as well?

Typical, I got myself all up to date then had a few bad days of either pain, frustration and/or "I just cannot be fucked". Anyway, I believe I have four prompts to catch up with, then I'll do a personal update too. Although, there isn't too much to tell. I'm listening to Sarah McLachlan though - depending on how well you know me, this should tell you all you need to know

Invalid Photo #1043534

Funnily enough, on Sunday, Chris and I watched {x-link:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125653/} The House I Live In{x-link}...

From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.

It's not 100% connected to this prompt, but it was an interesting film so I figured I'd throw it out there:

In the past 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world's largest jailer, and destroyed impoverished communities at home and abroad.

The war on drugs has never been about drugs.

In terms of the prompt, I think its pretty simple if we compare the USA and the Netherlands...

Two of the main points of The Netherlands' drug policies are: To reduce harm to users, and to diminish public nuisance by drug users (the disturbance of public order and safety in the neighborhood).
Whereas, in most other countries, the view is that recreational drug use is detrimental to society and must therefore be outlawed.

You could say that the Netherlands is just weak willed in its policy making. Perhaps, to some degree they are. But, check out these statistics:

In 2009.....

Lifetime prevalence of marijuana use
41.5% for USA
25.7% for the Netherlands

Past year prevalence of marijuana use
11.3% for USA
7.0% for the Netherlands

Lifetime prevalence of heroin use
1.5% for USA
0.5% for the Netherlands

Prison Population Rate per 100,000 population(2011)
716 for USA
82 for the Netherlands

Homicide rate per 100,000 population(2012)
4.7 for USA
0.9 for the Netherlands


On this basis, my answer is simple:

Let them eat [pot] cake
It won't be "naughty"
Therefore, less of a thrill

= less people bothering/getting in trouble for it