New York Times Speaks Up for Legalization

We were excited to see the New York Times’ endorsement of legal marijuana in their Sunday Editorial Repeal Prohibition, Again.  In its brief position statement, the NYT Editorial Board boldly states:  “It has been more than 40 years since Congress passed the current ban on marijuana, inflicting great harm on society just to prohibit a substance far less dangerous than alcohol.”  The article advocates legalization on the federal level, giving states the responsibility to regulate marijuana.

Supporting their argument, the editorial board cites to the systemic racial inequality in marijuana prosecution and criminal enforcement (unduly affecting young black men).  The article also discredits the unsubstantiated concerns that marijuana is a "gateway" drug and acknowledges that addiction and dependency of marijuana pales in comparison to alcohol and tobacco.

The newspaper plans to print six articles addressing specific issues pertinent to the legalization of marijuana, including Sunday’s Let States Decide on Marijuana and The Injustice of Marijuana Arrests.