Kevin Sabet, a former Senior Advisor in President Obama’s drug policy office, conscientiously examines the socio-economic consequences of marijuana policies, the ideological underpinnings confusing the issues at hand, and the intractable “myths” concerning marijuana that disallow for successful civic progress. Using meticulous and plentiful research, Sabet demonstrates how the dichotomous, oppositional stances taken in the marijuana debate―“legalization” on the one hand, “incarceration” on the other―are both flawed and merely hinder our ability to find better possible solutions.
There are other, smarter methods for reform than either full-fledged legalization or tactless incarceration, and before committing ourselves to either, such possibilities should be brought to public awareness. It is high time we all begin thinking sanely about marijuana.