malum_prohibitum

Carmen, perhaps you're being a little too sanctimonious. This question, posed publicly to Mike, comes off pretty passive aggressive. Just because "nobody HERE has raised the question" does not mean "nobody cares."

You introduce yourself as "acclaimed" so perhaps it is just your condescension that has limited the responses and attention you are fighting for. And I don't say attention in the sense that I believe you are searching for personal attention but attention to the issue of violence as a result of horribly selfish and self defeating anti drug laws in the USA. I want what you want: an end to a disastrous "war" that has done so much more harm than any drugs ever could. But maybe you'll catch a few more flies with honey than with self righteous vinegar.

When people are too caught up in the personalities and credit, we often miss a chance to make a real difference in our world.

My criticism aside, thank you both for trying to bring this fight to an end.

I believe we're starting to see a real shift in this country away from the mentality that we should legislate morality and dictate how people live their lives. Basically, I believe the country is starting to get a bit more socially liberal. See marijuana reform in numerous states and the SCOTUS Obergefell decision. In a truly democratic vote of the people, I think we might see an end to the "war on drugs." But we live in a republic. And from both sides of the aisle, it really seems like we don't yet have national politics ready for that kind of change. How do we change that? How do regular citizens make this a cause their representatives are forced to take up?