From: Jim Rosenfield <[j n r] at [igc.apc.org]> Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs Date: 07 Oct 94 16:10 PDT Subject: Wm Safire for MJ Decrim From: Jim Rosenfield William Safire Favors Marijuana Decriminalization October 5, 1994 by Jim Rosenfield At the Annual Seminar for customers and friends of Ervin, Cohen and Jessup, a large legal firm in Los Angeles, Mr. William Safire, distinguished columnist for the New York Times delivered the afternoon talk, in place of Mr. William Buckley, who was the scheduled speaker (Buckley had taken ill only hours before the talk and we were very fortunate to have gotten Safire). Mr. Safire delivered an enjoyable prognostication about our near term political realities, who's going to win and why. As one might expect, this self-described "Libertarian Conservative" writer favors a Republican landslide in November. During the question and answer session which followed the talk, one of the questioners characterized the event as a "Republican pep rally". I had the unique opportunity to query his views and he made a remarkable reply which is the central point of this brief notice, "Mr. Safire, one of William Buckley's most recent essays calls for the immediate dismantling of the drug war apparatus -- he calls for an end to drug prohibition, calling the effects 'disastrous', and famous Republican figures such as George Schultz, Milton Friedman and Patrick Buchanan favor similar measures. This is at odds with the strongly held views of other powerful Republicans such as Reagan, Bush, Dole and many others. Given this split, what policy do you favor, and what chance is there to create a humane drug policy in this country?" Mr. Safire, who was not as quick to reply to this as he had been to some of the other questions, replied that he favors decriminalization of marijuana use and commerce, but not of other drugs. When asked if he favors continuing the present policy of criminal prosecution, even though there is broad agreement that it is not working, he responded, "We can't give up the policy just because it does not work 100%. If it is somewhat successful, it is better than abdicating". When asked, "Since tobacco kills over 400,000 Americans each yer and alcohol kills over 150,000 compared to the 4,000 who die of illicit drugs, would you then favor prohibition of cigarettes and liquor?" he replied, "Of course not". A special treat for California voters -- Mr. Safire did not show overwhelming enthusiasm for California candidate for senator, Michael Huffington. When asked what he thought of him Safire replied, "It would be nice to have a Republican majority." He also predicted that if Pete Wilson wins in California he will be the probable front runner for the Republican candidate for president in 1996.