Fmr Labor Sec Reich: Which federal policy MOST needs nixing? "Pot prohibition."

[Fly by night]

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/k2oel/im_robert_reich_former_secretary_of_labor_author/

Former Labor Secretary Voices Support For Marijuana Legalization

Berkeley, CA: Former United States Labor Secretary Robert Reich voiced his strong support for ending the criminal prohibition of cannabis during an online forum.

Reich was asked by an audience member, "If you could eliminate a single federal regulation and replace it with some other regulation (or nothing at all), what would it be and why?"

Former Labor Secretary (under Clinton) Robert Reich responded, "I'd start by legalizing marijuana."
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The Berkeley online forum didn’t provide much of an opportunity for Dr. Reich to elaborate. (If anyone can find more from him on this issue, please post it here.) But obviously, on the morning after President Obama’s jobs speech, it is useful to consider what a former LABOR secretary (and a damned good one) ranked as his own top priority for ending federal regulations (that clearly hurt jobs). I am thankful for Robert Reich’s learned (and reality-based) recommendation. From my perspective, it was "enough said." (Sometimes, short really is sweet.)

As someone unemployed in my field for going on a decade as the result of admitting to a cannabis-related offense, I couldn’t represent the wisdom of that recommendation more. Unfortunately, until pot prohibition ends, there will be 800,000+ more of me each and every year, people who will suddently find that their ability to remain employed or to seek a job is severely (and perhaps permanently) impaired by an illegal smile.

Support jobs (the ones we have and the ones we’d like to have again).
End the war on science, common sense, compassion, AND jobs.
Free cannabis.

[Fly by night]

1. A quick Google search finds much pick-up of this interview, but not much else.

Since Dr. Reich is a frequent commenter on Sunday morning talk shows, I would gladly donate a bushel of butternut squash to my state Democratic party to see someone ask him on one of those programs to elaborate on his statement. One way or the other, Dr. Reich needs to write an op-ed piece on why he chose pot prohibition as the first place to start vis a vis regulatory reform.

[Fly by night]

2. As I head out to my Garden, can I get an "amen!"?

This is a beautiful (clear, crisp) early morning in my deep hollow home, and a great day to transplant buttercrunch and romaine lettuce and broccoli seedlings into their fall Garden beds.

My thanks to Dr. Reich for his comments.

And to DU for providing one of the best places on the internest (meant to type "internets" but I like "-nest" also) to broadcast them.

Have a great day, all y'all.