"Decriminalize" not "Legalize"
Pete Guthier blogging from the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference quotes Eric Sterling’s presentation:
Many reformers have a problem with the word "decriminalization." However, from his perspective, the definition of decriminalization has potentially undergone some change.
Original: Decriminalization means a minor sanction, users won't be punished by we'll still go after the traffickers. That doesn't make sense.
However, new thought:
Using the word "legalization" puts the burden on the legalizer to define how that will be accomplished.
But new version of "decriminalization" puts burden of proof on the status quo to answer: Why should the state punish drug use? What in the conduct of drug users merits punishment?
I’ve tried to make the same point myself several times, most recently, in the last paragraph of this post. Every day at work in Austin, as a practicing criminal defense lawyer I know that the language we use makes a big difference when we are trying to persuade…
