Legal Commentary

Drugs, Inc. Airing on National Geographic Channel

By Jeralyn

The National Geographic has a new series for TV, Drugs, Inc. Tonight there's a meth episode, followed by one on heroin and one on medical marijuana.

The description of the meth and heroin episodes sound like they were produced by the DEA. I'd rather watch The Bachelorette.

As for the marijuana episode , we'll have to wait and see. The fact page is a little less slanted. Although I don't think the statement "cannabis polarizes public opinion" is demonstrated by the two examples given: "cannabis revolutionaries trying to legitimize the plant" vs "law enforcement is trying to wipe it off the planet." Public opinion doesn't appear to be polarized, and I don't think the views of law enforcement or activists qualify as "public opinion." Public opinion can be affected by the views of both groups, but neither constitute "public opinion" let alone a major segment of it.

They also will be featuring cartel violence in the marijuana segment. Will they explore alternatives like legalization to reduce the profit motive and interest of the cartels? Is there anything in this series on the misguided approach of our government to drug issues?

One note on the meth segment: Meth production in Mexico and other countries is way up because we drove it there when we passed the law limiting how many cold pills you could buy. The law didn't stop meth use, and it didn't stop meth production. It just shifted the location of the meth labs.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 12, 2010 (boomark / email).