The American Spectator

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Second, the examples of police confiscation and other evils seem compelling, but is the whole picture representative? Or is it more of a cherry-picked caricature of the country's war on illegal substances? Are these the outliers rather than the mean? Miller relies, for the most part, on published, credible sources, but journalists can be spun. Sometimes the "victims" of the war on drugs are less innocent than they make out.

Third, would legalizing really deprive terrorists of funds? Or would they simply move on to supplying other restricted goods, the list of which is nearly endless?

Fourth, what role should government play in private lives? Should it ever step in and say "enough"? Purists may say no but most would admit that the answer to the question is not self-evident.

Miller's gradual legalization may be worth a shot to study the effects. But it would have to be on a very local level and relatively contained. Maybe allow Alaskans to smoke pot and go from there. But, as the last few years' worth of initiative losses show, and Miller recognizes, our country is very far from being willing to legalize drugs. And I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

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