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 <jnr>

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.