Judge Jim Gray on The Six Groups Who Benefit From Drug Prohibition

In 1992, Jim Gray, a conservative judge in conservative Orange County, California, held a press conference during which he recommended that we rethink our drug laws. Back then, it took a great deal of courage to suggest that the war on drugs was a failed policy.

Today, more and more Americans are coming to the realization that prohibition's costs—whether measured in lives and liberties lost or dollars wasted—far exceed any possible or claimed benefits.

Reason.tv's Paul Feine interviewed Gray about drug policy and the prospects for reform. The interview was shot by Alex Manning and edited by Hawk Jensen.

Judge Jim Gray is the author of Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs.

Approximately 8.30 minutes.

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  News & Politics

[leetstyle]

I really like this guy.

[Steve Svelti]

i wonder if he smokes

[Mike Smith]

There are so many good reasons for ending prohibition, what would you do with harder drugs?

[Dana Brown]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about the rest of us who aren't high on religion. No offense intended--I'm sure you didn't mean any either--but there is more than one answer. Some of my religious friends smoke pot and some don't. The same applies to my non-religious friends. I think it should properly be a personal choice similar to alcohol, vegetarianism, etc.

[Dana Brown]

I'm not into forcing anyone to do anything, but I hear you!

[Dana Brown]

We win the war one battle at a time, friend.

[prentiss johnston]

dam ''johnkopp71'' is a ignorant prick didn't he watch the video at all almost half of are money that should be used to get real criminals is used to fuck with people that smoke weed, he must live under the sea because all that's on hes page is videos of fish, or hes a cop or corrections-officer or someone-else that profits from keeping it illegal. 

[johnkopp71]

if you want to get high then treat yourself like you care . Eat Real Food , have real friends that you trust , love a GOD that is peaceful ... this will get you higher than any drug ....

[johnkopp71]

would it really be fun to "get high" if you had to go to wallgreens to buy it. and who wants to give the feds more money....you stoners might think more than the zombies but still seem to be missing the fact that (a) gmo's are poisoning you (b) the water is poisoning you (c) all the violence and shit you watch is poisoning your mind....

[TeddyLeper]

Judge Gray is a miracle in a world full of lying politicians.

[zombihunta delboy]

GOVERNMENT'S A JOKE WHY THE FUCK DO PEOPLE PAY THEM MONEY LISTEN TO THEM YOU MUST BE SCARED OF LIFE

REALITY CHECK YOUR BORN YOU LIVE AND DIE

AND YOU WILL DIE WHENEVER BUT WHO CARES WE ALL DIE

TO BE SCARED OF THIS IS TO DENY REALITY YOUR LIFE GET REAL

[zombihunta delboy]

YOU THE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE IN FORCE BUT NON VIOLENCE YOU NEED TO MAKE YOU OWN LEGISLATIONS AND RULES LAWS SO ON DONT PAY YOUR GOVERNMENT TAX KEEP IT FOR SELF IF HUMANS DO THIS ON MASS THEN THINGS WILL CHANGE

GET YOUR MONEY OUT THE BANKS PAY YOUR POLICE HOSPITALS FIRE STATIONS SEPARATE YOU DON'T NEED TO PAY TO GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR YOUR LOYAL HUMANS WHO WILL NOT MANIPULATE THERE POWER

JUST DON'T PAY THE GOVERNMENT DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY THAT'S A GOOD START BUT ALL HUMANS NEED TO DO THIS