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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• drugs
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• drug reform
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• prohibition
• war on drugs
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[Gatch2149]

This needs to go viral. I ask everyone who likes this video to post it on their blogs, twitters, face book accounts, and what-ever else you can think of. I'm tiered of seeing the senseless destruction of our forests, senseless death, senseless arrests, senseless prison sentences that turn non-violent people into criminals, depriving them of so many liberties our country has to offer. So please, post a link to everyone you know, do it for the lives and futures of so many people, and our liberty.

[AAPJEE21]

im from holland, its true @ 7:50

7:17 is not true. u must me 18+ for weed and hash.

dunno about 7:33...

greetz :)

[GoDrex]

Obama's actions (and inaction) regarding marijuana are extremely telling as to what's up in this country and the massive system that depends on it being illegal. It just works so much better when it's illegal. Making sense that it shouldn't be illegal just doesn't factor into it. I honestly believe that no one that would legalize drugs could be elected president. Even if everyone intellectually understand why it should happen, who is going to be that one that unplugs that massive machine?

[GoDrex]

Makes too much sense. We don't do that.

[ChrisGhysel]

He forgot the pharmaceutical industry, the paper industry, the cotton industry, the oil companies, the plastic industry, etc etc...

[vierge99]

The facts aren't enough. The media and people in general are learning the lessons that Jim Gray is teaching but no change is happening. Too much profit in the hands of people making decisions gauruntees it will never be legal.

[shavluk]

well he was making this speech I was waiting for jail as I was framed for 8 grams of cannabis for speaking out about native abuse by police

its been a long long road...and soon over I think !

[someguy131415]

hes so right

[cblazer]

Most people i know are only teetering between den and republican because of drug reform and gay marriage. What would one say to convince potential dems to cross over?

[sativasymbiosis]

@randomlyunknown2012 The overdose and murder rates went up considerably? Did you know that? What happened when alcohol prohibition was repealed? Overdoses went down and the murder rate dropped. Two tiny facts out of many that you are omitting.

[NPertinaci]

i love you judge jim gray

[ponsuelo420]

@Gatch2149 I intervied him last year, he is extremely intelligent and very cool!!