theFreshScent picked up this odd story from Vermont.
Mayor wants death penalty for drug dealers

Barre, Vermont Mayor Thomas Lauzon is proposing a radical new solution to his state’s drug problem. He wants to legalize marijuana and begin executing crack and heroin dealers.

Mayor Lauzon explains, “What social value do they have? They are dealing crack and heroin to young people, knowing full well what the effects will be. What purpose do they serve in society other than to destroy lives, to destroy families?”

In response, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has indicated an appreciation for the death penalty in some circumstances, but has flatly rejected the legalization of marijuana using the “gateway” argument.

The Times Argus quoted the Governor’s office as stating that Douglas would oppose legalization of marijuana. “He’s not unalterably opposed to the death penalty, but he doesn’t have any plans to introduce it. There are some circumstances he would support a death penalty, but I’m not sure this is among them. Marijuana is a gateway drug for some folks, so he would not support legalization.”

Of course, marijuana is not a “gateway drug,” but the argument just refuses to die. Whether you understand the difference between correlation and causation or you go the long way and examine the data, the gateway theory always falls quickly. The problem is that it never stays down. ‘Gateway’ is resuscitated whenever a prohibitionist needs a trump card because he is incapable or unwilling to address the issue rationally. It is unfortunate that there are no journalists willing to challenge this nonsense.

Vermont will not be sending crack dealers to the gallows any time soon, but that doesn’t mean that Mayor Lauzon will lose. On the contrary, Lauzon has already won the prize he really sought – free media. Congratulations, Mr. Mayor.