Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense

Legalizing marijuana may be politically risky. But the economic benefits are becoming difficult to ignore

Illustration by Stephen Kroninger for TIME

Correction Appended: April 16, 2009

For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp. In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age — say, 80 — all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give you our driver's licenses. (I mean, can...

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