Bus LXXVIII

Jack: The Head’s really taking some heat for this marijuana thing

Louisa: Good. It’s about time someone dented her ego.

Jack: How was she to know that Bryce was handing out pro-drug propaganda?

Louisa: It wasn’t propaganda. He was just showing both sides of the issue.

Jack: He was telling kids that drugs should be legal. Not only marijuana. Cocaine, heroin...you name it.

Louisa: So what? Why shouldn’t we legalise them all?

Jack: Cos they harm loads of people

Louisa: So if something’s causing harm, you criminalise the people being harmed?

Jack: They aren’t the only people being harmed. People get robbed by druggies. Or don’t want to leave their homes cos of the gangs outside.

Louisa: All that would end if they were legal. There’d be no violence or extortion. It’d just be a business.

Jack: It’s the principle though. Society would be fucked if drugs were legal.

Louisa: And it’s in such a great state already? What about all those robberies and gangs you just mentioned? You can’t have it both ways.

Jack: You don’t understand the complex issues involved

Louisa: If drugs were legal, they could be taxed. Think how much money that would bring in. And also the police would save money cos they wouldn’t have to be chasing up drug offences anymore. All that extra money could be spent on encouraging stuff like rehab and clean needles. At this point, it’s the only way forward.

Jack: I really thought you were too smart to be taken in by propaganda. I mean, we’ve had so many anti-drug assemblies.