But what’s that sound? A seemingly single, tiny voice in the corner. What’s it saying?

Don’t legalize it! Don’t legalize it! Don’t legalize it! Don’t legalize marijuana! Don’t legalize any currently illegal drugs! Instead, decriminalize marijuana and all other currently illegal drugs.

The difference appears deceptively subtle at first, so much so that one might wonder if I am indeed rooting for the same cause. I assure you I am not. I will illustrate the differences.

To legalize something is to make it “legal by law”. Which is, in plain words, asking the government for permission and being granted that permission.

Decriminalization, however, would be the deletion of all laws surrounding currently illegal drugs and replacing them with nothing. In effect, the government would have a “hands-off” approach to drugs.

Decriminalization is ideal because it would allow the market (keeping in mind that America’s markets are far from free, so do not call it a “free market”) to work. In effect, doing all the things I mentioned in the first paragraph without government intervention.

So the next time you hear someone talk about legalizing marijuana, or any other drug, please, set them straight.