--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By bringing about a rational drug policy…" description: "\"By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing up a lot of resources for real crime. Drug disputes would get played out with courts rather t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg" --- # By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing… ![“By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing up a lot of resources for real crime. Drug disputes would get played out with courts rather than with guns. So it would make this country a much better place overnight.” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg) > “By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing up a lot of resources for real crime. Drug disputes would get played out with courts rather than with guns. So it would make this country a much better place overnight.” [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rational drug policy would shift resources from violent conflict to legal processes, improving societal safety and efficiency. **In simple terms:** Legalizing drugs could reduce crime and free resources. Key Takeaway Advocate for evidence‑based drug reform. Themes policy public health justice economics Mood optimistic pragmatic Type political policy When to use this quote - government budgeting - community health programs - law enforcement strategies Key Concepts harm reduction resource allocation criminal justice reform Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports this shift? - How can public opinion be changed? A Different Perspective Implementation faces political opposition and cultural stigma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Courts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courts/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Drug policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-policy/) [Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [The current prohibition laws are forcing drug disputes to be played out with guns in our streets. We need to put a stop to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/the-current-prohibition-laws-are-forcing-drug-disputes-to-be-played/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [If we want to think about racism and how it might play out in drug policy, we have to think about the trial of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-we-want-to-think-about-racism-and-how-it-might-play-out-in-drug/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [“Introduction of rational standards to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable forms of drug related conduct allows us to hold drug users fully accountable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/introduction-of-rational-standards-to-differentiate-between/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [Congress should definitely consider decriminalizing possession of marijuana... We should concentrate on prosecuting the rapists and burglars who are a menace to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/congress-should-definitely-consider-decriminalizing-possession-of/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Since you control a federal budget that has just been increased from $17.8 billion last year to $19.2 billion this year, is asking people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-gray/since-you-control-a-federal-budget-that-has-just-been-increased-from/) James P. Gray > [“A significant factor often overlooked by those considering the failure of drug policy is the general aim of deflecting or assigning responsibility away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/a-significant-factor-often-overlooked-by-those-considering-the/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [Republicans: the party that brought us 'Just Say No.' First as a drug policy, then as their entire platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/republicans-the-party-that-brought-us-just-say-no-first-as-a-drug/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [We should decriminalize all drugs. The assumptions on which our drug policies are based are flawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/we-should-decriminalize-all-drugs-the-assumptions-on-which-our-drug/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/penalties-against-possession-of-a-drug-should-not-be-more-damaging-to-2/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Nobody tells the history of marijuana and its prohibition like Russ Belville does. He has a special talent for presenting scholarship in a remarkably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-nadelmann/nobody-tells-the-history-of-marijuana-and-its-prohibition-like-russ/) [Ethan Nadelmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-nadelmann/) > [“The legalization of marijuana is not a dangerous experiment – the prohibition is the experiment, and it has failed dramatically, with millions of victims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marincolo/the-legalization-of-marijuana-is-not-a-dangerous-experiment-the/) [Sebastian Marincolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marincolo/) > [I always thought a very strong anti-drug policy was a good thing for my union members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/i-always-thought-a-very-strong-anti-drug-policy-was-a-good-thing-for/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [If you can get conservatives to sit down for 20 minutes and listen to you on drug policy reform you might have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/if-you-can-get-conservatives-to-sit-down-for-20-minutes-and-listen-to/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [ “With drug use related harms, explanatory models are often presented as predictive tools, even though they ‘are \[rarely if ever\] predictive of consequent behavior’… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/with-drug-use-related-harms-explanatory-models-are-often-presented-as/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [“Crack had a social logic to it, a specific kind of reasoning that drew from a vast well of common experience for its symbolic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitri-a-bogazianos/crack-had-a-social-logic-to-it-a-specific-kind-of-reasoning-that-drew/) Dimitri A. Bogazianos ## More by Gary Johnson > [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-one-of-those-who-believe-the-bumper-sticker-if-you-outlaw-guns/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm ready for a different America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-ready-for-a-different-america/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) [Explore all 123 Gary Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing up a lot of resources for real crime. Drug disputes would get played out with courts rather than with guns. So it would make this country a much better place overnight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy-we-d-be-freeing-up-a-lot-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy-we-d-be-freeing-up-a-lot-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/gary-johnson-3710_about_by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy_736263.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By bringing about a rational drug policy, we'd be freeing up a lot of resources for real crime. Drug…” — Gary Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By bringing about a rational drug...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy-we-d-be-freeing-up-a-lot-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/by-bringing-about-a-rational-drug-policy-we-d-be-freeing-up-a-lot-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```