---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as the government can arbitrarily…"
description: "\"As long as the government can arbitrarily decide which substances are legal and which are illegal, then those who remain behind bars for illegal substa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/paul-krassner-28399_bars_as-long-as-the-government-can-arbitraril_1417363.png"
---

#  As long as the government can arbitrarily decide which…

![“As long as the government can arbitrarily decide which substances are legal and which are illegal, then those who remain behind bars for illegal substances are political prisoners” quote by Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/paul-krassner-28399_bars_as-long-as-the-government-can-arbitraril_1417363.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/paul-krassner-28399_bars_as-long-as-the-government-can-arbitraril_1417363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c59/paul-krassner-28399_bars_as-long-as-the-government-can-arbitraril_1417363.png)

> “As long as the government can arbitrarily decide which substances are legal and which are illegal, then those who remain behind bars for illegal substances are political prisoners”

[Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Legal definitions of drugs are arbitrary, turning non‑violent offenders into political prisoners.

**In simple terms:** Arbitrary drug laws create political prisoners.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for fair, evidence‑based drug policies.

Themes

justice politics human rights law enforcement

Mood

critical concerned

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- activism
- legal advocacy
- public health
- community organizing

Key Concepts

civil liberties policy reform criminal justice

Questions to Reflect On

- How do drug laws reflect power dynamics?
- What alternatives exist to incarceration for drug offenses?

A Different Perspective

Legal reforms may face strong political opposition and entrenched interests.

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[Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political prisoners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-prisoners/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/)

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