Dr Ed Gogek is a psychiatrist and a specialist in treating addiction.  He’s also the author of Marijuana Debunked: A handbook for parents, pundits and politicians who want to know the case against legalization. 

The BBC reported on the effects of marijuana legalization here. In addition I tried to bring up the Russell Newcombe and Sally Woods model for comparing the mortality risks of various drugs, but Ed was having none of it. This is the model:

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There was a ballot initiative in Maine …

No, no hang on, this is serious stuff, it’s important I swear.

There was a ballot initiative in Maine a couple of weeks ago to preserve the voting system that they have there that is called Ranked Choice Voting.

No, seriously, don’t skip, this really is important and I promise that I’ll try to make it interesting.

About two years ago, the state of Maine introduced this voting system, and it’s really complicated and really simple at the same time. There was a ballot initiative a couple of weeks back that could have scrapped it, but that didn’t happen, so this system stays in force in Maine.

To give you the simple explanation, it means that to vote for a candidate, you put the number 1 beside his or her name. It’s that simple. But also, you have the choice – you don’t have to, but you can – put the number 2 beside the name of your second-favorite candidate. And 3 beside your third favorite, and all the way down.

The system is that simple; even a child who can tell you what their favorite ice cream is, and their second-favorite, and so on, could use it.

Now here comes the complex part. I’ll try to make it simple. Basically to win, a candidate needs to get more than half the votes. That’s pretty simple if there are only two candidates, but if there are several, like an a typical competitive primary, what happens if no candidate gets 50 per cent? That’s when that number 2, the second favorite comes in. The counters go to the candidate who came last.