It’s difficult to make a logical argument against Initiative 502, on the ballot for Nov. 6.

The initiative would make Washington the first state in the union to legalize small amounts of marijuana purchases for adults 21 and older from shops licensed by the state.

We’re well aware of the arguments for legalization: the four-decades failure of the war on drugs — to the tune of maybe $1 trillion nationally; the hundreds of thousands of clearly prejudicial incarcerations and the over-crowding of the court system.

Additionally, proponents argue the initiative will put the bad guys who control illegal drug running out of business.

In our society, consumer demand is king. That’s what drives the illegal marijuana trade; it’s what drives the legalization effort.

The World Health Organization says the United States is the world’s leading per-capita marijuana consumer. Not only are we the most entertained nation in the history of the world but possibly the most stoned.

Boomers and their progeny are used to getting what they want. The most powerful arguments are on their side.

And yet….

The dust-up at the Seattle Times — about the Seattle Times Co.’s purchase of political ads in its own newspaper — is about as boneheaded as it gets.

One has to wonder if some of those upstairs at the Times weren’t celebrating the potential passage of Initiative 502 — the legalization of pot — a little early.

Even so, the Times still delivers excellent, investigative journalism to a mainstream. And it’s well to remember reporters and editors are insurgents by nature.

The Times’ brand has been tarnished, but don’t blame the editors and reporters. They’re still doing their jobs.

The 2012 presidential election — in all its squalid glory — plays out over our heads. Each candidate has spent more than $1 billion in his quest.

Mudslinging in the statewide races here is bad enough: The frightening thing about the lies and half-truths (which are still lies) is that, in tight races, such strategies seem to work.

The recent onslaught of ads against Democrat Bob Ferguson, locked in a nasty race for attorney general with Republican Reagan Dunn, is getting credit for closing the gap between the two.

We’re all long way from the informed, reasoned polity capable of making fact-based decisions the founding fathers envisioned.

Nov. 6, will bring a merciful end to the madness. Let us count the days.