Why is there such an intense hatred towards drugs by cops/politicians?

[CaliforniaGal]

Originally Posted by stockwiz

This is one issue where the people supporting decriminalization are pretty vocal about it and the people who support the war on drugs are typically more quiet about it, at least in real life.. I'm not talking about internet forums here. There's a large but silent majority I would argue that still believe in the war on drugs.

Both sides have good points.. we can't just legalize everything.. possession of small amounts should be decriminalized, and marijuana should be legalized, but heroin, meth, etc. should not be legalized and dealers or people with large quantities should be imprisoned.

The main reason they want drugs illegal is the money trail... prison industrial complex, civil asset forfeiture, etc. The only reason marijuana is getting a free pass is there's more money to be made legalizing it. The government and people in general are inherently statists.. they want to control what others can and can't do for their own good. Both parties are guilty of this.

Yes, everyone wants weed legalized but here are some real facts from me...in the neighborhood where I grew up (Torrance, CA) we lost a lot of folks who grew up in my neighborhood who started out on Marijuana back in the late 70's only to graduate to Meth. Almost all are dead including my brother who died in 2014. These young people at the time- started smoking weed and when that stopped giving them their high - they went to the harder stuff mainly Meth. Meth became the drug of choice.

I only know all of this because in the 90's our mother had to have her leg amputated and my brother lived with her. Our father was in a nursing home. I was handling everything where my mom was concerned. My brother was dealing drugs out of my parents garage. I was furious. I came to a point to where I started cooperating with Torrance PD. I took down license numbers of the people who visited the garage. In 1996, our mother had a second leg amputated so I just could not risk her being in real danger like a fire because we found all kinds of stuff (paraphernalia) - to cook the Meth with. Swat came in and that was it. The drugs that my brother kept taking after the fact took a real toll on his body. He died in 2014 at 55 - of course our parents both died in 1997. I watched kids I knew end up in the obituary and they all started out on weed. That's the truth.

To say this does not happen - bunch of garbage because it does. Just like with Pharma drugs - some people become too addicted (use too much) and need more. I am betting that most who are so addicted to pharma were probably addicted to street drugs at one time.

So, let's be real about Marijuana. It does and has become habit forming for many who end up going to the harder stuff.

I wrote a blurb here on City-Data about Opoids because I have been on Fentanyl for over 10 yrs as I have RSD and Fibromyalgia. I want people to know there are thousands of us who DO NOT abuse our meds. Take it as prescribed and were never on street drugs. It's very wise never to get started on weed...now for medicinal purposes perhaps it helps. You have to smoke it to get any real benefit from it according to drs I have talked to. My Internist is a also a Pulmonary Specialist and I asked her what she thought about me using it for my pain - she said NO. She has seen some lungs that look terrible from smoking weed...

If Marijuana was not so habit forming and cause you to become lethargic then why do many occupations out there have drug testing especially where equipment is used? My husband gets drug tested randomly - he is a tug boat operator/crew chief. Many have lost their jobs because the young kids can't stay away from the weed. It's sad because they have families - children to support. Most work the decks w/ equipment on those tugs/launch boats.

Sometimes when we share real life stories it's because we want to see a change. Many do not like me being so honest but I do not want to see people end up losing it all. Losing their jobs - families. I have stayed at the same dose of Fentanyl for the last 6 yrs. I started out at 25 and I am at 50 which is a very small dose according to my pain mgmt doctor. I would not wish RSD on anyone...

Be very careful with Marijuana and any drug. It can lead to harder stuff if you are not careful. Pres. Trump is just following along with the media on pharmaceutical etc... Me, I am THANKFUL to Pharmaceutical because it has given me some quality of life. For that, I feel blessed. I know I write a lot and it's a mouthful but I do it because I care. I hope I reach others...if I don't that's ok but at least I tried.

[SoHoVe]

Originally Posted by 17thAndK

It's odd that Trump hasn't done more than talk about opioids considering that it's his own base that is statistically most impacted by them.

Genuinely a sincere question from me...what exactly do you think the government can do aside from crackdown on the regulation of big pharma which I have no issue with (should have happened 10 years ago imho). That won't solve the problem of those who are already addicted though it would definately help with any upcoming generations.

You can't force people to get help and addicts are notoriously resistant to help to begin with.

I can't see a way out of this and I'm not sure what people exactly expect the government to do.

With that said I absolutely believe our government shares some of the responsibility, just no idea what they can do.

[YuMart]

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

Genuinely a sincere question from me...what exactly do you think the government can do aside from crackdown on the regulation of big pharma which I have no issue with (should have happened 10 years ago imho). That won't solve the problem of those who are already addicted though it would definately help with any upcoming generations.

You can't force people to get help and addicts are notoriously resistant to help to begin with.

I can't see a way out of this and I'm not sure what people exactly expect the government to do.

With that said I absolutely believe our government shares some of the responsibility, just no idea what they can do.

Do what every other country that has a half a brain does. Open up many clinics offering a safe environment where they can get their fix while also offering counseling services. That happened in Switzerland in the 80s with cocaine so many clinics were set up where users could go, have a nice bed and shower to sleep in, as well as clean needles they can use and counseling services. Their drug issue started to rapidly decline.

[SoHoVe]

Originally Posted by YuMart

Do what every other country that has a half a brain does. Open up many clinics offering a safe environment where they can get their fix while also offering counseling services. That happened in Switzerland in the 80s with cocaine so many clinics were set up where users could go, have a nice bed and shower to sleep in, as well as clean needles they can use and counseling services. Their drug issue started to rapidly decline.

You are aware that a significant percentage of opioid addicts in the US are solidly middle/upper middle class and higher class people who are already covered by private insurance and well aware of the resources available to them however they still refuse treatment....Right???

And I'm going to assume you understand that the above mentioned classes of people are really the only reason the Feds (in the US) are taking any action at all and this has finally been declared a crisis...Right???

So with all that in mind, please explain to me again how the government is going to help these people?

That's pretty much the truth of the matter at hand here...this is about the Ivy League bound kids on Long Island not the down and out of Appalachia.

[Cruzincat]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaGal

Yes, everyone wants weed legalized but here are some real facts from me...in the neighborhood where I grew up (Torrance, CA) we lost a lot of folks who grew up in my neighborhood who started out on Marijuana back in the late 70's only to graduate to Meth. Almost all are dead including my brother who died in 2014. These young people at the time- started smoking weed and when that stopped giving them their high - they went to the harder stuff mainly Meth. Meth became the drug of choice.

I only know all of this because in the 90's our mother had to have her leg amputated and my brother lived with her. Our father was in a nursing home. I was handling everything where my mom was concerned. My brother was dealing drugs out of my parents garage. I was furious. I came to a point to where I started cooperating with Torrance PD. I took down license numbers of the people who visited the garage. In 1996, our mother had a second leg amputated so I just could not risk her being in real danger like a fire because we found all kinds of stuff (paraphernalia) - to cook the Meth with. Swat came in and that was it. The drugs that my brother kept taking after the fact took a real toll on his body. He died in 2014 at 55 - of course our parents both died in 1997. I watched kids I knew end up in the obituary and they all started out on weed. That's the truth.

To say this does not happen - bunch of garbage because it does. Just like with Pharma drugs - some people become too addicted (use too much) and need more. I am betting that most who are so addicted to pharma were probably addicted to street drugs at one time.

So, let's be real about Marijuana. It does and has become habit forming for many who end up going to the harder stuff.

I wrote a blurb here on City-Data about Opoids because I have been on Fentanyl for over 10 yrs as I have RSD and Fibromyalgia. I want people to know there are thousands of us who DO NOT abuse our meds. Take it as prescribed and were never on street drugs. It's very wise never to get started on weed...now for medicinal purposes perhaps it helps. You have to smoke it to get any real benefit from it according to drs I have talked to. My Internist is a also a Pulmonary Specialist and I asked her what she thought about me using it for my pain - she said NO. She has seen some lungs that look terrible from smoking weed...

If Marijuana was not so habit forming and cause you to become lethargic then why do many occupations out there have drug testing especially where equipment is used? My husband gets drug tested randomly - he is a tug boat operator/crew chief. Many have lost their jobs because the young kids can't stay away from the weed. It's sad because they have families - children to support. Most work the decks w/ equipment on those tugs/launch boats.

Sometimes when we share real life stories it's because we want to see a change. Many do not like me being so honest but I do not want to see people end up losing it all. Losing their jobs - families. I have stayed at the same dose of Fentanyl for the last 6 yrs. I started out at 25 and I am at 50 which is a very small dose according to my pain mgmt doctor. I would not wish RSD on anyone...

Be very careful with Marijuana and any drug. It can lead to harder stuff if you are not careful. Pres. Trump is just following along with the media on pharmaceutical etc... Me, I am THANKFUL to Pharmaceutical because it has given me some quality of life. For that, I feel blessed. I know I write a lot and it's a mouthful but I do it because I care. I hope I reach others...if I don't that's ok but at least I tried.

Your case could still be considered anecdotal. Can you say without doubt that your brother would have become involved with Meth, if the pot he was smoking were legally obtained? Chances are he wouldn't have come in contact with someone who also sold Meth along with the illegal weed. On the other hand he became a dealer, so there's that. Obviously it didn't do him any good by you turning him in. He still used and died. Do you still feel better that you turned him in?

[craigiri]

I think any hate directed toward these people is due to their abuse of power and stealing of money and betrayal of the public trust.

Those who don't partake in these things have my ultimate respect.

Of course, the cops who forced 15 years olds to perform sex acts on them when they found a bag of pot on them.....hard to have much respect for that type of thing ( happened to family member and their friends - and it was somewhat of a regular thing).


I recently read a lightweight book by a "good" southern cop. He describes all this stuff going on around him....for the sake of the book he seems to say that these guys and gals get washed out of the dept pretty quickly.

Well, I'll bet not.

Here is just one (there are many many many) examples of long term officers of the law breaking every crime in the book - including taking lives.....or trying.....

Jury returns a mixed verdict in former deputy's trial - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL

Isn't that amazing he didn't get the murder charge after forcing pills in her mouth and turning the car on in the garage?

They found evidence he was working with others in the department (or related to the dept).......but I guess he's the one that got caught. So you can rest assured that people such as this are protecting the weak.