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There are a lot of things that are not good for you that we do not criminalize people for using or selling. Where do you draw the line and why do you draw it there?
My line people should only be subject to criminal charges when they take action that hurts someone else or force people to do something against their will.
Taking drugs, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol to excess, overeating junk food till I get diabetes should not be criminal. Selling any of the above to willing buyers should not be criminal either.
Well, we criminalize the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors (not even minors for alcohol because the legal age where one is no longer a minor is 18 and the age of consent 16 in many states). If caught, people drinking underage will be arrested. We criminalize drinking and driving. Not exactly the same because alcohol and tobacco aren't totally illegal but we have limits. It's not a free for all. There's discussion of raising the legal "smoking age", too - or at least the age you can buy cigarettes. I imagine we are tougher on hard drugs because they are so dangerous and damaging to not just individuals but families. Tobacco isn't a drug that can give you a bad high and make you dangerous and crazy or even possibly kill you with one hit. Neither is alcohol, really, when used casually and not overdone. Overeating junk food damages no one but yourself. Using tobacco damages no one but yourself. Secondhand smoke is danerous but that's why smoking indoors at many places, including restaurants, isn't allowed. The only one a little similar to hard drugs is alcohol.
Who said legal drugs should have no limits. I would limit by age, control the strength and punish people who harm others while they are under the influence
I have no issue with minors not allowed to buy drugs and driving under the influence of drugs should be criminal
Make cigarettes completely illegal and watch criminal behavior spike in those that want to smoke.
So for consistency you are for prohibition of alcohol again?
No one. I never said legal drug should have no limits, I was talking about which drugs are already legal with limits in place, because you said this: "There are a lot of things that are not good for you that we do not criminalize people for using or selling. Where do you draw the line and why do you draw it there?" We DO criminalize people for using and selling alcohol and tobacco, under a certain age, and we criminalize driving under the influence.
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Originally Posted by tom1944
I have no issue with minors not allowed to buy drugs and driving under the influence of drugs should be criminal
Make cigarettes completely illegal and watch criminal behavior spike in those that want to smoke.
I think you missed my point…
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Originally Posted by tom1944
So for consistency you are for prohibition of alcohol again?
Absolutely not.
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Originally Posted by tom1944
What is your stance on pot?
Don't like it. But don't really care because while it often makes people lazy and dumb, too chilled out and forgetful, it's not dangerous.
I hate to get into this because its not nearly as important as the individual freedom aspect but legalization would also open things up to regulation and also quality control and better products. I know people pretend that legalization would cause everyone to walk around like zombies or robbing everyone for money but that hasn't really happened in places who have some form of legalized drugs.
I think people use drugs responsibly all the time. I also think many people don't and the negative consequences harm them and people close to them. but that doesn't mean we have the right to be other people's mothers and lock them up if they make poor decisions. everyone should have the freedom to make their own bad decisions.
Responsibly, or at least show up for work on time. I've known a few people who were prescription pill, coke or meth addicts who managed to keep their very nice white collar job while abusing drugs. They all eventually stopped doing that and cleaned up. It was tough because they couldn't let the boss know they were detoxing. Vacation days, sick days become very handy during those dark days.
Responsibly, or at least show up for work on time. I've known a few people who were prescription pill, coke or meth addicts who managed to keep their very nice white collar job while abusing drugs. They all eventually stopped doing that and cleaned up. It was tough because they couldn't let the boss know they were detoxing. Vacation days, sick days become very handy during those dark days.
good for them. it probably would have been harder for them to keep their jobs if they were locked up in prison.
i was thinking before about scalzo's contempt for rehab but love for prison. i havent considered a "solution" because for me its simply not ok for government to restrict people's freedom when there is no direct victim. but his position seems strange to me considering that locking people up is very expensive. not only are there very high costs with incarceration, police work, court work & whatever treatment they do in prison but there also is a cost to the drug user of court costs, lost work, potential job loss and potential challenges in attaining employment with a criminal history. if we did a cost/benefit analysis, i would imagine that rehab probably is significantly cheaper than incarceration. i can certainly understand someone not wanting to pay for rehab for drug users but its not really consistent if you do support incarceration as the alternative.
oh and scalzo may or may not understand why he holds this position. i believe he is a former police officer and if you check drug legalization initiatives in other states you will find that the political forces opposed to opposition are criminal justice trade organizations (corrections officers unions, police unions, lawyer groups, etc). its a jobs thing for them.
Last edited by CaptainNJ; 05-13-2015 at 09:27 AM..
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We DO criminalize people for using and selling alcohol and tobacco, under a certain age, and we criminalize driving under the influence. 
