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Do you think they work?
I am disturbed about all the corruption of police and politicians this has caused. I look at Mexico, the land of competing drug gangs and don't want us to turn into that, and fear that we may.
Many other countries who have tried the American approach has said it failed.
Do you think some other countries are addressing this better, cutting the overall cost to society and eliminating much of the corruption/profit?
If so, how would you change our approach?
Last edited by goldengrain; 02-05-2009 at 09:05 PM..
I do have some problems with drug laws. Some stuff like meth and crack are so destructive that I think they should be controled. However with things like alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana I think our current laws do more harm then good. Marijuana by virtue of it being illegal causes drug gangs. When ever a good or service is prohibited, ie marijuana, gambling, prostituton etc. it creates an illegal culture of gangs and thuggery because there is a profit in it for criminals. In the case of marijuana the profit is $38 Billion annually the largest cash crop in America. With that said in my opinion marijuana is not as harmful as the illegal culture it being illegal creates. As such I think it should be controlled much in the same way hard liquor is control in some states with a government monopoly of ABC stores or in the case of marijuana, Marijuana Control stores. This way it will eliminate the profit motive for criminals, allow taxes to be collected, and in general allow a more safe way for the product to be grown and distributed as well as helping to keep it off school campuses by more controlled access. Tobacco I think is being over restricted because people can no longer choose to make their establishments smoking or non smoking these days. I think that should be the propritor's decision for his or her property not the governments. Alcohol I feel is too restricted mainly because many states do not allow parents to serve small amounts of alcohol to their children at dinner in their own homes. This I think is foolish because the best way for a child to learn about alcohol is with parental guidence. The government should not punish parents for choosing how and when they introduce there children to Alcohol and though many states have made home, and parental exceptions to the rule many states still deem that parents who offer there kids small amounts of alcohol in the home to teach them about drinking are criminals.
I would stop federal raids in states that have already decided for themselves on the issue of marijuana. It would be nice if states could decide their own laws when it came to marijuana without its citizens worrying federal agents will arrest them for having marijuana that is legal under state law.
The majority of otherwise law abiding citizens have to put themselves in compromising situations to obtain a plant. I, for one, would cherish the thought of creating a less compromising and criminal atmosphere developing in our nation by decrimilizing this plant.
Some countries, I notice, actually allow marijuana only if you grow your own. Selling is illegal.
Many, many, have treated it as more of a health issue and not a law enforcement issue.
Countries tend to have a tiered classification of drugs, from safest, like marijuana, to
destructive drugs.
Depending on what you are caught with you get a slap on the wrist or nothing to criminal charges.
At any rate the money that we spend on imprisoning people - maybe a decade ago it was $40 to 50k, it must be higher now - we could really be doing some good rehab for people, and instead of paying for more prison guards we would be putting money in helping professions.
It usually takes at least three rehab tries before a person kicks a habit.
It is very hard, with long waits, to get into rehab once in the US.
Should a dumb 20 something be stuck with a prison term on his record for life for making a stupid decision?
I'd create a massive Ad Council campaign - "Get Off the Damn Drugs" - to make using drugs look weak and uncool - drug users are tools of the government drug suppliers, are directly responsible for death, suffering and mayhem...I''d offer a challenge, watch what happens, who suffers, when nobody does drugs for three months. Self-rightous anger works.
I'd create a massive Ad Council campaign - "Get Off the Damn Drugs" - to make using drugs look weak and uncool
lol .. mk
Quote:
drug users ... are directly responsible for death, suffering and mayhem...I''d offer a challenge, watch what happens, who suffers, when nobody does drugs for three months. Self-rightous anger works.
Yes, cause all of those pot smokers just sit around, get high, and cause all of that there death, suffering, and mayhem .
I'm more prone to logic in this situation. Creating a criminal atmosphere ... begets crime. I do not have any studies to back me up, but I'd say 90% of "drug users" probably only do pot (which is up to debate - whether it is a drug or not). Legalize that, and you take away the majority of the underground criminal atmosphere and the harsh social ramifications that come along with it for everyone. Then, keep the harder man-made stuff illegal and wipe out the last 10% with focused police man-power.
Yes, cause all of those pot smokers just sit around, get high, and cause all of that there death, suffering, and mayhem .
I'm more prone to logic in this situation. Creating a criminal atmosphere ... begets crime. I do not have any studies to back me up, but I'd say 90% of "drug users" probably only do pot (which is up to debate - whether it is a drug or not). Legalize that, and you take away the majority of the underground criminal atmosphere and the harsh social ramifications that come along with it for everyone. Then, keep the harder man-made stuff illegal and wipe out the last 10% with focused police man-power.
I dont mean pot, obviously.
If the question is about pot...there's some state(s?) where's it's legal up to X-ounces...I'd make that national, and not bother people who are growing their own in their own houses or on their own land in X-size quantities.
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