Why We Should Legalize Drugs

[Zool]

And the good news is many prisons do offer drug treatment. The meth/crack addict is off the streets for a year or so and is getting treatment while their at it....what a deal!!

That is good news. Both/and, not either/or. Now aren't the U.S. taxpayers generous and forgiving? In China, they'd shoot them and sell their organs.

And send a bill to their family for the bullet.

[BEARMAN]

And the good news is many prisons do offer drug treatment. The meth/crack addict is off the streets for a year or so and is getting treatment while their at it....what a deal!!

That is good news. Both/and, not either/or. Now aren't the U.S. taxpayers generous and forgiving? In China, they'd shoot them and sell their organs.

Hmmmmmmmm, ... what dose a cop make in China ? Benifits? Who gets to shoot them? Just woundering here....

[Scott Campbell]

And the good news is many prisons do offer drug treatment. The meth/crack addict is off the streets for a year or so and is getting treatment while their at it....what a deal!!

That is good news. Both/and, not either/or. Now aren't the U.S. taxpayers generous and forgiving? In China, they'd shoot them and sell their organs.

Hmmmmmmmm, ... what dose a cop make in China ? Benifits? Who gets to shoot them? Just woundering here....

Who could blame you. I don't think China is nearly as corrupt as Chicago.

[Freak Out]

And the good news is many prisons do offer drug treatment. The meth/crack addict is off the streets for a year or so and is getting treatment while their at it....what a deal!!

That is good news. Both/and, not either/or. Now aren't the U.S. taxpayers generous and forgiving? In China, they'd shoot them and sell their organs.

Hmmmmmmmm, ... what dose a cop make in China ? Benifits? Who gets to shoot them? Just woundering here....

Who could blame you. I don't think China is nearly as corrupt as Chicago.

[MadtownPacker]

Bearman ain't in Chicago. He is in Washington, giving speeding tickets to the Starbucks crowd and talking about how the bears will win the SB every year.

[Tarlam!]

Speaking of addictive synthetics, how is Veronica?

She got married, I lost interest. Same ol' same ol'.

[Tarlam!]

So, we have a few who agree, pot should be legalized and most, from what I gather that are anti-drug fundamentalists.

I think only TB is close to where I am. But I think the out of wanting to be free to take his medicine without fear of pursecution from the law. I said I think!

Up till now, no one has seriously made a case that is compelling for winning the battles (if not war) society across the globe is fighting to end drug abuse and the disasterous side effects this has on society.

All I hear and read is "Oh, NO! We shouldn't do this, it's plain wrong".

Maybe, as a society, we have come to accept we will not solve the problem. I think, this thread has me believing society has resigned itself to this as being fact.

I am disappointed that no one has a counter suggestion to mine. You all dispute my theory to solve the problem, but haven't offered a better plan. BEARMAN even suggests, despite the realities, that what is being done today is actually effective. That's just naive.

So where are the bright ideas?

[MJZiggy]

Hey, I liked TB's post on harm reduction. It made sense to me. And I am all for legalizing pot. It's way more effective than compazine.

[Freak Out]

In our society I should be able to choose if I want to smoke weed or eat peyote without fear of being fined or locked up. Now I should not be able to operate motor vehicles under the influence, blah blah blah....need to be an adult ...Bystanders/innocents could get in the way. But our Nation is all about freedom of choice.
The drug traffickers/cartels need to be taken out of the equation some way, either through federal control of drugs like alcohol or tobacco and legalized distribution. Can you imagine walking down to the local farmers market on a Saturday morning and picking up a oz of some good local organic? I can.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I completely believe what I say. Deterrence by sending people to jail doesn't work. If it did, why are all prisons more crowded than ever?

As for my knowledge of drugs...let's just say that I know more about drugs and that culture than you will ever know.

I believe, like most educated people on the subject of drugs that HARM REDUCTION is the way to go.

Harm reduction is ...

*Blah blah blah blah*









etc.

Now, who is full of crap.

You, Tyrone. Definitely you.

I could take your word for it that you "know more about drugs and that culture than [I] will ever know," because from the sound of your arguments, you sound like a druggie yourself who is desperate to make excuses for addiction and advocate "understanding" for your cause.

But I'm inclined to point out that you have absolutely no idea what I know.

Your "Harm Reduction" ramblings read like a corporate mission statement, not a coherent plan of action. If you think that explains how to deal with addiction, then I certainly don't believe you are educated on the subject.

Unless you consider cruising druggie websites an "education."

Your right, the people working for a change in drug policy are idiots. They shold listen to you.

What does elliot spitzer know...he is only a former prosecutor and now governor.

What does Ethan Nadelmann know: received his BA, JD, and PhD from Harvard, and a master’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics.

Or George Soros, or Daniel Abrahamson, or Marsha Rosenbaum who was the principal investigator on National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded studies of heroin addiction, methadone maintenance treatment, MDMA (Ecstasy), cocaine, and drug use during pregnancy, etc., etc.

Or those other ridiculous countries with progressive drug policies.

These ignorant, uneducated folks just are foolish to actually try and develop a reasonable policy. Nope, better to continue doing exactly what we've been doing for the past 30 years..with NO success. I guess you don't subscribe to the definition of insanity.

As for my arguments, again throw mud, but no factual basis. I have given stats, have asked you to read, but you would just rather believe what you "know" to be true. Hilarious.

Take a look at our society..we LOVE drugs..legal and illegal. Patients demand anti biotics when they aren't needed, are loving the rush of energy drinks, hooked on nicotine, etc.

The fact that you use the term druggie tells me all I need to know.

As for my usage...i never touch drugs and rarely even drink. It has been close to 20 years since I even saw drugs. I'm dealing in the real world, not some fantasy like you. I accept and acknowledge the truth..the truth of life is that there have always been drug users...ayahuasca, coca leaves, etc., always going to be those who commit crimes, always going to be prejudice, etc.

And always going to be those who have an opinion, like yourself, that really know very little about the subject.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Before you make statements you should have some PROOF.

It is foolish to think that you won't have at least some success putting drug addicted criminals in therapy, rehab, etc over incarceration..which effectively does NOTHING.

Let's take a look at the facts:

Anyone can google and can find any stats they want to find to support their views. The proof I have in making my statements is what I've witnessed for a long time. Addicts do not benefit from treatment unless they WANT to make changes. And yes, you do have some people that get rehab who didn't necessarily want to go that may benefit....but that number is very small. And....almost always the addict has many, many opportunities to go to treatment before it actually comes time for prison. A 30 day inpatient drug treatment for a meth addict? Sorry, that's not working. And the good news is many prisons do offer drug treatment. The meth/crack addict is off the streets for a year or so and is getting treatment while their at it....what a deal!! As for marijuana...legalize possession of small amounts (recreational use).

Well, i have witnessed the opposite. Your "witness" is a very limited experience..as is mine.

More to the point, find me your stats that work for your position.

As for meth....it is still an improvement. And, if you wanna argue 30 days..PROOF please. And, who said we couldn't hold them longer? Rehab in jail is for the most part a joke. Again, locking people up for a medical problem is foolish.

[MadtownPacker]

Well, i have witnessed the opposite. Your "witness" is a very limited experience..as is mine.

Dammit I want some dope fiend's opinions not your cleancut desk jockey ass crap! Truly a sad day to find out youre all talk and no walk.

Just leave it illegal. I'm gonna get what I want anyways.

[packinpatland]

[quote="MadtownPacker"]

Well, i have witnessed the opposite. Your "witness" is a very limited experience..as is mine.

Dammit I want some dope fiend's opinions not your cleancut desk jockey ass crap! Truly a sad day to find out youre all talk and no walk.

Just leave it illegal. I'm gonna get what I want anyways. [/quote]
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That really isn't a burritto you're eating is it? Looks more like the ash-end of a joint.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Well, i have witnessed the opposite. Your "witness" is a very limited experience..as is mine.

Dammit I want some dope fiend's opinions not your cleancut desk jockey ass crap! Truly a sad day to find out youre all talk and no walk.

Just leave it illegal. I'm gonna get what I want anyways.

I think you misinterpreted. What i was saying is my and her anecdotal (spelling?) exerience is quite limited compared to let's say: Those who conduct research, those who work in rehab facilities, those who work in the jails, prosecutors, etc.

MTP, I have seen more than my fair share of drug abusers, but I wouldn't want to have someone make policy decision based on my experiences.

And, I live in a state that is 2-3% higher than the national average. And a state that is in the top 5 in identity theft..which correlates directly to meth usage.

Wisconsites know little of meth as it is a relatively small problem for the state. In 05, 90 labs were busted in Wisco as compared to over a 1000 in Iowa. GO HAWKEYES!!!

[PackerBlues]

Want to see drugs legalized, vote Mike Gravel for president. This guy makes more sense than any of the corrupt career politicians currently running our country.

This guy has great ideas about a lot of important issues. Its too bad that the media isnt giving this guy more coverage and some are painting him to be like "crazy old" Ross Perot.

http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/109235/Gravel_on_the_Drug_War.html