America's War on Drugs

[kılıç_mehmet]

So, in speaking with my in-laws last night I found out that my mother-in-law is currently using medical marijuana. Apart from this being utterly hilarious, what I would give to get to see her high, ah, it makes me smile :-) it makes me wonder if it's about time for a serious overhaul of the US's drug policy. I mean, if my in-laws, who are in their 70's, typically democrats, but rather socially conservative (my father-in-law was a minister and is a very proud tea-totaler who has never had a drink), if they support medical marijuana, why not just legalize it already?
Then I saw these on the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kampia...39670.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-br...52870.html

So what say you? Legalize or no?

Well, legalizing marijuana for personal usage could be a good thing, I mean it's not illegal to smoke marijuana in Turkey for example, but selling, growing and possession to a certain amount is a punishable crime. I believe that the US should follow a similar policy. This won't affect the number of marijuana users, and certainly will not motivate people to use drugs.
But legalizing marijuana in terms of sale, possession of high amounts and of course production should stay illegal, as legality brings with it a lot of unwanted consequences, such as social breakdowns.

People who want to speak of heavy taxation and revenues for the government from the drug money are fools, who put short term "benefits" without thinking of long term damages, like true capitalists.
Drugs have been fought in many countries before the US war on drug was fought. China, with it's multitude of people was struck by opium, which led the government to seize opium and destroy en masse, while the imperialist Britain sought to re-establish this lucrative trade.

I'm sure if marijuana sale(and with it, sales of harder drugs will follow) and production is made legal, I'm sure we'll see a lot more opium wars in the future.

[Jackalope]

To quote Bill Hicks-"I loved when Bush came out and said, "We are losing the war against drugs." You know what that implies? There's a war being fought, and the people on drugs are winning it."

I think the so called war on drugs is complete bullshit. Marijuana should be legalized for personal and medical use and be taxed to help our economy.

I don't smoke weed. I don't like the taste or feeling and every time I've tried it I've gotten a headache. I don't take aspirin or other pain killers and I don't drink alcohol or things with caffeine. When I'm 18 I'm going to support legalization/decriminalization though.

Well said, and if I may say, you show more wisdom than many adults.

One rep point incoming.

[Ocato]

To quote Bill Hicks-"I loved when Bush came out and said, "We are losing the war against drugs." You know what that implies? There's a war being fought, and the people on drugs are winning it."

I think the so called war on drugs is complete bullshit. Marijuana should be legalized for personal and medical use and be taxed to help our economy.

I don't smoke weed. I don't like the taste or feeling and every time I've tried it I've gotten a headache. I don't take aspirin or other pain killers and I don't drink alcohol or things with caffeine. When I'm 18 I'm going to support legalization/decriminalization though.

Well said, and if I may say, you show more wisdom than many adults.

One rep point incoming.

Thanks!
I think a lot of people hear something and accept it as the truth without looking into it. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in the US right now.

[kılıç_mehmet]

Well said, and if I may say, you show more wisdom than many adults.

One rep point incoming.

Thanks!
I think a lot of people hear something and accept it as the truth without looking into it. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in the US right now.

Taxed, you say. Meaning you think of allowing the production and sale of marijuana, and perhaps other drugs in the US for recreational use, to turn this willing poisoning of your people legal by the state, to "profit" from it.
I'm not really sure how well you profit from the existing taxt revenues, and how the people here tell me that the rich are not taxed enough.
I'm sure the big drug barons of today will turn into emperors of their own right in the future, if you actually want to legalize the production, sale and import of these drugs. And I'm certain with the vision of your free market economy, you will force other countries to legalize marijuana and other drugs in their respective countries, and declare war upon them if they don't.

As I said, legalization for personal use is fine, but the selling and and production of such things should be stricly prohibited, and those who still continue to violate international laws should be punished in the most severe means possible, including death.

[JohnDG]

I get blazed all the time and nobody seems to notice it so odds are half the people around you are high. I recently caught my grandpas brother smoking pot and now we smoke together. What should be illegal is perscription drugs, how can you jail people for breaking a crime thats also a corporate business.

[kılıç_mehmet]

I get blazed all the time and nobody seems to notice it so odds are half the people around you are high. I recently caught my grandpas brother smoking pot and now we smoke together. What should be illegal is perscription drugs, how can you jail people for breaking a crime thats also a corporate business.

How nice, really. Grand-uncle and nephew smoke such things together. I'm sure it's a sign of how well your nation developes, eh?
I see this as a sign of depravity and destruction of family virtues. Family members are not ashamed of eachother anymore. Soon, the people on the streets will not be ashamed of eachother anymore, and the streets will turn into a pile of every depraved vice and lawlessness.
Way to go in destroying your society, friend.

What you say should be illegal is "prescription drugs". Well, obviously these drugs are sold via prescriptions, and are there to help the people. What is this marijuana that you so glorify? What makes it so much better that medicine, produced by pharmacists and approved by doctors, should be illegal and this plant you use to escape the world be legal instead?
Well, I think you people are demented, and should be put on serious prescription drugs.

[Ocato]

Thanks!
I think a lot of people hear something and accept it as the truth without looking into it. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in the US right now.

Taxed, you say. Meaning you think of allowing the production and sale of marijuana, and perhaps other drugs in the US for recreational use, to turn this willing poisoning of your people legal by the state, to "profit" from it.
I'm not really sure how well you profit from the existing taxt revenues, and how the people here tell me that the rich are not taxed enough.
I'm sure the big drug barons of today will turn into emperors of their own right in the future, if you actually want to legalize the production, sale and import of these drugs. And I'm certain with the vision of your free market economy, you will force other countries to legalize marijuana and other drugs in their respective countries, and declare war upon them if they don't.

As I said, legalization for personal use is fine, but the selling and and production of such things should be stricly prohibited, and those who still continue to violate international laws should be punished in the most severe means possible, including death.

Yes, I believe people should be able to buy marijuana and use it for personal reasons like they'd buy a beer or some cigarettes. I don't see how that becomes the willing poisoning of my people when tobacco and alcohol have been available for years.
I also fail to understand what you mean by violating international laws. I never said anything about importing either.

I get blazed all the time and nobody seems to notice it so odds are half the people around you are high. I recently caught my grandpas brother smoking pot and now we smoke together. What should be illegal is perscription drugs, how can you jail people for breaking a crime thats also a corporate business.

How nice, really. Grand-uncle and nephew smoke such things together. I'm sure it's a sign of how well your nation developes, eh?
I see this as a sign of depravity and destruction of family virtues. Family members are not ashamed of eachother anymore. Soon, the people on the streets will not be ashamed of eachother anymore, and the streets will turn into a pile of every depraved vice and lawlessness.
Way to go in destroying your society, friend.

What you say should be illegal is "prescription drugs". Well, obviously these drugs are sold via prescriptions, and are there to help the people. What is this marijuana that you so glorify? What makes it so much better that medicine, produced by pharmacists and approved by doctors, should be illegal and this plant you use to escape the world be legal instead?
Well, I think you people are demented, and should be put on serious prescription drugs.

The problem with man made prescription drugs is that they are beginning to be made for everything. Just because a doctor approved something doesn't make it completely safe either. Doctors in America seem to prescribe something for everything, even a common cold or "restless leg syndrome."
I recommend reading this: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/.../index.htm

[Waratah]

The decriminalizing of drug use I fully support and think it would be easy to do in America and my country Australia. I am undecided on the legalization of drugs and believe it would be much harder to implement successfully. To decrease harm to society there should be less funding(as a percentage of drug policy) on policing of drug laws and more on health and education. I think it is about 10 to 15 % we spend on health and education in Australia.

I think someone said earlier that they had reduction in smoking use(tobacco)in there home country. Same in Australia through education, anti smoking campaigns and ban of advertisements.

In Sydney we have had 1 "safe injection rooms" where statistics have shown reduction deaths, less needles in the streets and playgrounds. There has not been an increase in drug use. With all the evidence in support of the "safe injecting rooms" they are still reluctant to introduce more and some people want to get rid of the rooms altogether.

[JohnDG]

I get blazed all the time and nobody seems to notice it so odds are half the people around you are high. I recently caught my grandpas brother smoking pot and now we smoke together. What should be illegal is perscription drugs, how can you jail people for breaking a crime thats also a corporate business.

How nice, really. Grand-uncle and nephew smoke such things together. I'm sure it's a sign of how well your nation developes, eh?
I see this as a sign of depravity and destruction of family virtues. Family members are not ashamed of eachother anymore. Soon, the people on the streets will not be ashamed of eachother anymore, and the streets will turn into a pile of every depraved vice and lawlessness.
Way to go in destroying your society, friend.

What you say should be illegal is "prescription drugs". Well, obviously these drugs are sold via prescriptions, and are there to help the people. What is this marijuana that you so glorify? What makes it so much better that medicine, produced by pharmacists and approved by doctors, should be illegal and this plant you use to escape the world be legal instead?
Well, I think you people are demented, and should be put on serious prescription drugs.

Lol! No really I did laugh, because me and a family member smoke "Marijuana" together the whole world is doomed there will be rape, murder and all sorts of vile debauchery meanwhile skeletons will pile up in the streets. I'm sorry but "Marijuana" has been around for a very long time and society has always been fine with it. No when I smoke I am not ashamed, in fact I tend to treat other's with more respect, gratitude and do constructive things I would normally not want to. Sorry If I become a calmer, more sincere, non violent, happy and constructive person for smoking "Marijuana".

It's just a better alternative to using "Prescription" drug's which are not meant to fix the problem but slightly make it a little better so you continue to need them and never go back to 100% health.

[Jackalope]

I think a lot of people hear something and accept it as the truth without looking into it. Ignorance is one of the biggest problems in the US right now.

Yes, I believe you are correct.

There seems to be a common perception that advocates for legalization are just a bunch of weed heads that want to get high legally. It's nice to see someone advocating for legalization who's doing so because it's good policy.

Even here, where we have legal medicinal MJ, and where use and simple possession of small amounts is tolerated (even if technically illegal), it's still a joke. I use MJ medicinally (I don't really enjoy the high any more), but as none of my conditions are on the state-approved list, I can't get a card and am legally in the same category as recreational users.

We have far too many people in prison for mala prohibita crimes, and while drug abuse is a legitimate public concern, it ought to be handled as a public health and education issue, not a law enforcement concern.

Of course, mala in se crimes committed by drug (ab)users ought to remain under the purview of the justice system. It's my view that the aspects of drug (ab)use that cause actual harm to others in society can be covered by sufficiently law without prohibition and the associated damage to liberty.

Alcohol prohibition was such a complete disaster in the US that you'd think we would have learned.

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How nice, really. Grand-uncle and nephew smoke such things together. I'm sure it's a sign of how well your nation developes, eh?
I see this as a sign of depravity and destruction of family virtues. Family members are not ashamed of eachother anymore. Soon, the people on the streets will not be ashamed of eachother anymore, and the streets will turn into a pile of every depraved vice and lawlessness.
Way to go in destroying your society, friend.

Yeah, because I'm sure that no one in your culture partakes in intoxicants as a family. Ever enjoy a little Raki with the family, or know people who do? Or some of your local wines? Do you judge yourself (if you drink) or them so harshly?

As I recall, while illegal, frowned upon by both Islam and secular authorities, and perhaps not currently in vogue, use of hashish has been part of Turkish and middle eastern culture for millennia.

Perhaps you think marijuana and alcohol are somehow different? That catching a buzz from a fermented or distilled beverage is somehow morally superior than from smoking or otherwise ingesting a naturally growing herb?

In my experience, they are different only in that alcohol abuse is a much greater social ill than marijuana abuse.