Drug Decriminalization
 

possesion of small amounts of drugs have been decriminalized in colombia and perhaps portugal. i personally think this is good and latin america is headed in that direction. america is making too much money in the prison industry. i think the war on drugs is racist and misguided. anyone planning a trip to colombia? i've started my internet research. thoughts?

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Keep drugs illegal. If everyone could get whatever they wanted it would be a whole lot worse.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Drug decriminalization stands on the grounds that if something isn't illegal, the want for it decreases. This doesn't take into consideration those who are addicted, those with mental disorders looking for ways to control their mental disorders, etc.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

How does america makew money off illegal drugs? Also explain how its racist?

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I think they should decriminalize marijuana. Treat it like alcohol. Too much money is being spent waging a war to criminalize people that just laugh and get the munchies.

The harder stuff... I'm not so sure about decriminalizing.

I think it's also important to note that just because a drug is decriminalized, it doesn't mean that employers cannot require drug screening before hiring. I know places that test for tobacco. The local utility company (DP&L) will terminate any employee that has tobacco in their system. Same with Reynold's & Reynold's.

I'm more of a libertarian. I think the war on drugs should be handled like a public health risk... not a crime.

I do think that if one commits a crime while on drugs, they should be charged with additional charges (as with alcohol).

My girlfriend spent some time in Amsterdam when she was younger. They legalized marijuana and she said things weren't all that bad socially. In fact, she thought things were far more laid back. They almost look at us like hold-outs from an extremist regime.

Once legalized, more research can go into MJ's medical uses, and the market can be taxed (extra revenue).

Not to mention... those who have the money to have a decent defense in court always get slapped on the wrist or charges dropped.

Those are my thoughts. Should come in a small package like cigarettes, only with a green label.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

There is quite a bit of corruption in local politics and law enforcement. They often make a killing. Big bucks in the black market.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

The war on drugs is a terribly expensive failure. We need to rethink our approach.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I'm reminded of Prohibition. One alcohol was criminalized it created a black market and criminal cartels that rocked the nation. Prohibition often has side effects that are far worse than dealing with users in a one on one manner.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I have a family with serious addiction issues so I'll take a stab at this although I am no expert.

The prison industry is huge. We spend millions housing 'criminals' who are really addicts while providing no treatment for them and doing nothing to help decrease the recidivism rate.

Also the issues of race are obvious to anyone who has ever been in a prison, jail or juvenile detention center. There is a vastly disproportionate minority population incarcerated. Not because minorities commit more crimes but because they are arrested more often, they have fewer resources for defense, and receive harsher sentences.

I'll just start with that right off the top of my head.

BTW, I am for decriminalization of marijuana. I am not for decriminalization of of other drugs. As a medical professional I am fearful of just what kinds of mistakes can be made with chemicals that can lead to death of disability. However I do think that all first time drug arrests should lead to education about and treatment of addiction rather than criminal penalties.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Oh... c'mon... we know there isn't any disproportionate number of incarcerated minorities. And we know they get the best public defenders tax payer money can buy. There isn't a single problem here. And treatment??? C'mon... they just need to be locked up and get it together. Rigggghhhhht? :nah








If you can't tell... I fully agree with you. :thumbsup

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I am for decriminalization of everything,
and believe that personal responsibility
is the only way.
We are taught in rehab that the exact
same percentage of rehab people
as those who do not go thru a formal rehab
defeat their addictions, for the simple reason
that it is when one decides to get clean that they get clean.

Being as how I can get anything "illegal"
from someone in High School, this seems
to effectively negate any war on drugs, to me.

My war on drugs involves the position that
if you are addicted to something, you are
going to pay a price that I am not willing
to support you in.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

titus2woman covered it pretty well. huge contracts go into feeding and housing criminals. more fines, lawyers fees and court costs. it actually costs america more money and is a burden to the system than to have rehab programs. blacks use more crack and whites use more cocaine, but the penalties for crack are greater than for cocaine even though it is same drug. more minorities are targeted for drug possesion than whites living in affluent neighborhoods even though usage percentages may be the same. studies have been shown to prove this. even conservatives like george will favor decriminalization because it costs the state too much, but the prison contracts are raking in big bucks. more minorities with felonies means less voters and less job opportunities keeping non violent minorities oppressed.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Im for decriminalization....I think its a racket...when we are building more prisons and people are making a killing the more prisons that are built and the more prisoners they have in those prisons and also when pot users have harsher sentences than violent offenders...somethings wrong with that picture...if they aren't a hardened criminal when they go in...you can be sure they probably will when they come out.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

And anyone who has ever smoked MJ normally asks, "What's the big deal? Why is this so illegal? Dude, that picket fense is funny!!! Pass the Doritos..." lol

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

So the gov doesn't want to decrease prisons because it cost so much, prisons have pull to keep them open? When a robbery is reported in my area seems like 90% of suspects are minorities. I don't know of one minority that didn't want to make it or do right that didn't.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

So those for legalization think about the people who are now going around trying to eat other people. Multiply that by many thousands of times. Also Marijuana is not as harmless as some people think. I smoked hundreds of times as a hippie and yes it can certainly be addictive and cause mental damage and is a gateway drug if nothing else. Society would be better off without it.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Why is it that Doritos always seems to be the food of choice when a pothead gets the munchies? :D

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I am really not sure what to say to this... although it's easy to say that someone who really wants to make it will and make it sound like fact it is a fallacy.

60 minutes did a show several years back. In it they filmed two college friends who were from nearly identical backgrounds and had similar educations. Both were attractive, the same age, height/weight proportionate, etc. Both were intelligent and articulate. Difference: one black, one white.

They secretly filmed themselves applying for jobs, trying to find housing and shopping. Time after time the black man was told that an apartment was already rented, a position already filled etc. and the white fellow following behind him was offered shelter and employment. More than once the white fellow was offered help when shopping and the black man was ignored or worse yet followed around as if he were going to steal something.

As a person who always believed that 'anyone who wants to can make it' I was horrified... and still am. I am not sure what you consider 'wanting to make it' but I believe that most people, not able to house themselves or feed their families would be inclined to consider crime as an alternative. And many people who have 'made it' have not always been angelic... they just were not caught.

Very grey...

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Yeah maybe... but I've never known someone to smoke a joint and beat the snot out of their wife, start fights with neighbors, beat their kids, vomit all over themselves, wreck cars, etc. like they do on alcohol, yet it is legal. The biggest problem is that they seem to lose motivation... not a huge problem in a generation where video games, tv and overeating are how most people spend their free time anyway... I not sure that being stoned is a hindrance to any of those things.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I was also a drinker for some years and I actually agree with your analysis between pot and alcohol. Nonetheless speaking for the education of those who may not know Marijuana can be very dangerous. Not always but you never know what you are getting hold of till you do it.

I stopped one day to buy a lid off a guy on the way to work. It was Jamacian and I thought I will just take a few hits to test it out. Within just a few minutes it felt like I was tripping. Then I had to drive to work and face several hours of the worse time I ever had on the job. I was so glad when I came down. Due to my altered perception I could have been killed or killed someone else there.

Because I know the potential of how hard a Marijuana stone can be I certainly dont see it as just a small thing.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I did say "I don't know of one" as in my experience. Didn't mean there are no issues. I know about housing discrimination myself, because we are a interacial couple were denied housing. My point is that even with issues every minority I know with character and drive has done well. Many people real issues are lifestyle choices and stronholds of the mind.

I wonder for those who say prison is racism believe we should let a robber off the hook if they are minority? Many use race as cop out for behavoir when many times its there lifestyle that is the main problem.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Well... I guess that explains a lot of our questions about you Michael. :heeheehee

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

ROFL. Doritos rock. So do frosted mini-wheats right out of the box.... and glazed doughnuts... oh and Pringles. lol

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I think I saw that 60 minutes. It was eye opening.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

True. But isn't that because it's not legal and people have to buy it from mysterious characters?

My girlfriend spent some time in Amsterdam. They have restaurants with bongs and hookahs on the tables were people smoke it freely. You can also buy a pack of it like cigaretts. I asked her if she smoked while there. She giggled and said, "What do you think?" LOL She never ran into buying something that was laced.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

won't get any support from me... I wish Alcohol was illegal.....

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

We tried that before... it was a disaster.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiYqFXmVAFg

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Aquila - Prohibition was a response to problems in society.
I would not call it a total disaster, as it did curb the rampant alcoholism that was loose, at the time.
However, it did create some other issues...

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Bro... alcoholism skyrocketted. What are you talking about? lol

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I agree.

:yourock

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Everyone knows this stuff isn't real, the affects aren't real and in fact, thei stuff doesn't even happen any more.

It was all staged and we all know it!


(yeah right...)

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

But I never said it was laced. It was just hard hitting pot far as I knew. I dont know how it is on the street now but in the early 70's when Im talking about it was a normal thing in my neighborhood as well as other places to get stoned every day. It was not as out in the open as if it were legal just saying it was normal for many of us back then.

I dont see smoking pot as something cool and basically harmless. I dont see how a Christian could ever defend pot smoking.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

There are many things that are legal that I don't believe a Christian should defend.

The question is... should it be decriminalized? Is the system flooded with people being criminalized over something that is more of a health issue than a criminal issue?

I think a case can be made that we're wasting untold amounts of money combating folks who just want to chill on the weekends and have an insatiable appitite for Doritos.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

SO?????? I said I "wish".... didn't say I favored legislation for it to come to fruition.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

See thats my problem with what you are saying. Pot just chills one out and makes them hungry. Its just a little nicey thing. Well plenty of times that can be true. But pot can be a dangerous thing to ones mental health especially.

And if one is ripped to the gills driving and working either one can put self and others at risk. Some pot can hit as hard as some acid.

Im against legalization.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Can you give me a link?

I distinctly remember doing some research that showed alcohol consumption fell sharply during Prohibition.

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Bro. Robbins, maybe I've misunderstood you. You said,

I was just pointing out the way things were when it was. You wish things were that way again?

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Michael,

It can be dangerous when grown and enhanced, and even laced, on the black market. In other countries, they govern potency.

I don't want to criticize you for be against legalization. Your opinion is valued. To me... it's stupid and expensive. Of course, I've got friends and family that stretch throughout Canada and Europe. So my opinion is enfluenced by their first hand knowledge and understanding.

Here's a little news on it: http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/two-ma...law-this-month

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

Re: Drug Decriminalization
 

I know it happens.