Posted on 01/30/2003 6:38:26 AM PST by MrLeRoy
America's war on drugs is costly, ignorant and doesn't work, a federal judge said Tuesday.
Denver U.S. District Judge John Kane Jr., who has been speaking and writing against the nation's drug policy for about five years, won a standing ovation from a packed City Club luncheon at the Brown Palace Hotel.
"I don't favor drugs at all," Kane said.
"What I really am opposed to is the fact that our present policies encourage children to take drugs."
Ending the present policy of interdiction, police action and imprisonment would eliminate the economic incentives for drug dealers to provide drugs to minors, Kane said.
He said the government has no real data and no scientific basis for its approach to illegal drug use.
Since the policy began in the early 1970s, drugs have become easier to obtain and drug use has only increased, he said.
Last summer, Kane said, a friend in his 60s was being treated for cancer. The man joked to his family that he wished he knew where to get marijuana to help him bear the effects of chemotherapy.
The next day, the man's 11-year-old grandson brought him three marijuana cigarettes, Kane said.
"Don't worry, Grandpa - I don't use it myself, but if you need any more just let me know," the judge quoted the boy as saying.
Although officials vow zero tolerance for drugs, even children know that's not reality, Kane said.
"Our national drug policy is inconsistent with the nature of justice, abusive of the nature of authority, and wholly ignorant of the compelling force of forgiveness," he said. "I suggest that federal drug laws be severely cut back."
The federal government should focus on keeping illegal drugs out of the country and regulating the manufacture of drugs transported across state lines.
Each state should decide how to regulate sales and what should be legal or illegal, he said, and the emphasis for government spending should be on treatment.
Not dishonest -- irrelevant to what we were discussing.
Dishonest is 1)ignoring what I did post, and 2) starting a new discussion by only posting the first three sentences. Read the entire opinion, and you'll find that it evolves into an explanation of why the Feds should be allowed to regulate "intrastate' commerce.
It does nothing of the sort.
In post #205, you were not quoting. You gave your interpretation to Article I Section 8.
Wonder when the safety nazis will decide that parents are not qualified to raise their own children and the gov't must step in.
How will anyone be able to protest when the authoritarians use the "it's for the children" argument and paints anyone who disagrees with them as a dangerous drug abuser (smoker) who recklessly endangers children?
If you doubt it could happen look at what happens to people who neglect to put their children in car seats or smoke in the same room. Twenty years ago no one would have suspected a parent could be prosecuted for child abuse for failing to lock their child in a car seat.
The world is slowly going crazy before our eyes.
And some self-proclaimed "conservatives" are greasing the wheels by arguing in support of federal Leviathan.
OK, fine. I'm gonna take my ball and go home. I'll save my debating skills for someone who's serious, like philman_36.
Filburn benefitted by that program. But he grew too much. He could have stored it - no problem. He didn't. Therefore, he had to pay a penalty amounting to less than half the market price. He refused.
Well, could I do it one time?
You can call me a doper all you like---it doesn't bother me one bit. Who knows? It may or may not apply to me in real life. I was calling myself a "doper" because that's what your side seems to label everyone here on FR who dares speak out against the War on Drugs.Over-simplify? Mr. Paulsen, you've done a yeoman's job for your side, but quite frankly you've gotten your arse handed to you on this thread. I wish you'd put aside your personal views on marijuana and try to think about this issue as a conservative, and not a die-hard opponent of the Devil's Weed.
Generally speaking everyone who do'es business or has anything to do with gov't programs gets screwed eventually. People who do get what they deserve. Call it a learning experience.
That's 'cause SATAN planted it, not God! SATAN!
(said in appropriate revival-style preacher cadence and accent)
You should leave the ball. If you take it with you, you might not have to buy another one, from someone in another state.
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