Debunking the Drug War

NY Times ^ | August 9, 2005 | JOHN TIERNEY

[mugs99]

Meth is nasty, nasty, nasty stuff... and it's everywhere.

And has been everywhere since the forties. The War On Some Drugs has not reduced meth use...it has increased meth use.
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[mvpel]

While I'm anti-WOD, I do believe the state can make a compelling interest to make certain drugs or substances illegal through constitutional means. And from what I know of meth, it's one of those substances for which I think the state can make such a case.

Are you in favor of criminal penalties for eating Crystal Drano, perhaps sprinkled over Grape Nuts?

[mugs99]

but even pot can mess up a whole families situation. a tougher stance on all drugs needs to be made

Many things, including religion and television, can mess up a whole family's situation. If we're going to take a tough stand, why not do it across the board? We should stop the evil televangelists from conning old people out of their food money. We should stop Hollywood from making violent movies. We should penalize fat people. Most important of all, we should stop this silly freedom nonsense and require all citizens to obey government dictate for their own good.
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[neverdem]

You've obviously never read any of the anti-WOD material I've contributed over the past six years here at FR.

No, I didn't notice.

While I'm anti-WOD, I do believe the state can make a compelling interest to make certain drugs or substances illegal through constitutional means. And from what I know of meth, it's one of those substances for which I think the state can make such a case.

The amphetamine class of drugs is legally prescribed, e.g. dextroamphetamine. Adderall also includes mixed amphetamine salts. Dextroamphetamine is also issued in the military, especially with aviators, on an as needed basis. I guess there will be Constitutional exceptions. And there will be a black market.

[zarf]

What are your favorite illegal drugs?

Don't have one. Yours?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Are you in favor of criminal penalties for eating Crystal Drano, perhaps sprinkled over Grape Nuts?

No---why don't you dig right into a bowl?

[mvpel]

So why criminalize another chemical substance that is arguably less acutely destructive to the body as Crystal Drano?

[Know your rights]

Many 'conservatives' sit back and cheer the WOsD.... guess it never occurs to them that giving government MORE power that it actually posses just encourages more unlawful and illegitimate encroachments.

Or maybe they think those in power will always oppose only the same liberties that they themselves oppose. If so, they'll eventually have a rude awakening.

[Know your rights]

If an addict is someone who has used a drug in the previous month (a commonly used, if overly broad, definition), then only 5 percent of Americans who have sampled meth would be called addicts, according to the federal government's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

That figure is slightly higher than the addiction rate for people who have sampled heroin (3 percent), but it's lower than for crack (8 percent), painkillers (10 percent), marijuana (15 percent) or cigarettes (37 percent)

Very interesting statistics ... and note that they're based on an overly broad definition of "addiction."

[XHogPilot]

A real dose of sanity in this article. Yes drug abuse is bad. But Tierney's Prohibition analogy is spot on. The cure (Gov't War on Drugs) is far worse than the disease.

[MRMEAN]

Well, at least he didn't say "compulsive gambler", but that gratuitous little dig torpedoed any chance that the rest of the article would be mistaken for dispassionate analysis (assuming the reader wasn't already on bias alert because it's the NYT).

The comment wasn't "gratuitous," substitute "financial" for "medical" in Bennett's statement, and "gambling" for "drugs."

[Boundless]

>> Well, at least he didn't say "compulsive gambler", but
>> that gratuitous little dig torpedoed any chance that
>> the rest of the article would be mistaken for
>> dispassionate analysis ...

> The comment wasn't "gratuitous,"

I'm well aware that it's true. I'm no Bennett fan, but if
I saw it as a needless dig, I'm sure others did as well.

In defense of the writer, insulting Republicans is
probably required by NYT policy.

[ActionNewsBill]

Not a pretty picture with these guys.

Typical.

Maybe you two should head over to this thread and defend the actions of the police.

Sunrise SWAT team shoots man dead in search of drugs at home

[Hemingway's Ghost]

So why criminalize another chemical substance that is arguably less acutely destructive to the body as Crystal Drano?

Please feel free to ask your state legislator that question. But to argue he or she does not have that power under our system of government is folly---that state governments have the power to create and enforce "police power" laws is a legal tradition well-established in this country ever since the first British settlers set foot on these shores.

[eleni121]

The gun was found next to him. I wonder why.

In any case let's say that this was the classic case of the wrong guy at the wrong place. This unfortunate accident should not result in allowing drug dealers the right to sell their insidious evil product.

[ActionNewsBill]

The gun was found next to him. I wonder why.

Well, he did have a concealed carry permit.Last time I checked, the 2nd Amendment enumerates the right of citizens to arm themselves. I see you have a problem with Constitutional rights.

Inside, Diotaiuto had been home for only a few hours after his night shift at one of the two jobs he kept to help pay for the home where he lived with his mother. He had a valid concealed weapons permit and kept a shotgun and a handgun for safety, friends said.

"I know there was a weapon found next to the body." He also said he did not know if detectives found any drugs or whether Diotaiuto fired any shots.

The shooting outraged and confused Diotaiuto's friends, who said he had no criminal record, was not violent and didn't sell drugs. .......

The concealed weapons permit, was a "major factor" in the department's decision to involve the SWAT team, Voss said.

Nice to know you are in favor of cops raiding an innocent man's home and killing him over the fact that he had a CCW permit.

Drugs, what drugs?

[jmc813]

Would it be ok with you if the states, as they already have, made coke, meth, crack, pcp, etc, illegal?

That would be the ideal situation for a person with an originalist view of the Constitution.