Officers in Call to Legalise Use of Drugs

Edinburgh Evening News (UK) ^ | 14 Apr 2006

[Know your rights]

SCOTTISH police officers have sparked anger after calling for the legalisation of all drugs - including heroin and cocaine.

The Strathclyde Police Federation has called for a dramatic change of direction in the battle on drugs crime, and the issue will be debated later this month.

The body, which represents 7000 officers, is set to argue that all drugs should be licensed in the same way as cigarettes and alcohol. Officers claim this would cut drug deaths and divert police resources to other crime-fighting priorities. It is the first time that an organisation representing officers has made such a demand.

Opponents today said the move would only increase the availability of drugs. But the federation believes millions of pounds are wasted on enforcing existing laws, with little impact on the availability of drugs on the street.

Inspector Jim Duffy, chairman of the federation, said: "We are not winning the war against drugs and we need to think about different ways to tackle it."

The Scottish Executive said that drug legislation is reserved to Westminster.

[robertpaulsen]

"Gangs arm themselves to the teeth and kill each other over turf - this spills over to entire sections of cities where society has broken down. Bodies found on a daily basis, children shot through windows at thier birthday party, and the law abiding residents prisoners and helpless in a war zone where the police are practically powerless."

I bet if you were around during Prohibition, you'd try to convince us that all this would go away if only we would legalize alcohol. Well, we did, and it didn't go away, now did it?

Still want to promise us utopia if only we would legalize all drugs?

[robertpaulsen]

"I wish FR would take out its next poll on whether to allow the private sector to regulate at least some of the less dangerous drugs, like marijuana."

Since the subject of this article is the legalization of ALL drugs, why don't you wish for a FR poll on that issue?

[robertpaulsen]

"that unless the public decides to wake up, the government will take more and more control over our lives in the name of protecting us from ourselves."

Therefore, we need to get the government out of our lives before any talk about legalizing any other drugs.

[pennboricua]

So let me understand this, alcohol made illegal, consumption up?

[Mark Felton]

The "general welfare" mentioned in Section 8 does in no way give authority to the Feds to do any thing they can possibly justify. This blurb bureid deep in the Constitution, fi interepeted to mean "there are no limits to power as long as it can be justified as providing for the general welfare" would fundamentally obviate the need for the majority of the Constitution.

It would also eliminate the need for the 10th amendment.

The section that says "shall make laws" refers only to laws pertinent to Section 8; duries, imposts excise taxes etc etc...

Some fine pring bureid in Section 8 of the US Constituion could never rationally be deemed a superior power to the Amendment Process.

Yet the organzied crime syndicates that have stolen 100% authority of the power of the US government routinely uses such power to further entrench themselves and enrich themselves.


" The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

If you interpret Section 8 to mean the Feds can do anything justifiable for "General Welfare" then there are no powers "not delegated to the US".

Providing for the General Welfare grants 100% authoritarian, depostic powers to the Fed Gov.

All communist governments have been justified as providing for the general Welfare of the people.

The writings of the founding fathers were clear. Furthermore they did not assume such powers when the Constitution was established because they did not intend to assign such powers. It wasnt until after the Civil War that it became established that the FedGov could not be limited by any other domestic power.

[Mark Felton]

Actually, I did not have in mind that the harder drugs would be over the counter, like alcohol.

I was thinking that the harder drugs should be handled more like prescription medicines.

If we can limit prescription drug use on grounds of safety then we certainly can limit rec drug use for same reasons.

But we should not limit rec drug use on grounds that people should not use them for personal recreation.

[Mark Felton]

'Congress can certainly regulate interstate commerce to the extent of forbidding and punishing the use of such commerce as an agency to promote immorality, dishonesty, or the spread of any evil or harm to the people of other States from the State of origin.'' -- Chief Justice Taft, Brooks v. US, 267 U.S. 432 (1925)

There is no basis in the Bible or even in the history of jurisprudence to suggest the use of recreational drugs is immoral, or evil. Like anything they could be harmful, but so are most prescirption drugs if used wrong.

[Mark Felton]

Make all illegals citizens and open the borders -- vast resources would be freed to pursue the drug users. Equally ludicrous.

Really? That is the status quo. That happened 20 years ago, and is about to happen again.

The word "ludicrous" means laughable because of the absurdity (impossibility) of the situation.

LOL. We are living it now. Not ludicrous, but outrageous.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Where in the Constituion does it give the Feds authority to outlaw drugs?

Why it's right next to the article and clause that grants the federal government authority to meddle in public education and healthcare.

[robertpaulsen]

"I was thinking that the harder drugs should be handled more like prescription medicines."

So a heroin user or a cocaine user or a methamphetamine user would get a prescription from a doctor?

I see all kinds of problems with that, especially legal liability, physician ethics, and patient privacy. I don't want the government to know I do heroin.

[KoRn]

"I see all kinds of problems with that, especially legal liability, physician ethics, and patient privacy. I don't want the government to know I do heroin."

Not a great deal of difference between Heroin and Morphine, which is widely prescribed by physicians for chronic severe pain.

[robertpaulsen]

"There is no basis in the Bible or even in the history of jurisprudence to suggest the use of recreational drugs is immoral, or evil"

You asked, "Where in the Constituion does it give the Feds authority to outlaw drugs?" Now you're changing the subject and saying there's no basis in the Bible or even in the history of jurisprudence.

Geez Louise. Make up your mind. I answer one question, complete with a U.S. Supreme Court cite, and now you want a passage from the Bible? Give me a break.

Even if I did cite the Bible, you'd probably scream about the separation of church and state and tell me that the U.S. isn't a theocracy!

Drug use is immoral. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

[robertpaulsen]

Chronic severe pain is one thing. The physician is practicing medicine, insurance pays for the drug, and so what if the government or my employer knows about it?

But I have a problem with everyone knowing I use heroin for recreational purposes, how much, and how often.

[68 grunt]

Well, hell's bells, we've been speculating about you for a long time. Your flippant admission explains much ...

[muawiyah]

"Officers claim this would cut drug deaths and divert police resources to other crime-fighting priorities"

Other crime-fighting priorities such as SEIZING KNIVES ~ the Scots outlawed knives. House to house, drawer by drawer searches will be needed.

[KoRn]

"But I have a problem with everyone knowing I use heroin for recreational purposes, how much, and how often."

I wouldn't post such a thing on a public discussion board. You could get in big trouble! lol

;^)

[muawiyah]

Controlling and regulating something does give the cops the privilege of pushing around the users doesn't it?

Or did you guys have something else on your minds?

[muawiyah]

We were visting relatives a couple of years ago and a guy up the street who'd gotten tired of his doper son coming around and threatening him all the time, and stealing his stuff, shot him.

Man said it was time for the boy to move on to something better than being a doper.

[muawiyah]

Personal production and possession is still unlawful if you are making a mash that can be distilled into a taxable adult beverage.

[muawiyah]

No matter how much you want it we will not let you die in the gutter.

We are going to gather you up and take you to a nice warm place, and then harrass you for the rest of your pitiful life with doctors and lawyers.

That's because we have morality and you don't.