Why Barney Frank and Ron Paul are wrong on drug legalization

CNN ^ | June 30th, 2011 | William Bennett

[KantianBurke]

Read the whole thing if one is interested in the drug warrior mindset. Bennett should get a clue and stick to the casinos.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I’m for turning the criminalization of pot over to the states. If a state wants to legalize it, fine with me. If it wants to keep it illegal, fine with me. Bennett’s arguments don’t go to that issue, which is what Frank and Paul want to do. And Bennett’s arguments about people being in jail for “trafficking” is misleading. You can possess a pretty small amount of pot or other drugs and be deemed to be “trafficking.”

[ohioWfan]

Starting with the basics, keeping drugs illegal is one of the best ways to keep drugs out of the hands -- and brains -- of children. We know three things here: First, children who don't use drugs continually tell us one of the reasons they don't is precisely because they are illegal.

This point is enough to keep pot illegal. It is a deterrant for enough kids (and responsible adults) to make it worth it.

Though obviously a complex issue, legalizing a dangerous drug is a bad idea.

[tacticalogic]

I think Barney and Ron both support the bill, but for different reasons.

Barney thinks the fed should give the states permission to legalize it if they want.

Ron thinks it was always their decision to make in the first place, and the fed didn't have any business telling them they couldn't.

[erod]

Ping for later

[tacticalogic]

Though obviously a complex issue, legalizing a dangerous drug is a bad idea.

It's being made more complex than it needs to be (sometimes I suspect intentionally) by conflating the question of whether it should be legalized with the question of who should have the authority to make that decision.

[AuH2ORepublican]

bttt

[Tolsti2]

I’m a relatively moral person. The fact that they’re illegal kept me off them. I tried tobacco, booze, and anything else you can get legally. If meth or pot or whatever were legal and in stores I’d certainly have tried them as well.

Most liberals and libertarians don’t give a crap though. If it feels good, do it.

[stuartcr]

Is pot more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There's big, big business in jails and prisons. That's what the war on drugs is ALL about.

It's a scam to get revenue for the state or county to hire more unionized cops, more unionized sheriff deputies and more unionized prison guards, on the backs of mostly 25 to 30 year old men.

[stuartcr]

So, have you become an alcoholic or regular smoker? What do you think would happen to you, if you tried pot?

[headsonpikes]

To rephrase:

“The government saved me from myself!”

Whip-kisser placemarker.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

One can follow the morality of the issue or follow the money. I’m cynical and recommend following the money.

[Texas Eagle]

The "War On Drugs" is a misnomer. It would be better to call it a battle against drug use because drugs will always be a part of society. The goal is not to eradicate its use, but to keep it as minimally invasive as possible.

Our prisons are not filled with people who were simply caught with drugs on them. They were caught in a commission of another crime and were on drugs at the time.

As for drug-related crime, it would behoove potheads to take a long drag on a doobie and contemplate this: Why is there so much drug related crime in Mexico when possession for personal use is legal?

Try not to blame America. It that's the only thought that comes to mind, take a second hit.

[Buddygirl]

I am not interested in getting into a lot of discussion with those who want to legalize pot. I tried that recently. But, I got to say this, those who want to legalize the things that are illegal, pot, marriages between same sex, prostitution, etc.... these people are obsessed with these things that do damage to our bodies and societal mores. Do these people have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder???

[truthfreedom]

Reagan originally nominated Mel Bradford to the position, but due Bradford’s pro-Confederate views Bennett was appointed in his place. This event was later marked as the watershed in the divergence between paleoconservatives, who backed Bradford, and neoconservatives, led by Irving Kristol, who supported Bennett. It was in 1986 that Bennett switched from the Democratic to the Republican party

From Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bennett

[ohioWfan]

I know the arguments trying to equate pot with alcohol, stuart.

Alcohol is only dangerous when overused. Alcohol does not give a 'high' when used in moderation. Only getting drunk does that, and it is highly dangerous.

Pot has one purpose only. Losing control of ones faculties and getting a high.

It's a bad idea to make it legal.

[Reagan Man]

Barney Frank and Ron Paul are crackpots! A liberal homo kook and a libertarian kook who between them don’t have an iota of commonsense. And National Review is no better. Stuck on stupid.

Drug use is harmful and additive whether its legal or illegal. Making it easier for people to get their hands on drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, opium, morphine and methamphetamine only perpetuates an evil cycle that in the end will ultimately destroy the lives of more people, undermine the family unit and make for an even sicker society then we have today.

[ohioWfan]

I'm not cyncial and follow the morality of the issue.

That's why I come down hard on the side of keeping a dangerous, risky drug illegal.

[stuartcr]

I guess you’re convinced then, that if someone is high, they have no control over their faculties. ok