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Drug Legalization: Why It Wouldn't Work in the United States
Police Chief Magazine ^ | May 2014 | By Edmund Hartnett, Deputy Chief and Executive Officer, Narcotics Division, New York City Police Dep

Posted on 05/17/2014 4:07:46 PM PDT by mgist

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To: mgist

It used to work just fine. And if done correctly a lot of problems go away, the black market just can’t compete with Pfizer and DuPont on quality, price or distribution network.


21 posted on 05/17/2014 6:24:20 PM PDT by discostu (Seriously, do we no longer do "phrasing"?!)
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To: mgist

Did you know that if you score too high on the test, the police won’t hire you? Today, they only want drones and mules in uniforms. Head knockers to the front of the line. Remember, you are no longer a “Citizen” to the folks-in-blue, you’re a “Civilian”.

This article is written at a high school level with old stats, long-winded sentences and poor structure.

If you want to smoke weed, go ahead. Tain’t no bidness of nobody. You give up the Maker’s Mark, and they’ll give up the sinsemilla. Why are LEO’s trying to control people’s personal/private/non-violent behavior?
I’m pro-choice. You smoke ‘em if you want ‘em.

BTW -Grand Pops rode an Indian when he was a cop back in the bad old days. Pops had to settle for a Harley.


22 posted on 05/17/2014 6:42:29 PM PDT by Macoozie (1) Win the Senate 2) Repeal Obamacare 3) Impeach Roberts)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Drug Legalization: Why It Wouldn't Work in the United States

The only thing worse than drug legalization is drug Prohibition.

Tyrannical contraband law will never solve such a problem; it will only invariably make it worse. We saw the same thing with alcohol (a drug worse than all other drugs combined).

The crusading prohibitionist mind, with its hysterical, self-assured embrace of overt Tyranny, is more of a threat than any drug.

Asset forfeiture, no-knock warrants, long prison sentences for non-criminals, destruction of the Fourth Amendment, corruption in law enforcement, black markets, violent crime: all are predictable corollaries of the Tyrannical War on Drugs.

Prohibitionism is the only "treatment" which is far worse than the problem it seeks to address!

23 posted on 05/17/2014 6:53:38 PM PDT by sargon
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I'm with you. Plus I'll add that they only need to register as drug users first and agree to cancel their voter registration and driver's licenses.

Most substances of abuse are comparatively cheap to manufacture, particularly compared to the societal costs of the war on drugs and the parallel druggie war on the populace to plunder them for the drugs.

24 posted on 05/17/2014 7:05:39 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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“legalization would help to create a large black market for drugs”; Just like the black market for alcohol and nicotine after it was made legal... er ah... wait...


25 posted on 05/17/2014 7:16:43 PM PDT by RC51
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To: RC51

PROHIBITION is a lesson in history, and those unwilling to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Some will always seek that which is forbidden fruit while young.....so the wisdom is that ‘regulating morality’ is difficult at best. Some things need to be controlled, but to what extent do we continue to lock up teenagers and young adults....

That’s the system creating criminals where none otherwise would have existed long term. Most young people outgrow a tendency to criminal activity. Even the hardest criminals are only institutionalized repeat offenders at a rate of 4-5%...


26 posted on 05/17/2014 7:26:36 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: RIghtwardHo

I agree...a lesson that should have been learned from Prohibition.


27 posted on 05/17/2014 7:27:35 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: mgist

With most criminal activity either directly, or indirectly related to illegal drugs, imagine the effect on law enforcement if drugs are legalized? What will be done with all the excess police? Reassign them to Obama’s private security force?


28 posted on 05/17/2014 7:31:34 PM PDT by fso301 (uires that you believe)
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To: jmacusa

Since the ‘War on Drugs’ there has been no ability to control use and look at the cartels infiltrations of our borders, increase in US use, and the under ground black markets...not to mention the turf wars and murders by gangs. Other groups trying to control the drug channels like Jamaican Posse in 1970s, Asian Gangs 1990s, etc.

Even government agencies like CIA involvement, it’s been total corruption of our governments local, state and federal, which is now leading to Tyranny by destroying our search and seizure laws implementing police state tactics and where does it end? We hear of mistakes where innocents have their doors knocked down, family members injured or killed...why? The results are screaming wrong approach!


29 posted on 05/17/2014 7:35:26 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: mgist
Marijuana prohibition is dead, Chief. It's not coming back.


30 posted on 05/17/2014 7:35:53 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: arista

“The job of the police is to enforce the law not to tell us what the law should be.”

Excellent point and the only point I think is worth mentioning I response to this article.


31 posted on 05/17/2014 7:47:02 PM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Are!)
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To: Ken H

Also by Quinnipiac, Hillary Clinton defeating GOP candidates. Vote for Hillary then because she has overwhelming support in the polls???


32 posted on 05/17/2014 8:25:08 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; albertp; Alexander Rubin; Allosaurs_r_us; amchugh; ...
The stench is strong with this one...



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

33 posted on 05/17/2014 9:29:43 PM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: Always A Marine

Bravo, brother. Well said!

Our oath is to the Constitution. The WOSD trashes it. Outlaw the drug war and arrest drug warriors and their groupies!

Semper fi,

D. C. Wright
USMC Retired
III/OK


34 posted on 05/17/2014 11:04:03 PM PDT by dcwusmc (A FREE People have no sovereign save Almighty GOD!!! III OK We are EVERYWHERE!!!)
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To: mgist
There's one big flaw on the drug prohibition side. They ignore the fact that drugs are illegal, but they are still available to anyone, who wants to get them. So, what does drug prohibition actually accomplish. They also ignore the constitutional issue. The Federal Government has zero authority to do squat about drugs. They ignore any cost-benefit analysis. What is accomplished by drug prohibition and what is the cost?

I believe in freedom. Individuals, families, friends, organizations can accomplish alot more in minimizing the harm from drug use than a cumbersome, expensive, corrupt, police/legal system. The little battalions are more effective than big bureaucracies.

35 posted on 05/17/2014 11:34:42 PM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (You can have a free country or government schools. Choose one.)
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To: Jabba the Nutt

we don’t have prohibition of drugs, or even a war on drugs. We are inundated with deadly drugs. Imagine if people like you are deceived by the cartels/Soros $BILLION campaign, imagine children? They are told its’ medical and good for you.

Pharmaceutical drugs are a perfect example of how drug legalization doesn’t work. Opiates have become the leading cause of accidentals deaths in the US, surpassing alcohol and even car accidents. Afghan poppy fields, protected by our government, have historically the highest production ever. Pure heroin is flooding world markets, and world governments are complicit. We are being deceived like children.

Opiates today are the #1 killer in accidental deaths in the US. Surpassing car accidents and alcohol related deaths.

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/prescription-painkillers-overtake-car-crashes-leading-accidental-death-us/

There is no war on drugs, we are a narco nation. Obama is beholden to the Middle Eastern Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda heroin cartels. Benghazi, Egypt, Syria, Lybia, talks with Iran etc are examples of Obama using the US military, and resources to help the Muslim Brotherhood. Everything he has done in the middle east, proves that.

The drug legalization efforts are funded by drug cartels, and bankers who launder their money. They want more access to American markets and have a need to launder enormous amounts of cash with ease. Those thinking for a minute that the sociopaths who make their money off the misery of others, will bring their products into regulated, taxed, markets, and sing Koombaya, are horribly mistaken

The cartels murder competitors, they kill women and children for revenge of anyone else who gets in their way, and buy off politicians and judges. Chavez “legalized” drugs and turned Venezuela into the murder capital of the world. They have cocaine on every corner, but no toilet paper.

Remember that heroin is produced in Afghanistan. These levels of pure cheap heroin aren’t getting without some level of government complicity. Gang members have testified that the DEA has agreements with the Sinaloa cartels to bring the drugs Chicago. Remember the ATF gave murderous Sinaloa arsenals of weapons in Fast and Furious? Just like the State Dept is doing with Muslim Brotherhood, a heroin carel, in the middle east.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/03/us-bank-mexico-drug-gangs

“We are under the same yoke that China was under during the opium wars. This is not accidental or by chance.” Heroin was always part of the legalization strategy, it is legal in Rx, the FDA has even approved it for children. Heroin turned China, Iran, Afghanistan, into slave nations. It was intentional.


36 posted on 05/18/2014 4:26:30 AM PDT by mgist (.)
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To: mgist

Interesting article on zerohedge, Friday. Or maybe it was the comments.

How Marijuana Legalization in America Is Destroying Mexican Drug Cartel Business

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-16/how-marijuana-legalization-america-destroying-mexican-drug-cartel-business


37 posted on 05/18/2014 6:26:42 AM PDT by KGeorge (Till we're together again, Gypsy girl. May 28, 1998- June 3, 2013)
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To: mgist

With respect, it’s a very dated article that is groping for a cohesive argument. And writing as a chief of a narcotics division, he can save us the crocodile tears of concern for those poor unfortunates who are addicted. It sort of begs the question whether they exhibited that concern before or after they smashed down some doors in a no knock raid, or if they were consumed with angst before or after they received the proceeds from asset forfeitures.

While I’m no particular fan of legalization, I am strongly opposed to the police state abuses that have come about as a result of prohibition. Interestingly, the chief doesn’t really discuss that in the article.

I don’t necessarily view this as an all or none issue where the restriction policy on the one hand prevents a legalization or decriminalization argument on the other. But as time passes, it is becoming harder and harder to justify the actions being taken against citizens as a result of a generally failed “war” on drugs. I’ve seen the evils of the current failed policy and am willing to try something else including legalization.


38 posted on 05/18/2014 6:33:25 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Two parties, one agenda. It's the uniparty.)
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To: mgist

The war on drugs is a war against America, it’s people, and it’s freedom. Supporters of the war on drugs have brought is more death, destruction, misery and loss of freedom than any drug would. This police chief is just trying to protect his own power to abuse citizens and the constitution.


39 posted on 05/18/2014 7:37:41 AM PDT by zeugma (Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened - Dr. Seuss)
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To: Kackikat

‘’The War on Drugs’’ has been a total failure from it’s inception. It has made criminals rich, filled prison, trampled civil liberties,s and never once prohibited anyone from getting any drug desired. Drug dealers don’t ask for id.That’s why it’s available to kids. Legalization would put an end to the criminality of it as did the repeal of Prohibition put an end to Al Capone and the ‘’bootleggers’’.


40 posted on 05/18/2014 10:34:41 AM PDT by jmacusa
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