Posted on 07/23/2017 10:14:54 AM PDT by Mariner
The Trump administration is readying for a crackdown on marijuana users under Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
President Trump’s Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, led by Sessions, is expected to release a report next week that criminal justice reform advocates fear will link marijuana to violent crime and recommend tougher sentences for those caught growing, selling and smoking the plant.
Sessions sent a memo in April updating the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice Department (DOJ) component heads on the work of the task force, which he said would be accomplished through various subcommittees. In the memo, Sessions said he has asked for initial recommendations no later than July 27.
“Task Force subcommittees will also undertake a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana to ensure consistency with the Department's overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities,” he wrote.
Criminal justice reform advocates fear Sessions’s memo signals stricter enforcement is ahead.
“The task force revolves around reducing violent crime and Sessions and other DOJ officials have been out there over the last month and explicitly the last couple of weeks talking about how immigration and marijuana increases violent crime,” said Inimai Chettiar, director of the Brennan Center's Justice Program.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
In the full context of Mariner's post, it seems clear that what he meant was that the pot-crime link is not intrinsic but created by pot criminalization. And your examples confirm that point: alcohol addicts don't to any significant degree rob to get booze money because their drug is legal and therefore affordable without recourse to crime.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/alcoholic-couple-sells-baby-boy-for-rs-45-000-to-buy-booze/story-gDoGAGHJgFw9A6Cg3P8KbJ.html
Third World examples are of questionable relevance to the USA.
http://alcoholicsfriend.com/2009/11/understand-why-stealing-things-is-apart-of-alcoholism/
http://www.breakingthecycles.com/blog/2013/06/10/why-addicts-alcoholics-lie-cheat-steal/
The second link notes - as the third ought - that "In situations where a problem drinker begins to turn to stealing, there may be some other substance abuse involved that you aren’t aware of."
And neither have anything to do with the "beaten up and robbed" and "house is broken into" scenarios you were originally referring to.
So what part in the destruction did you play? Did you steal to buy your drugs? Did you kill for your own high?
Or did you buy your weed with your own money?
Generalities are so blasé!
Thanks phil.
“Duh, of course there should be laws, in accordance with the Constitution”
I agree.
So, therefore your comment “More freedom is always better” is not true.
In some cases it is not “always better” or we would not want laws.
Now you are finally showing some creativity!
Did you steal to buy your drugs? No.
Did you kill for your own high? No.
Or did you buy your weed with your own money? Sometimes.
No. Your comment about alcohol being worse was superficial and meaningless.
First, what do you even mean by worse?
Trump said during the campaign that it should be an issue for the states; and 60% of Americans favor legalization.
Your replies, again, belie your agreement.
Would you like me to refresh your memory with direct links? There are plenty that disprove your assertion.
You blatantly state numerous times that all laws, even unconstitutional laws, are to be obeyed and enforced and that only repealing the law is a means to ending them when they are never even Constitutional to begin with.
Oh, so you sponged off of others?
Someone here said no ladies are defending legalization. This is one lady who is. I believe tis is the same as Prohibition, along with the criminal enterprises and the chaos Prohibition produces.
But I believe this thread is NOT about legalization of marijuana. But rather the decision of Sessions to make going after smokers his main priority using precious time resources at this time. That alone is ludicrous and counter productive to draining the swamp and protecting America and the President.
Sessions is doing everything in his power to SINK the success and re-election of our President. This has to be a calculated and well directed move from the deep state. THAT is what we should be talking about. Not debating the right or wrong of smoking or drinking.
I’m in Alaska. Pot has been legal here for a year or so, but, as a matter of fact, it’s always been around since it’s easy to cultivate and easy to consume. My observation is that everyone who was smoking weed before legalization is now either just buying it legally or growing it legally. Very little has changed, and it hasn’t precipitated a crime wave.
“Oh, so you sponged off of others?”
Much as possible :)
Is it your belief, then, that Sessions is part of the deep state?
I think I remember you..... and I am in full agreement.
Has Jeff made one move that offended the deep state?
LMAO!!!
That was funny. I don’t care who you are.
Following the Constitution as it’s written (which has not been the case for many decades sadly) = more freedom.
So just to put a grin on your face, let me rephrase: More constitutional freedom is always better.
So thaaaaat is where your leftist inclinations came from!
It explains much.
Worse because alcohol can kill in one session of drinking, pot has no lethal level. Alcohol will kill by cirrhosis of the liver over time, pot does no appreciable physical damage even after years of use. Alcohol is highly physically addictive to a certain percentage of the population, pot is only mildly psychologically addictive to a very small percentage of users.
The real malevolent twist to alcohol addiction is that there are few predictors of who will become an addict. For some it runs in families others become addicted where no genetic predisposition existed.
Alcohol can, and often does, produce strong personality changes. Often violent. Pot does not. Alcohol inebriation cannot be overcome by force of will, only the measured processes of liver function will reduce and eliminate its effects. When the need arises the affects of pot can easily be overridden by will power.
I’m confused...between the italics, the bold text & your commentary about the links I posted I’m not sure what you are saying to me.
Not being critical, just in search of some clarification :)
Please ignore my post 338. I figured it out, lol.
I forgot to include the other person’s name in the “To” heading. I probably shouldn’t post in these threads while eating dinner :)
And we certainly should never doubt the outcome of a poll that favors a liberal position. I'd want to see polls by several polling organizations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.