Milton Friedman: Legalize It! (The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition)

Forbes.Com ^ | June 2, 2005

[muawiyah]

Hey, there are fewer junkies there too.

[Tribune7]

The best solution I've come up with is legalize it but let users (and their parents, spouses, children, siblings) have standing to sue suppliers for damages.

And you may as well give neighborhood action agencies standing as well.

[muawiyah]

http://www.nrao.edu/pr/2001/vinylalco/ And no, alcohol can be produced by a variety of means, not just by bacteria and/or yeast.

My bowels, for example, produce a quart a day if I eat an ordinary American diet.

[muawiyah]

You are forgetting to count all the prisoners in China, first of all, and the folks in slavery in Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, and other intriguing spots around the world.

The only reason you think the US has 25% of the prisoners is that the USA is the ONLY country that counts all its prisoners and publicizes the number.

So, you think for a few moments about what it means to live in a country that does not actually count its prisoners, and does not report how many there are.

Then go live there.

[muawiyah]

You're a real head case I can see. In GW's time they didn't know the cause of many of the ills that happened to them. I stipulated that if they'd known, they'd had federal regulation of the materials and practices.

In fact, given the opportunity George Washington voted for a constitution that established that the control of standards of measurement was at the federal, not the state, level.

I've always thought that interesting.

[hispanichoosier]

Nearly a $14 billion swing.

I have to put up with small MJ possession cases every day. Eliminating them from my caseload would let me focus more on OWIs, batteries, and thefts. I do wonder, however, if legalization would materially increase the number of those who drive while stoned.

[muawiyah]

There's no evidence whatsoever that MJ use declined in Nederland. On the other hand, there is evidence that it has grown, as has the use of other drugs, and that roaving bands of drug-crazed foreigners have become a problem in the country.

Here's the deal in Nederland ~ you become a junkie, or a chronic pot user, and you're gonna' fall in a canal or sluice.

They don't pull you out. Darned things are greasy and full of muck ~ mess up your clothes, and you will never get your shoes cleaned.

They have one of the world's greater death by drowning rates.

My suspicion is that the "pragmatic" Dutch tradition of leaving you alone to your own devices actually provides a rough sort of death penalty justice for those who refuse to go along with the flow.

[muawiyah]

At the moment the three junkies I've known that we had in this neighborhood over the years ARE IN JAIL and they are NOT GETTING OUT.

So is the worst alcoholic. You should see the tumors all over his body though from over pickling!

The WOD works here!~

[muawiyah]

You should have them move into your neighborhood. In fact, if you have enough money (to pay for the moves), your local police will tell you were they have a bunch of them.

[mugs99]

The only reason you think the US has 25% of the prisoners is that the USA is the ONLY country that counts all its prisoners and publicizes the number

ROFL!
Those aren't my figures. Those figures are conservative and are not refuted by our own government. Apparently you didn't read the link I responded to.
You want to talk about China? China has executed over two million drug addicts since 1949. They are still executing them today. They still have the highest addiction rate on the planet. Heroin addiction is Chinas number one problem today.
Can you show one single country where a drug war has decreased drug use or violent crime? Even the US government has been unable to do that!
Please, post your data. I'd sure like to see it and I'm sure many others would too.
...

[muawiyah]

China continues to execute junkies because junkies are stupid. But I wouldn't believe that 2 million figure. It's probably more like 20 mil, even 30 mil, and all that's on top of the Little Red Book killings, etc.

Do you want to see that sort of thing have to happen here?

If you don't, give up dope today.

[mugs99]

The best solution I've come up with is legalize it but let users (and their parents, spouses, children, siblings) have standing to sue suppliers for damages. And you may as well give neighborhood action agencies standing as well

You don't even have to legalize. Just decriminalize...There is a difference. Prosecute those who commit a crime against another and leave those who do not harm others alone. Take it out of the hands of the underworld that is causing the violence and addicting the young.
...

[Ken H]

They [the Dutch] have one of the world's greater death by drowning rates.

Ranked 49th in accidental drownings. From Nationmaster.com:

49. Netherlands 15.85 deaths per 1 million people
50. United States 15.85 deaths per 1 million people

In addition, the Netherlands has about one third the abortion rate of the US, and half the heroin addiction rate. Who'd a thunk it.

[muawiyah]

The Dutch don't report everything, and the overwhelming majority of canal and sluice deaths are reported as some other cause, e.g. heart attack, seizure, etc.

[muawiyah]

The Dutch ALSO don't count all abortions as abortions.

[Ken H]

I left one out. When the EU Constitution was put to a vote, the Dutch said, "NEE!"

[mugs99]

When are you going to post data to back up your claims? So far, all I've seen from you is hot air.
...

[muawiyah]

Look, you had your say. You've demonstrated nothing new about your position. I have no obligation to address any of your objections. Just keep your junkie frieds out of my neighborhood and we'll be OK, God and the Second Amendment willing!

[FreeReign]

Spains drug laws are as liberal as the Netherlands. Spain has the higest rate of robberies out of any country. It's about 8 times as high as the U.S..

[mugs99]

If you don't, give up dope today

I don't use drugs or alcohol. I'm still waiting for you to post the name of one single country that has reduced drug use or violent crime with a drug war. When are you going to do that?
...