Posted on 10/26/2010 6:28:08 PM PDT by prairiebreeze
Our marijuana laws are clearly doing more harm than good. The criminalization of marijuana did not prevent marijuana from becoming the most widely used illegal substance in the United States and many other countries. But it did result in extensive costs and negative consequences.
Law enforcement agencies today spend many billions of taxpayer dollars annually trying to enforce this unenforceable prohibition. The roughly 750,000 arrests they make each year for possession of small amounts of marijuana represent more than 40% of all drug arrests.
Regulating and taxing marijuana would simultaneously save taxpayers billions of dollars in enforcement and incarceration costs, while providing many billions of dollars in revenue annually. It also would reduce the crime, violence and corruption associated with drug markets, and the violations of civil liberties and human rights that occur when large numbers of otherwise law-abiding citizens are subject to arrest. Police could focus on serious crime instead.
The racial inequities that are part and parcel of marijuana enforcement policies cannot be ignored. African-Americans are no more likely than other Americans to use marijuana but they are three, five or even 10 times more likely—depending on the city—to be arrested for possessing marijuana. I agree with Alice Huffman, president of the California NAACP, when she says that being caught up in the criminal justice system does more harm to young people than marijuana itself. Giving millions of young Americans a permanent drug arrest record that may follow them for life serves no one's interests.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Soros wants the Fed to stop the Immigration laws state enact but not the drug laws.
How long ‘till Soros goes to the the third ring of hell?
And I know of at least two Cancer sufferers who use it because it works better for them than the other anti-nausea drugs.
Many, many folks are making a very good living off this stuff. DEA, lawyers, prison systems all gain greatly.
Just another way of sanctioning more depravity.
Pot is not less harmful than Alcohol. For you, personally, perhaps. Bill Bennett (former drug czar) had a couple of experts on his show a few weeks back and they said more people are coming in for serious addiction to marijuana than ever before. Just recently, I read an article about movie actress Juliette Lewis who was a notorious teen pothead and she said it finally was not enough so she went to coke, etc.
It is a gateway drug. Experts in drug rehab will repeat this over and over again.
One more myth is that legalizing it will stop the cartels. It will not. Meanwhile, can you imagine what will happen when these little stores start selling it? There are already enough drug crimes.
As long as it is not free, people will commit crimes to get it.
And, one last thing. Marijuana destroys brain cells and causes other serious physiological problems - similar to alcohol. And it stinks! I’d hate to be the guy living in the apartment next to the pothead.
In my opinion, a society with a large number of folks smoking dope is a very DOCILE society, and easily manipulated. I’m sure Mr. Soros would love that, if it meant that the folks he wanted in power were in place to take advantage of that situation.
>>>And I know of at least two Cancer sufferers who use it because it works better for them than the other anti-nausea drugs.<<<
Fine. It still creeps me out to see Soros supporting something like this. My comments about recreational smoking are still valid, too.
Retired from 23 years in the NYPD. I spent time in the Narcotics Division and arrested my share of people for possession and selling marijuana. Alcohol causes more problems with violence etc. I’ve seen plenty of guys get liquored up and so ballistic. Pot doesn’t cause these kinds of problems.
Do we need another legal drug? No, but we don’t need to make tens of millions of our fellow citizens criminals over this stuff.
George Soros is not American.
He has no business trying to tell Americans what to do.
His Nationality may be American, but he isn’t. He is an International Criminal.
Part of the WOD that isn't talked about- Communist countries in Central and South America using them as a weapon against us.
Stopped clock. I agree.
Soros is a sick b*stard who wants to eliminate at least 3 billion people from the earth. He wants to be king of one world. Who would listen to him unless they are like the media and sucking millions from him. They sold their soul.
Why in the world would he want to push dope on our children? Could it possible be to create dopes?
I am much more a libertarian than anything else but in this welfare socialist country, you can not legalize drugs because no one is responsible for their actions. The government will reward the use of drugs just like they reward illegitimacy and destructive behavior——when you reward it, you get more of it. Socialism creates hellholes.
If we return to the original intent of the Constitution, then, yes, Georgie boy, lets not make it illegal. Then, if people are dumb enough to use it their kids will starve to death or freeze to death and the stupid gene and copied irresponsible behavior will genetically end. Our country was much better when immoral behavior met it’s just reward.
Interference by socialist government always rewards the evil and punishes the producers and hardworkers.
I have a friend in AA. A former boozer “cured” for 4 years now. He goes to meetings of all types. He told me that, in his experience, the most difficult new addicts coming into the programs to reform are heroin and pot users. The former, because it is so addictive, and the latter because the users refuse to believe that it’s harmful, even though they struggle mightily. It’s more than just habitual.
The only advice I’d take from Bill Bennett is should I hit on 12 when the dealer is showing a five. The guy lectured us on virtue while he hit the tables at Vegas fast and furious.
You are wrong on that one, I think. The Dims wouldn’t bother to get off the couch to go vote.
Americans are rapidly becoming vice addicts.
A time for choosing is upon some of us again.
Obama, Soros, and unionized pot growers.
America.
This is probably the ONLY damn thing I agree with this creep on.
Prohibition DOES NOT WORK! Show me one place where it ever has? It’s an undeniable truth!
Would that be the Tokers Local 420?
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