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 ...
I’ve heard the same. I think it’s wise to listen to the people on the front lines of rehab so when they say it’s a serious problem, I believe them.
There is a huge difference b/t alcohol and pot anyway. A person can drink a beer or two/glass of wine or two with dinner as a way to enjoy the meal. Pot is smoked ONLY for one reason - and that is to get high. And wine actually does have some benefits to it. No benefits from pot, except perhaps some cases where it supposedly helps with nausea and I’ve heard even that is exaggerated.
My mother was prescribed the stuff IN pot when she went through chemo. She didn’t like it. So, there’s no reason for the pot itself if they can do that. It’s just a lame excuse.
Meanwhile, do you want to be the guy working with the poor soul who has medicinal pot prescribed for him? Not me. Sheesh.
I hope you see how complicated this really is.
Do you like Gladiator movies?
Indeed. And why is the WSJ giving a him a platform?
Good points! Legalizing drugs is probably one of the major points in the Commie Manifesto too. Like you said, just make dopes and zombies out of everyone. It’s bad enough half of our population seems to be on anti-depressants. I remember Rush Limbaugh saying (years ago) that we were becoming a nation of flat-liners.
I am not trying to be flippant about people who are seriously depressed and need help but these things are way over-prescribed and I’ve watched a few people become literally apathetic.
Precisely Granny! Just what we need; and the truth is that more people would smoke pot.
I smoked for 20 years and I’m a whole lot happier and clear headed since I quit.
There is no legitimate purpose for smoking pot. Not really. It destroys the mind and makes people lethargic and apathetic. One cannot lump antibiotics in with pot.
Good for you giving up drinking....its a hard thing to do, but probably saved your life and the life of others...I have a family member that after so many drunk driving tickets and warnings he finally was sent to AA. Best thing to happen to him, hes been off alcohol for over 10 years..
lol Those aren't even valid comparisons. See the dismal example of the 1920s era alcohol prohibition. We are literally reliving it, only WORSE! There's a REASON why we should LEARN from history. I fully acknowledge that drugs are terrible, but if people want to do them, they are GOING to. By creating a black market, we artificially inflate prices, which exacerbates the problem from the perspective of the users. Then, you have all of the negative effects that accompany the black market. Not to mention our loss of freedoms as a result, and the MASSIVE amounts of money wasted on the efforts of the government to keep it all going.
There is nothing GOOD about this prohibition. It isn't helping anything. It's worse than the drug use itself.
How do you think we got all those prisons, and prisoners?
Since the beginning of time, politicians have loved jails and prisons. Don't be weak in the knees. Don't be soft on crime!!
Well, that’s great! Glad to hear it. All I know is I grew up in the 60s-70s and pot was a staple at parties and everywhere - so was alcohol. Coke didn’t come on the scene until the 80s. I never did any drugs at all. I saw too many people become waste cases.
I saw perfectly find people literally become chuckleheads. In my experience, the people that I knew that smoked pot regularly all ended up being underachievers. The guy I knew who smoked it the most ended up as a bicycle messenger and the last I checked he was still doing that - at age 55! Still a doped-out guy that can’t seem to hold a conversation with you - well one that makes any sense anyway.
You make no sense which is why have have such an utter lack of respect for people like you.
Cultural Marxism is all about unrestrained sex and perversion and drugs. It is to destroy the authority of parents and destroy relationships, and ultimately destroy the family unit. Gramsci and Marcuse figured out that is how to destroy the two pillars which had prevented us from turning to Communism in the 20’s. Destroy Christianity and the natural family.
Then, SURPRISE....you will have irresponsible people with no support structure, except the dear old socialist nanny-state.
I agree with him although I want comprehensive drug reform. Legalize it. Don’t tax it. Then abolish welfare. If you smoke yourself jobless then don’t expect the taxpayers to help you out with welfare. Simple.
I just noticed another boo boo in your post. People who go on to harder stuff do so because they need more of a kick. It has nothing to do with cost - esp. since the kickier stuff is costlier.
Whenever a substance is legal, use goes up. It’s just basic logic. There is always a certain number of people who will not want to risk the chance of doing illegal stuff - esp. if they are in positions that could be jeopardized (e.g., teaching, police, judges, etc.)
I quit smoking and drinking and the doors blew wide open for me. I found a whole range of new interests like gardening, photography, art, history....
Meanwhile back in the old hometown, my childhood friends spend their days looking for their next joint. I still like them just fine but I find them tiresome. Its like they never grew up and I can recite every conversation I have with them because they’re always the same.
I have read Gramsci. You are right on. Exactly. So far, the communists have made great success. Look at the state of families today.
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