Legalization of drugs urged: Ex-police officer says 33-year-old 'war' is a failure

The Arizona Republic ^ | Sept. 21, 2003 | Judi Villa

[MrLeRoy]

It sounds radical. Even more so when it comes from a former narcotics cop.

But Jack Cole, a retired detective lieutenant with the New Jersey State Police, says the nation's 33-year "war on drugs" is a failure and the only way to really save lives, reduce addiction and lessen crime is to make drugs legal.

[MrLeRoy]

when was the last time you watched the legislative process, presided over by LAWYERS intent on keeping a job! The WOD is as phony as the rules the EPA applies for the snail darter!

Good point. I thought it was liberals who placed trust in government.

[pageonetoo]

because HE lacks self-discipline, he assumes that others also lack it!
His justification is shimple... he is sheeple!
It wan't drugs that got the Clintoons elected, it was ignorance, illustrated by such sheeple, willing to accept the tit!

[MrLeRoy]

It wan't drugs that got the Clintoons elected

Quite the opposite---Clintoon waged the War On Some Drugs harder than Reagan or Bush I.

[pageonetoo]

sorry for the mistatement, it wasn't the USE of drugs BY Voters, it was their mass ignorance of TRUTH!

[robertpaulsen]

"I'm still against it."

I understand. But your friends at LEAP are all for it. Which is the subject of this thread.

[pageonetoo]

Clinttons were/are motivated by power and money...
I remember a story about an Arkansas airfield, and a FOB that escaped life in prison... and a Clintoon admisnistration secretary, that previously served the drug lord! (does the name Dan Lassiter ring a bell, anyone?)
Bill also NEVER INHALED ( I guess he just snorted!)... and how much money made it back to them from this WOD, and all of the little pet programs "to educate" the children! It is beong spent now to try and put THEM back in the WH!

[robertpaulsen]

See my post #73.

The states (combined) spend $20 billion on the WOD. But the Swiss program was federally run, and I wanted to compare federal spending.

[MrLeRoy]

your friends at LEAP are all for it.

Nobody's perfect.

[sweet_diane]

"The only thing the drug war has done, is make more crime, more violent crime, and made the mafia and attorneys, and politicians, and police , and judges, and prison guards, etc rich."

Which is why Woddies love this war so much. It's easy for them to step on people while reaching for their brass ring payoff.

Just don't try and take that cocktail out of their hand....

[RamingtonStall]

<<"Especially when it sets the precedent of trying to criminalize other "bad habits"...."for our own good" of course.">>

We need to Legalize Drugs and then turn the Tobacco Lawyers on to them. Just think of all the Programs "for the Children" we can fund if they are half as successful as they have been in robbing the Tobacco companies.

RamS

[sweet_diane]

"After Prohibition, didn't the number of alcohol users increase? "

users or abusers? After prohibition my grandparents began keeping alcohol in their home for their nightly cocktails before supper.

There's a huge difference between use and abuse, which I'm sure you are aware of.

[xrp]

Seriously, what's the point in legalizing just marijuana and cocaine? What, exactly, is to be gained?

Self-ownership. I own my body. You don't, the government doesn't. I should be free to ingest anything that I wish to ingest as long as it does not interfere with the life and liberty of others. Is that concept REALLY so hard to understand for a totalitarian like yourself?

[Landru]

"There I fixed it for you. Welcome to the 1920's...There I fixed that for you as well."

HA!!

...a real "fix-it" kinda guy, eh. {g}

[robertpaulsen]

"there was actually a time when one could go to the local drug store and walk out with all the cheap cocaine and morphine you could carry and somehow the republic survived and thrived"

Very true. Too bad they weren't told that the drugs were addicting. And if the republic was indeed "thriving", they wouldn't have banned their use.

And tough luck that there wasn't this huge taxpayer safety net that we have today. And people like Jack Cole from LEAP saying that we need to provide free (ie, taxpayer provided) drugs to the addicts.

Back then, people took personal responsibilty. Family and community and churches helped those in need, not the federal government.

Today, an addict would sue the local drug store and the drug manufacturer, while at the same time receiving free medical care and a government sponsored drug rehabilitation program.

Two very different times, and it's disingenuous to superimpose one upon the other.

[sweet_diane]

"I do know that economically, legalization would destroy the drug industry for criminals."

Economically it would destroy all the agencies depending on asset seizures as well.

If we decriminalize even just marijuana the federalies grip of unreasonable fear on society will be weakened... It's like the Dims telling senior's that the Repubs want to take all their money and leave them homeless. When we submit in fear and downright terror of an herb, we are so much easier to control!

[Protagoras]

That is such a doped out lie.

So if you lie, like just now, you are doped out? I thought you stopped using drugs? Maybe you can't read because of your drug usage.

Anyone who wants illegal drugs can get them anytime they want. And they do.

If you want to do heroin, you can find it easily. Just show enough money and you will get it. No one decides to do heroin on the spur of the moment. If you want to do it, you can find out in short order. Your example is moronic, as usual.

[Stu Cohen]

Yeah, let's legalize, regulate, control, and tax alcohol.

That way, we'll keep these products out of the hands of teens. (#1 drug for teens? Alcohol.)

Since this is the case, should alcohol be made illegal?

[Protagoras]

a real "fix-it" kinda guy, eh. {g}

Yep. Fixing goofy statements is one of my hobbies.

[Protagoras]

Today, an addict would sue the local drug store and the drug manufacturer, while at the same time receiving free medical care and a government sponsored drug rehabilitation program.

So don't fix the two socialism problems, take away rights. Makes perfect sense. LOL, no wonder the country is goofy, these kind of absurd ideas are common.

[sweet_diane]

"LEAP is nothing but a bunch of druggie liberdopian hippies."

This is the irrational fear/terror I was talking about.