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Legalization of drugs urged: Ex-police officer says 33-year-old 'war' is a failure
The Arizona Republic ^ | Sept. 21, 2003 | Judi Villa

Posted on 09/22/2003 10:07:00 AM PDT by MrLeRoy

Edited on 05/07/2004 5:21:39 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

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.


(Excerpt) Read more at azcentral.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: addiction; drugskilledbelushi; wodlist
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To: robertpaulsen
For the sake of argument, I will agree with you that legalization of marijuana would increase use marginally.

So would the legalization of opium and cocaine marginally increase their use.

Even conceding for the sake of argument that all drug use is bad, I would nonetheless argue that the damage to our society, political life, and the relationship between citizen and state being done by the obsessive-compulsive enforcement of these sumptuary laws is FAR worse. Historical rights against abusive searches and arrests have been abrogated by the 'necessities' of SWAT-teams.

The puritanical streak in the American personality will certainly be the foundation of any American Totalitarianism, whether led by the so-called left, or by the so-called right.

I encourage all young people, of every country, to disrespect wrongful authority; and wrongful authority is certainly what the WOD represents.

181 posted on 09/23/2003 8:15:53 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: Protagoras
As I said, you really have trouble concentrating.

Arrogance is when a few "annointed" people think they can make society better by using force to violate basic rights for the "common good". It's the epitome of arrogance. True.

But once again, entirely disconnected from anythig I said.

As expected, the incivility is a trait: your rudeness with DennisW, which you pooly justified a minute ago, is followed by your rudeness to me.

The only question I have is, why would someone with an almost total inability to think chose the name Protagoras?

That question will remained ananswered: I'll not read any of your posts whether or not they are addressed to me. I do not wrestle with children and swine.

182 posted on 09/23/2003 8:17:42 AM PDT by TopQuark
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To: TopQuark
You go to the garbage dump and then agonize over which of the substances available there you would prefer your child to use.

I disagree.

I believe I stated clearly that I would prefer, and indeed vigrously discourage and forbid (to the extent possible) them them from using anything. This including cigarettes, caffeine, and junk food. My children currently do not partake in any of the above.

If I didn't clarify this, please allow this post to do so.

183 posted on 09/23/2003 8:18:23 AM PDT by Stu Cohen
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To: robertpaulsen
"Unrestricted distribution by physicians and pharmacies created an enormous drug abuse problem; in 1924 federal narcotics officials estimated that there were 200,000 addicts in the United States

That's NOT "enormous." And do we have any fewer heroin addicts today because it was banned?

184 posted on 09/23/2003 8:19:02 AM PDT by MrLeRoy (The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. - Jefferson)
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To: TopQuark
I must use more gentle phrasing in the future but you understood what I meant. While Protagoras could not digest it.
185 posted on 09/23/2003 8:19:16 AM PDT by dennisw (G_d is at war with Amalek for all generations)
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To: headsonpikes
Bump to that post.

The only thing worse than drugs is the War on Drugs.

186 posted on 09/23/2003 8:19:32 AM PDT by Protagoras (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.)
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To: headsonpikes
Even conceding for the sake of argument that all drug use is bad, I would nonetheless argue that the damage to our society, political life, and the relationship between citizen and state being done by the obsessive-compulsive enforcement of these sumptuary laws is FAR worse.

Not to mention that self-inflicted harm, like drug use, should not even be weighed on the same scale as other-inflicted harm like that of the War On Some Drugs.

187 posted on 09/23/2003 8:21:34 AM PDT by MrLeRoy (The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. - Jefferson)
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To: TopQuark
I do not wrestle with children and swine.

LOL, does this namecalling qualify as rude? You don't love me anymore Bunky?

188 posted on 09/23/2003 8:21:37 AM PDT by Protagoras (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.)
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To: sweet_diane
'While I probably already know the answer.. would you support such action?"

Would I support this? No. I would, however, support a counter-suit for a frivolous lawsuit, and award millions.

But that's me. That's not the people suing, or the lawyers willing to representing them in this legal lotto, or the judges who will hear the case, or the juries who will award millions if not billions.

Call YOU crazy? No, I call our system crazy -- the system that awards money to people who spill hot coffee, smoke cigarettes, pass by a building containing asbestos or lead paint, are the victim of a gun crime, or (almost, but it's not over yet) eat fattening food.

One possible solution: Loser pays. They have that system in England (the source of our laws). The loser pays the legal cost of the other side.

Second solution: Punitive damages do NOT go to the plaintiff (and their attorney). This "punishment" money would go to the state or to an appropriate charity. The plaintiff would still receive actual (compensatory) damages, and the defendant would still be punished.

If I were king.

189 posted on 09/23/2003 8:23:06 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Stu Cohen
Thanks for the clarification. I may have indeed misunderstood your post.
190 posted on 09/23/2003 8:24:22 AM PDT by TopQuark
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To: Protagoras
New tag line for the day.

The only thing worse than drugs is the War on Drugs

191 posted on 09/23/2003 8:27:13 AM PDT by Protagoras (The only thing worse than drugs is the War on Drugs)
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To: sweet_diane
"How many abused it last month?"

I'm not sure, but I've heard the figure of 10%, which would put the number at 28 million.

But the purpose of my post was to compare the number of people who have ever tried a drug with the number of people currently using that drug. There's no comparison between alcohol and marijuana.

192 posted on 09/23/2003 8:35:31 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
"This "punishment" money would go to the state or to an appropriate charity. The plaintiff would still receive actual (compensatory) damages, and the defendant would still be punished."

well now you've gone and made sense Mr. Paulsen...

193 posted on 09/23/2003 8:42:13 AM PDT by sweet_diane (Philippians 4:12-13)
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To: robertpaulsen
BTW, the WOD is the most prominent manifestation of utopian American Socialism.

Nothing so betrays a totalitarian agenda than the proclaimed desire to 'improve the health of the population'.

194 posted on 09/23/2003 8:42:39 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: robertpaulsen
So you have chosen not to answer the question about your past drug use? Whatsamatta?

You bore false witness pretty easily, but the question is difficult?

195 posted on 09/23/2003 8:44:27 AM PDT by Protagoras (The only thing worse than drugs is the War on Drugs)
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To: robertpaulsen
There's no comparison between alcohol and marijuana.

True.

Alcohol is a much more insidous drug.

196 posted on 09/23/2003 8:44:32 AM PDT by KDD
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To: sweet_diane
Great point, and another excellent reason to decriminalize it.
197 posted on 09/23/2003 8:46:02 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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To: MrLeRoy
It's legal for adults. I would expect the ratio to be higher.

Either compare something legal for both groups or illegal for both groups.

198 posted on 09/23/2003 8:46:51 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
It's about market size and share.

Even in inner cities nowadays crack sales have fallen. Not because all the money spent on ads is working, but because crack is so lethal that it can't be called recreational. Same is true with Heroine.

Too dangerous for recreational use.

Now, if you want to talk about Ex or meth, then you have a good point.
199 posted on 09/23/2003 8:48:18 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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To: robertpaulsen
It's about market size and share.

Even in inner cities nowadays crack sales have fallen. Not because all the money spent on ads is working, but because crack is so lethal that it can't be called recreational. Same is true with Heroine.

Too dangerous for recreational use.

Now, if you want to talk about Ex or meth, then you have a good point.
200 posted on 09/23/2003 8:48:47 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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