Legalize drugs... for and against

[crunch]

I wish I could take a poll on this, some may not want to "vote" as they may be shy, not want to draw fire, for or against... or may just not post for their own reasons.

So here it goes. My contention is that the "war on drugs" has driven the prices up, made it more lucrative for the dealers, fostered territory wars between the gangs for those dollars resulting in more drive by's. More street crime, and mugging to support the habit....More property theft and break-ins to support the habit.

My contention is that if drugs were legalized, there would be less non-violent offenders in prison, less violent crimes. And the gangs would be out of biz.

Where did I put my rain gear and kevlar....

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

My hats off to you!!!

You truly have Cajones with a capital "C"!

I can see legalizing canibis (sp?).

There are things that can be done to make Meth darn near impossible to make, why isn't it being done?

Heroin? Not sure how I feel about this one.

Cocaine? Not sure about it as well.

I've known folks that can function well and have a pretty serious atraction to canabis, but those I've dealt with on the "harder" drugs were pretty much a danger to themselves and others. But I really don't have a answer. Sorry.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

The problem with most drugs is that they are extremely addictive and extremely poisonous. If they were legal and easy to come by addiction rates would go way up no matter what, and so would deaths. I don't care that these people are killing themselves, but I do care that we all have to pay $100,000+ for the hospital visit before they die. They also can't work when they're high so them and their 15 kids will be on welfare and I'll pay for that too.

I think pot should be legalized not because it is completely safe, but because it is no worse than alcohol or cigarettes. It would free up a lot of police and legal system resources. Every hour a cop wastes doing paper work over a pot head is an hour he's not out catching a theif. It could also be taxed at such a high rate that no school in this country would ever have budget problems again.

I smoke pot on ocassion and honestly I couldn't care less whether it's legal or not. I qualify for a medical marijuana card but I don't have one. I agree that smoking anything is unhealthy, but if it takes a year off of my life so what. I only use it locked up in my own home, so there's really no reason why I should care whether it's legal or not......

 

[Link]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

Good question.
As of now only Parrott_head and ZmOz have answered.
And I am willing to give my thoughts on this.

But I would like think about this before answering.

Peace
Link

 

[rwise]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

I think that weed should be legal, in stores like alcohol stores, taxed like alcohol. Take the taxes and use that in our schools, the savings for drug enforcement could then be used to fight the stuff that really needs to be off the streets.

There are things that can be done to make Meth darn near impossible to make, why isn't it being done?

no they cannot stop it, like my brother said when he got busted making the sh!t, "I can make that too"

They also can't work when they're high so them and their 15 kids will be on welfare and I'll pay for that too.

We are already there.

I smoke also, not cigs, in my home and what most would say is very light, just a couple of hits now and then. Helps with back pain (had surgery some time ago) and helps me sleep. I have no plains to stop and I don't like being a criminal because I choose to do something in my home that would affect nobody else IF it were legal! Also I don't hide from anyone with it, I am not ashamed of what I do.

Come on Link give us your thoughts!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

8)
I'll post later when my scripts wear off.......

 

[JB]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

If we set aside "anti-drug" and "pro-drug" prejudices this is a really tough one.

A hundred years ago marijuana, opium and its derivatives were legal and even advertised as good for you. Let's wonder why they were banned.

In those times if people became addicted and damaged their bodies and brains they were pretty much on their own. Society wasn't going to pay for treatment or whatever else was needed to care for them. Today they are a burden on the society and they support a huge illegal economy.

How is that different from nicotine and alcohol? I can't answer that, except that nicotine and alcohol are legal and don't support a huge underground economy.

One of my step-dads was addicted to morphine. He could satisfy the addiction with almost any opiate and used paregoric. This was a consequence of being gassed in WWI and treated with morphine for years. I was very small and don't remember him being a threat to anyone or the paregoric causing him any problems. It was his damaged lungs that killed him, not the drugs.

I am addicted to nicotine. I have been banished by society to smoke only in private and outdoors. My life has probably been shortened by it but that is my burden and nobody else's.

I have a few acquaintances who are addicted to alcohol. They are often in trouble...not because of the alcohol, but because of how they behave when drunk or when strung out because of not having any. They are a burden and a threat to society.

Banning alcohol was tried. It failed. It created a vast underground economy just like currently banned mind altering drugs have.

In addition to funding huge criminal enterprises, banned drugs have created a huge crime wave.

Would legalizing opiates, cocaine, meth, etc. end the criminal enterprize and the crime wave? I don't know and am not arrogant enough to predict.

There are credible arguments on both sides.

 

[Firestar]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

Legalize it, tax it, then there should be some real good **** around.I haven't touched the stuff in 30 yrs. Might though if it becomes legal!:devil:

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

well after looking at all the stunning victories of the war on drugs I say legalize it tax it,divert some of the tax money to treatment centers and let it ride.
] the hard core users will kill themselves off quicker.
however just because its legal business's and govt could still drug test and fire or fail to hire someone based on a drug screen.
my thinking on the subject has changed over the years as I have watched more and more illegal drugs make more and more money and dramatically increase both violent crime and white collar crimes.
take the coins out of it and the crime goes away.
but as an entire industry has grown around anti-drug laws and the war on drugs it will never happen.
so we will stay the course and more will die due to the violence.
this so called war on drugs is about as old as I am yet were losing it at a faster pace every year.
I read a report somewhere that the heroin production in afghanistan has increased 3 fold from 2000 production and it supplies about 90% of the north american heroin market.
kinda funny thinking some junkie that just robbed someone is actually supporting the Talibani's.

 

[Firestar]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

Old man Kennedy made his fortune as a rum runner...When do you think a drug lords son might be ready to run for prez?

 

[KaGee]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

Well, for the sake of conversation, let's legalize burglary. We can't stop it even though we spend billions on law enforcement.

While we are at it ditto murder.

For that matter, let's just disband all law enforcement and save those billions as well as put a whole lot of lawyers out of work.

I know, silly argument. But it's the same argument some of you use about drugs et-al.

What ever happened to morality? Some laws exist simply because it's the right, moral thing to do.

 

[Gone]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

Alcohol abuse is easy to monitor by set limits of B/A content. How do we set levels of abuse and monitor the levels of drivers using "drugs"?? Without a standard, I can't see giving out a blank check and have the abusers on the same road that I am. There's more work needing to be done before this can be decided.

CD

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

The best solution would be to legalize all drugs, and allow the FDA to regulate them.

The law should be changed to making it illegal to be addicted to drugs. If a crime is commited while on drugs, the sentence is doubled.

Ken

 

[rwise]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

A hundred years ago marijuana, opium and its derivatives were legal and even advertised as good for you. Let's wonder why they were banned.

well let see, could it have anything to do with a movie in 1939?

 

[Firestar]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

As far as driving with users on the road, make illegal for any level of substance in your blood. Drive stoned and get suspended.

 

[Gone]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

A blood test at a traffic stop isn't practical. What's a practical alternative that isn't invasive??

CD.

 

[rwise]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

well they are already out there on the roads with you getting stoned! You have seen them, they often drive 5 under the limit. The ociffers don't seam to have any problem telling who is and who isn't stoned. Red eyes, slured speach, laughing at clouds,,,,,,,,,

With all the problems it would cause to be legal I still think as a whole it would be best to take the money from the mob and put it in the schools!

 

[Gone]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

But that's all arbitrary on the part of the occifer. The lawyers will demand a scientifically defined and testable limit. At least some form of field sobriey test tailored to the druggies. Presently unless they're in an accident or smoke is rolling out of the windows at a traffic stop, they can't be touched. How do we catch the meth heads, crack heads and heroin users??

CD

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

How do we catch the meth heads, crack heads and heroin users??
I think that they would drive erratically, too.......

 

[Gone]

Re: Legalize drugs... for and against

And the field test is.......??