Cut wasted government spending, end the war on drugs

[ITJunkie]

Originally posted by: Train
I've talked to several people who work on the Police's drug task force, these guys are basically swat team/special investigators focused soley on drugs. Pretty much every city in america has one of these "task forces" in thier dept (and they usually get a large budget, from local and fed govt)

At first I was surprised that they all had the same solution to solving the drug problem: Legalize everything.

They all came to the conclusion that everyones life would be much easier if every drug (no matter how severe, even Meth and Crack) should be freely available at every corner store. The govt would save billions in fighting it. And make billions in sales tax, assuming they will be taxed/regulated about the same as cigarettes.

Though in reality they will not legalize everything in the short term, but for now they should at least legalize marijuana.

:thumbsup:

 

[Train]

I've heard Phillip Morris (more specifically Marlboro) has already trade marked a name for thier product if and when Marijuana gets legalized.

Thier brand of marijuana cigarettes will be called the "Marlboro Marleys"

 

[mikeford]

How is it that in a divisive forum like this one, we all agree ending the drug war is good, and NOTHING is happening?

Or is it slowly creeping in the door sideways? Grass not legalized, but fines reduced to nothing, and nobody getting fined?

Time for the peacepipe ending the war.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

What is the real solution here people? Legalize JUST marijuana, i mean where does it stop? New drugs are always emerging onto the scene, what are we to do about that? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
What is the real solution here people? Legalize JUST marijuana, i mean where does it stop? New drugs are always emerging onto the scene, what are we to do about that? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

Yes.

The people I know who want those drugs don't have much trouble finding them. The laws just keep the prices inflated, makes quality a guessing game, and fuels crime.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
What is the real solution here people? Legalize JUST marijuana, i mean where does it stop? New drugs are always emerging onto the scene, what are we to do about that? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

Does making them illegal stop peole from using them? No, so if you can't stop it through criminalization, why waste the time, money and lives? Controlled substance use is preferable to underground abuse which gives power to black markets and crime.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
What is the real solution here people? Legalize JUST marijuana, i mean where does it stop? New drugs are always emerging onto the scene, what are we to do about that? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

Legalize them all. Not only that, but eliminate the stupid prescription drug B.S.

 

[InfectedMushroom]

Originally posted by: zendari
Sure. And take any present government funding out of anti-drug programs. And drug users should forfeit their "right" to healthcare related to their abuse.

I have no problems with druggies if they nicely would die for their choices.

As long as you include alcohol and tabaco in the same category.
I have no problem with any of your family members or friends who smoke tabaco or drink if they nicely would die for their choices.

how does that sound?

 

[Pantoot]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Does making them illegal stop peole from using them? No, so if you can't stop it through criminalization, why waste the time, money and lives? Controlled substance use is preferable to underground abuse which gives power to black markets and crime.

Do murder laws keep people from killing people?
Do speed limits keep people from speeding?

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Pantoot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Does making them illegal stop peole from using them? No, so if you can't stop it through criminalization, why waste the time, money and lives? Controlled substance use is preferable to underground abuse which gives power to black markets and crime.

Do murder laws keep people from killing people?
Do speed limits keep people from speeding?

How is somebody doing drugs hurting you?

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

so we legalize everything on the streets? the fact that certain drugs like cocaine and heroin are illegal actual does deter quite a few people, having them freely available will only do more harm in my opinion.

 

[mikeford]

I say legalize it now, all drugs, fun ones and medical ones. Some drugs like pot should be treated just like beer and wine, you are free to grow small amounts for your own use, but can't sell without being taxed and inspected. Dangerous drugs need to have some kind of controlled access to be sure the person that is getting the drug is using it, not providing it to some else for perhaps unethical reasons. Antibiotics if widely used and misused become ineffective, that sort of thing.

My goal would not be to totally eliminate the illegal drug trade, just take all the profit out of it.

OTOH I would have zero tolerance for anyone driving under the influence, or otherwise endangering anybody but themselves.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: Pantoot

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Does making them illegal stop peole from using them? No, so if you can't stop it through criminalization, why waste the time, money and lives? Controlled substance use is preferable to underground abuse which gives power to black markets and crime.

Do murder laws keep people from killing people?
Do speed limits keep people from speeding?

How is somebody doing drugs hurting you?

Eating Big Macs is legal, but with govt subsidized healthcare, people who never ate a Big Mac pay for the increased obesity. I'm for legalizing everything, but not if we all have to pay for every addict out there. Wait, we are already paying for most of the addicts out there. Oh well.

I guess it depends on your philosophy. Drug dealers arent nearly as demonized as cigarette manufacturers, yet cigs are legal. What will happen when we legalize drugs? Will the corporations that sell them be put under the same heat, with billion dollar lawsuits every year? Probably, but I think that shows that the hatred of these companies is not for the products they sell, but for the capitalism they represent.

 

[mikeford]

Drug use is just like abortion, sure its bad, but its also none of your business. Yes drug laws do deter some people, but they entice many more, and create a black market that actively sells to new users with no ethical or legal boundaries. Just how effective is "its illegal" in stopping a teenager from trying drugs when many of their peers are the drug salesmen, forced into the job to pay for their own use? Remove those end user salespeople and drug use will drop like a rock.

Taxes on sales can fund education and treatment.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
What is the real solution here people? Legalize JUST marijuana, i mean where does it stop? New drugs are always emerging onto the scene, what are we to do about that? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

That's a tough question to answer. Fortunately, we don't have to - yet, at any rate. In the US, we'll never just wake up one day to find drugs have all been legalized. If (and I stress the word "if") it's ever going to happen, it will start with decriminalization for users, and with marijuana only. If and when this happens, we'll be able to make a better judgement call on that question with the experience of decriminalizing marijuana to relate to.

Originally posted by: Train
Eating Big Macs is legal, but with govt subsidized healthcare, people who never ate a Big Mac pay for the increased obesity. I'm for legalizing everything, but not if we all have to pay for every addict out there. Wait, we are already paying for most of the addicts out there. Oh well.

I guess it depends on your philosophy. Drug dealers arent nearly as demonized as cigarette manufacturers, yet cigs are legal. What will happen when we legalize drugs? Will the corporations that sell them be put under the same heat, with billion dollar lawsuits every year? Probably, but I think that shows that the hatred of these companies is not for the products they sell, but for the capitalism they represent.

You're paying more for every addict out there by subsidizing the cost of imprisoning them than you would by subsidizing their rehabilitation... I agree though, I think those who require rehab should be forced to pay, at least in part, even if only able to do so via community service.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: mikeford
Drug use is just like abortion, sure its bad, but its also none of your business. Yes drug laws do deter some people, but they entice many more, and create a black market that actively sells to new users with no ethical or legal boundaries. Just how effective is "its illegal" in stopping a teenager from trying drugs when many of their peers are the drug salesmen, forced into the job to pay for their own use? Remove those end user salespeople and drug use will drop like a rock.

Taxes on sales can fund education and treatment.

There is hope. Some people get it. 🙂

 

[mikeford]

Cigarette firms are Clintons, its not that the product is dangerous, its that they lied to us about it.

I understand helmet law logic, don't entirely agree with it, but it is a working compromise. Denying healthcare for the results of being stupid will never fly.

 

[umbrella39]

Originally posted by: zendari
And drug users should forfeit their "right" to healthcare related to their abuse.

I agree every person brought into ER due to alcohol related injury or illness should be refused treatment and left to die. Every employer should test their employees weekly and those found to have any alcohol in their system should loose their employer paid for health insurance as well as their little welfare brats at home.

I have no problems with drinkers if they nicely would die for their choices.

 

[mikeford]

Now forcing Mickey D's to sell the Big Mac in a little black coffin I could live with. 😉

You don't have to wait, plenty of places have no serious sanctions on Pot, snack sales go up, thats about it.

How about a side panel on every bottle of alcohol listing the number of dead and injuried from alcohol related events?

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: InfectedMushroom

As long as you include alcohol and tabaco in the same category.
I have no problem with any of your family members or friends who smoke tabaco or drink if they nicely would die for their choices.

how does that sound?

Their choice. Half of my father's side of the family has died from smoking or will die in the next 5-10 years at maximum.

 

[MrBelvedere]

? Also, do you really think that allowing cocaine and heroine to be legal is a good thing?

Yes. I think people have this big conception that if all opiates and amphetamines were legal that everyone would run around doing heroin and crack. Most people use substances in moderation. The prohibition of those drugs is what leads to cocaine and heroin in the first place. Back when heroin and laudunum were equally legal most people just used laudunum. Alcohol is legal and you don't see everyone running around drinking 200 proof.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Save money and put contaminated drugs out on the street. Solve the problem once and for all.

If you put contaminated cocaine in the streets at least half of the best minds, and for sure at least 80% of the richest minds, of the country wouldn't show up at work the next day.

NOBODY has ever tried to fight a REAL war on drugs. That's why the colombian cartel has the best financial stats of any government or company in the world.