Harmless people make up 86% of Federal Prison population

[SpatiallyAware]

Please, some 75% of law enforcement budgets revolve around drug related offenses. Between that and the ATF, DEA, federal departments, judges... If the US made a major change to how they handle this stuff it would put a LOT of people out of work.


This is sorta like asking a doctor if they should try out some fancy new machine where you walk through it and it auto diagnosis the illness. What do you think the doctors impression will be? Of course it won't work, of course you need the human, and so on. Our government will not change this stuff on its own, and even with societies input it would take more than a couple libs getting upset.

 

[fskimospy]

I'd agree there will still be some people using crack, cocaine, meth, heroin but it seems reasonable to think that the numbers would decrease from at least some addicts choosing safer, cheaper, legal marijuana instead.

We won't find out for awhile yet though. Meanwhile we'll waste hundreds of billions and ruin many lives.

Portugal legalized all drugs, heroin, crack, whatever included. They have seen positive results among their population, AND they don't have to deal with the horrible jail/crime cycle that we do.

I'm totally for legalizing all drugs. You would have thought that prohibition taught us a lesson, but apparently not.

 

[Lithium381]

One upside of the budget problems is that waste like this will be cut.

Selling drugs make you a terrorist via the patriot act...... terrorist = defense fund = republicans won't let it happen

 

[woolfe9999]

Portugal legalized all drugs, heroin, crack, whatever included. They have seen positive results among their population, AND they don't have to deal with the horrible jail/crime cycle that we do.

I'm totally for legalizing all drugs. You would have thought that prohibition taught us a lesson, but apparently not.

Point of clarification: they "legalized" possession of small quantities of said drugs. Trafficking, growing, production, and possession of larger quantities remains a crime. Also, even with possession of small amounts, they will confiscate it and can impose various civil penalties on you. Meanwhile, their law enforcement continues to fight a drug war, trying to stop larger shipments from coming in. They have to some degree switched to a more treatment oriented option, so the decreased law enforcement is offset by pouring more money into treatment. Still, it's a step in the right direction. At least it keeps the jails from being filled with drug users.

- wolf