Because instead of punishing people for drug use, they helped them with treatment programs. Should the US, where most people are in prison for drug offenses, adopt the same decriminalization policy?
I agree drug users need help not punishment it's the people who supply the drugs who should get very harsh sentences.
Goog question. The model was establishedd in Holland. 40 years ago the police just started telling people to move on, "Not on my beat." Then, the government sponsored Dope Busses, that brought drugs to the addicts. The addiction rate to heroin dropped in half. I"ve been there, drugs are a non issue except for drug tourists.
Portugal found that cases of new HIV infection dropped after heroin was decriminalized. Dealers still go to jail. Addiction dropped off and it did not become a drug mecca.That's because there's treatment required for users, and jail time for dealers. Hollard has just said 'forget it."
Spain in on the road to legalization.
The U.S. is not quite as civilized as these countries. There would be a 1960s drug craze if legaliation were put into effect. After a few years, and an huge increase in homelessness and insane people jamming up the streets, there would be a decline in uise, like in the 1980s.
I'm for state sales and taxing of marijuana, heroin and cocaine. Look what the high tax did to cigarette use. But the U.S. is more into guns and war than solving social issues, so all people can do is argue for a tax on Marijuana at this point in time.
Yes, absolutely. Seems punishment of drug users makes the problem worse, worsens their lives and costs society an awful lot; and Portugal has provided a successful alternative. In the end, Portugal seems to have found a way to actually solve the problem and not exacerbate it. Of course, also taking away the suppliers' customers (by rehabilitating them) is also a more positive solution.
I don't think that we should punish users or consumers, the market will provide whatever is in demand and that's just how it is.
I read an article about in the New Yorker, and nothing bad happened after legalization.
It's just fear mongering from interested groups and wanna-be nannies. Adults should be able to do what ever they want.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011 … ct_specter
Yes, I agree. I don't know why they think they should or can control people and tell them what they can or can't do. Good article, thanks.
"U.S. is more into guns and war than solving social issues," Illegal drugs are another way of controlling people.
+1. And illegal drug users who commit offences are highly profitable for the likes of G4S!
G4S. the global securit firm, will make millions off the murders in Colorado. Good point. People in Congress are of another class, and they don't get to see the end of the barrel of a gun they way common folks do.
I once worked in a prison run by the state, not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. My job also ensured that I visited prisoners in private prisons, run by G4S, nonetheless. The two were incomparable. Now, G4s not only have the massive Olympics project, but have also won contracts for welfare to work and working with troubled families in very deprived areas, such as Salford. I dread to think what the outcome might be....
Fascinating stuff, Billy. I watched a documentary about Holland and agree they are much more enlightened, generally, and specifically about this issue than the US. I absolutely agree the US is more interested in war, putting money into that, not to mention making the prison system a business backed by the government. I also agree drugs would not be a problem in this country except for the fact that they are illegal. Making them illegal creates more violence and misery.
Hello Knolyourself, me thinks not...you said Olympics and you don't have a licence. We're all Palestinians now.
What you saying? You need a license to attend the Olympics?
No. But you do need to be an Olympic sponsor to use the words "Olympics, summer, gold, silver and bronze" when marketing your products, Oh, and if you're in the catering trade you have to sell "chips" with another product such as a hamburger and fries, because Mc'Cs have the monopoly on the word "chips"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho … 45436.html
1984???
The Oxxxxxpics originally was for amateurs. Amateurs are against the law since the last one in the eighties named 'Eagle Eddie'. Now it is just a corporate extravaganza for professionals, to pile up those propaganda metals. I will probably watch some of it anyway.
Cool. There's nothing wrong with enjoying sports. It's just got all a bit too corporate and frankly stupid for me, but I'll still support all those who've come from afar and worked really hard to get here. Won't be buying Mc's though...mind you never did.
And the good news is.....http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/01/mervyn-king-bank-of-england
Don't seem to be any dissenters in this bunch.
You've all nailed the reasons why the US won't decriminalize drugs.
Less civilized is a polite way of putting it!
The other obvious one being Big Pharma controlling the "feel good/feel better" supply through the medical system. They won't tolerate competition!
We all know addicts are not deterred by criminal prosecution or threat of prosecution.
Incarceration without treatment is a waste of taxpayer money.
Exactly. And I didn't think of mentioning the pharmaceutical companies, paying doctors to sell their drugs, experimenting on the population (I don't know about literally, but it's the way it turns out), keeping kids on Prozac and Ritalin and then wondering why there's school shootings, damaging people's brains and zoning them out; and the list goes on as far as that subject goes. I'm sure the pill pushers don't want people using medical marijuana unless they can find a way to corner the market.
Exactly.
However, currently there is a lot of abuse in the medical marijuana system. Not because there's anything wrong or bad about using marijuana medicinally.
But because it's illegal and people are so desperate to obtain it without risking going to prison that they end up scamming and abusing the Medican system.
Yet alcohol is advertised on billboards and tv....
As are way too many of Big Pharma's goodies.
Imagine what all these cash-strapped states and cities could do with the sales tax on MJ.
As far as medical marijuana goes, I've seen a lot of people abuse it and become lifeless and claim they are using it for medicinal purposes; I don't really think most drugs, including marijuana, are necessary, except in some relatively extreme cases like terminal illness, etc. But I still don't know why any of it's illegal and I also, as you say, can't believe they'd advertise alcohol and push pills, both of which kill and damage a lot of people.
by cabalacus 15 years ago
The amount of resources put into alcohol and drug abuse is scandalous and placing great strains on our economy.The vast majority of these people contribute absolutely nothing to society and have claimed state benefits all there life.Drug users are happy to go to jail as there is usually a plentiful...
by Michael Ward 11 years ago
Why do so many people want to blame drug dealers and not drug addicts?I ask this question because of something I saw yesterday. I saw a police officer taking away a 6 year old child for dealing drugs (obviously not a prison...6 year old kid after all). And I thought to myself, his circumstances put...
by kirstenblog 13 years ago
I just stumbled on this story and am really impressed. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/2 … 09102.htmlThe story is about Ron Paul's stance that the fed should take a hands off approach to medical marijuana, that it should be down to the states. My only worry is that Obama campaigned...
by Readmikenow 2 years ago
I think the radio show guy was someone called "Quinn" who said "Liberalism generates the exact opposite of its stated intent. This is one more example. Oregon's legislatures believed decriminalizing drug usage would solve their drug usage problems. The exact...
by Melvin Porter 14 years ago
Mexico is seeking new ways to end years of violence due to the illegal drug activities in the country. Mexico is waiting to see if Californians approve an initiative on Nov. 2 to legalize marijuana for recreational use in their state. If Californians vote yes on this Mexico may do the same...
by democrate1990 14 years ago
How do you feel about decriminalization of marijuana in california?mayo swarzhnegger decriminalized marijuana. meaning marijuana is legal.
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