Guatemala to Legalize Drugs?

#104
#104
There were a lot of alcohol related crimes back during prohibition. They went away after prohibition. Imagine that.

Anyone who wants to use drugs today can and does us drugs today. It is easy to get.

I remember being back in high school and some buddies and I wanted to get a bottle of vodka and go out to the lake. We stopped to talk to this feller in a not-so good neighborhood just down the street from the liquor store. We asked if he would go in and buy for us. He didn't want to. He did offer to sell us weed or pills though. We told him we didn't want any and offered him money to buy for us. He eventually did, but it cost us an extra $10 over cost. And that was back when $10 was not something we came by easily.

Addiction does have costs. However, I think some people confuse victims with consequences. All actions have consequences, that doesn't mean that everyone affected is a victim.
 
#105
#105
Just for clarity, am I the only one in this discussion that thinks there are different levels of drugs; meaning in their effects on the body and risk of addiction? Or do you gents thinks they all are on the same level?
 
#106
#106
Legalize it all, every last bit of it. Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth, Heroin, everything. Spend the money used to incarceration on rehabilitation, it's more humane. People are using these drugs NOW despite the fact that they are illegal. All that does is increase the power of the drug cartels and increase crime (see Prohibition). Bring the black market above ground and tax the proceeds.

What someone does to their own body shouldn't be a crime, it should only become a crime when you infringe on someone elses rights. Now, if you commit a crime while under the influence, then the applicable crime should be prosecuted under the appropriate laws (e.g. drunk driving and killing someone).

The National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine conducted a study in 1999 where they determined that "In sum, there is little evidence that decriminalization of marijuana use necessarily leads to a substantial increase in marijuana use." Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. National Academy Press: Washington, D.C., 102.

The statistics from a country where they did do partial legalization follows:

mariuseusvsneth.jpg


In 2004, 54.1% of the Federal prison population was drug related. I couldn't find state information, I'm sure the percentages are similar. Since 80's, when the War on Drugs went into effect, the percentage has increased drastically year over year:

prispop.jpg

In 2001 dollars, that 54.1% (on the Federal level only) cost us $1,762,285,944 to house. This doesn't included enforcement or judicial costs. I guarantee that legalization would raise more than that in taxes.
 
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#110
#110
#111
#111
VOLatile said:
Legalizing marijuana and cocaine would essentially ruin the cartels and reduce violence caused by them.
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Cartels are only a small fraction of domestic crime. Sure it is present in places like LA, CA, and parts of TX, but I'm unaware of a huge cartel problem in TN. On a side note, prescription meds (oxycontin, roxycontin, opana) are the current trend and are easily obtained legally. Addicts of these drugs (obtained legally) still fill our jails and prisons.
 
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#112
#112
tim said:
Cartels are only a small fraction of domestic crime. Sure it is present in places like LA, CA, and parts of TX, but I'm unaware of a huge cartel problem in TN. On a side note, prescription meds (oxycontin, roxycontin, opana) are the current trend and are easily obtained legally. Addicts of these drugs (obtained legally) still fill our jails and prisons.
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Only because it is illegal to possess them without a prescription. Legalize it and there will be a mass exodus of the prison system.

I was addicted to oxy. Who did I hurt but myself? Not a single soul.
 
#113
#113
VOLatile said:
Only because it is illegal to possess them without a prescription. Legalize it and there will be a mass exodus of the prison system.

I was addicted to oxy. Who did I hurt but myself? Not a single soul.
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Happy for you. Hard to find oxy addicts that kick the monkey. But, a majority of oxy addicts who end up in jail/prison are not there for being in possession of a couple of pills. Btw, did you take them as prescribed (orally) or snort. /smoke/inject them? There is a difference.
 
#114
#114
tim said:
Happy for you. Hard to find oxy addicts that kick the monkey. But, a majority of oxy addicts who end up in jail/prison are not there for being in possession of a couple of pills. Btw, did you take them as prescribed (orally) or snort. /smoke/inject them? There is a difference.
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Started orally, moved to snorting before I just up and stopped. It really was pointless, but I know why people do it. My drug of choice now is adrenaline.
 
#116
#116
VOLatile said:
Started orally, moved to snorting before I just up and stopped. It really was pointless, but I know why people do it. My drug of choice now is adrenaline.
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Best drug ever. Adrenaline that is. Most of the addicts I encounter tell me that oxy initially gives them a super energy rush and allows them to work harder and longer. By the time I talk with them work was the last thing on their mind and they were chasing the next pill. You already know how lucky you are to have kicked it.
 
#117
#117
VOLatile said:
Only because it is illegal to possess them without a prescription. Legalize it and there will be a mass exodus of the prison system.

I was addicted to oxy. Who did I hurt but myself? Not a single soul.
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Congrats on kicking the habit. A very small percent of opiate addicts succeed .
 
#118
#118
I have no desire to force my moral beliefs on somone else. Why would someone want to force their moral beliefs on me?

I believe the answer to this question is the answer to America's drug problem. Unfortunately, it can't be solved on the internet.
 
#119
#119
The Ron Mexico said:
I have no desire to force my moral beliefs on somone else. Why would someone want to force their moral beliefs on me?

I believe the answer to this question is the answer to America's drug problem. Unfortunately, it can't be solved on the internet.
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I agree to an extent. Laws dont stop people from doing things, but the alternative is worse. Imo.
 
#121
#121
RespectTradition said:
Yep. Freedom is terrible. Someone may use it to do something you disapprove of.
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Why is everything an argument with you? You honestly believe we should be a lawless nation, I get that. I just use common sense and know that without them we would be Guatamala-like. Theres a reason people immigrate to the US.
 
#122
#122
To all the people who want to continue prohibition:

Think about this. IT DOES NOT WORK. Drugs are rampant. Drug violence is rampant. Massive amounts of resources are wasted. THE STATUS QUO SUCKS!

You may say that things could get worse. May. Maybe. Possibly. How about we try something that has a chance of failure rather than continuing something that we know is a complete, total and absolute FAILURE.

Just a thought.
 
#124
#124
tim said:
Why is everything an argument with you? You honestly believe we should be a lawless nation, I get that. I just use common sense and know that without them we would be Guatamala-like. Theres a reason people immigrate to the US.
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Freedom is important to me. I understand that for a lot of people it is a platitude and not something that they actually support. I sometimes try to get people out of their complacency.

I don't know you. However, I think you are a cop. If so, then you probably support law over freedom. Most, not all, cops fall into that category.

We all get caught in our own paradigm. I get caught into advocating freedom. Others, into whatever their point of view is.

Freedom demands our utomost effort. Sometimes I can come across as too aggressive about it. I think it is worth it.

I don't advocate lawlessness. I advocate a minimum of law. There is a minimum required to assure society can function. Anything beyond that is an inexcusable infringment of freedom.
 
#125
#125
distrovol said:
You could never get rid of them or peoples desire to use them. The genie can't be put back in the bottle. But to legalize them and tax it (as a good many proponents clamor for) will not result in fewer addicts and wrecked families. It would simply shift who makes money off of it. It would also mean better quality, I suppose.
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Full of fail
 
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