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Drug War Terrorism
Wednesday, September 25th, 2002Yeah. I expect hate mail.
110 Responses to “Drug War Terrorism”
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Right on!
Good column.
Call me niave, but where does the hate mail come from? Is it as simple as anti-drug zealots?
right on Radley!
keep on bloggin!
Preach on Radley! Some people think it is more harmful to our country to buy a quarter ounce of weed than a gas guzzling German SUV. Logic has left the building!
I’m glad that SOMEONE is speaking the truth. Keep it up, Radley!!!
It has to be just a matter of time before the drug laws start to get in touch with reality. I don’t know a single person personally who thinks the War on Drugs is right, or good…and for the record, I tend to hang out with politically conservative folks.
Thank you! As always well written and thoughtful.
The only thing missing is specific information on what can be done to help.
NORML.org is always good. Legalize.com has a good automated Congressional contact feature to send the message to our politicians.
Please do more pieces like this!
It’s refreshing to know some writers will speak their minds about our so called war on drugs! You brought up many excellent points.
Our government needs to stop terrorizing it’s citizens!! It also needs to get a grip on reality. Nobaody’s buy what they are trying to sell.
It’s refreshing to know some writers will speak their minds about our so called war on drugs! You brought up many excellent points.
Our government needs to stop terrorizing it’s citizens!! It also needs to get a grip on reality. Nobody’s buying what they are trying to sell.
Comment from a conservative.
The government let the zealots run amock with a war on drugs before…it was called prohibition. Prohibition gave rise to crime and violence in our country. Sounds just like today’s war on drugs…while the other citizens were taxed to pay for it.
I think the founding fathers would be mortified that an individual living in a free country could have their personal property confiscated, their rights violated and their life taken because they were found to be in possession of a plant.
Good article.
First, this is not “hate mail” — I do respect your opinions, Radley, and I agree that the government has botched many battles in the War on Drugs.
However, the decriminalizaton movement is wrongheaded for one reason — is it in society’s best interest to have millions of people regularly enter altered states of consciousness, where their perceptions are distorted and judgment is impaired?
I agree that what we do in our own homes is not the government’s business — but it is also too easy for the effects of recreational drug use to spill outside the home and impact the rights of others, because of the judgment-impairment described above.
You mean as with alcohol?
And we *already* have millions of people who alter their states of consciousness with chemicals. I’m deeply suspect of claims that decriminalizing drugs will significantly boost drug use. But even if it does, the harm done by new users would be far less than the reduction in harm effected by a drug war that robs us of our Constitutional rights, wastes our money, takes innocent lives, and….yes…doesn’t work.
Rich Casebolt wasn’t serious, was he?
I mean he just lobbed that one across the plate so you could knock it out of the park, didn’t he?
Yes, I was serious. Our society thrives best when each person takes the responsibility to reach their full potential for themselves — and recreational drug use keeps those millions from doing just that.
There are two differences with alcohol. First, it has other legitimate uses. Second, it does not have the “gain” (effect vs. dosage) of other drugs. Therefore, it is more manageable. BTW, I don’t even use alcohol.
And do you seriously think that the numbers of users will not increase with decriminalization?
The stupidity of academics and the NEA are already impairing the futures of our next generation enough — why do we want to tell the next generation that it is OK to get even more stupid just for fun?
Do we want to tell the next generation that it is OK to get even more stupid just for fun?
Probably not. But it’s also not the responsibility of the government to say it’s NOT OK to get even more stupid just for fun.
One quote from the article struck me:
“When asked of the raid, DEA Administrator Asa Hutchison was incredulous. “Our responsibility is to enforce our controlled substances laws,” he said, “and one of those controlled substances is marijuana.”
I, unfortunately, have to agree with him. Despite some of the horrid examples of deaths involved in drug busts, the enforcement of the law isn’t really the ill here. You can’t blame a guy for doing his job, and marijuana is against the law. Although they may certainly demonstrate a greater level of judgement, the concept of enforcing the law itself isn’t a bad thing.
What is bad is the law. That’s what needs to be changed, and no level of breaking the law will affect change. Instead, the overwhelmingly vocal critics of marijuana legalization need to be met head-to-head, and we must achieve a point where even stating that one believes the laws are wrong isn’t treated with such taboo.
Rich, your idiot. Besides cooking, what legitimate uses of alcohol are there? Drunken bar fights? The rise of organized crime in the early 1900s? I guess its OK to kill innocent people, because people are just too dumb to take responsiblity for themselves? Right Rich.
For those of you who want to legalize drugs:
Should drugs be made legal to use for everyone, or just people over the age of 21 (like alcohol).
Should all drugs be made legal, just marijuana, “organic” drugs, or only the drugs that aren’t highly addictive.
If street drugs are going to be legal, how we will regulate that the drugs are “safe” to use. Should the be controlled in the same way as prescription drugs?
>>Our society thrives best when each person takes the responsibility to reach their full potential for themselves — and recreational drug use keeps those millions from doing just that.>There are two differences with alcohol. First, it has other legitimate uses. Second, it does not have the “gain” (effect vs. dosage) of other drugs. Therefore, it is more manageable. BTW, I don’t even use alcohol.>And do you seriously think that the numbers of users will not increase with decriminalization?
Arrggh! Mangled the reply. Let me try again.
“Our society thrives best when each person takes the responsibility to reach their full potential for themselves — and recreational drug use keeps those millions from doing just that.”
Fine. Then let them take responsibility — and suffer the consequences of failure. There are a vast number of things that people allow to prevent them from reaching their potential. Why do we single this one out as SO important that we are willing to trash the Constitution to eradicate it?
“There are two differences with alcohol. First, it has other legitimate uses. Second, it does not have the “gain” (effect vs. dosage) of other drugs. Therefore, it is more manageable. BTW, I don’t even use alcohol.”
More manageable for some. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but all many people manage is to screw up their lives with alcohol. Let’s forget all this “take responsibility” crap — why don’t we outlaw alcohol and save these people and their families a lot of trouble?
Oh, wait… We tried that. It was a miserable failure.
“And do you seriously think that the numbers of users will not increase with decriminalization?”
The number of users may well increase, but, as Radley pointed out, that’s only half the equation.
Criminalization of alcohol decreased the numbers of drinkers. Did the benefit of having fewer drinkers outweigh the costs of increased crime (and decreased respect for the law) brought about by criminalization?
P.S. I agree with Peter
—
Some people think it is more harmful to our country to buy a quarter ounce of weed than a gas guzzling German SUV.
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Slap drunk drivers on the wrist while imprisoning drug dealers. Which is more harmful to the general public.
Two points our gov. sems to miss in the war on drugs,first you can’t protect peaple from themselves and second, you can’t consider youself part of a free country if you think it’s right to try.
(Radley, the way you’ve implemented this comment function in the separate window is a stroke of genius!)
First, we all realize that cars can be very dangerous if used irresponsibily — but they do have legitimate uses that benefit us as long as we maintain control of their use. Therefore, we do not outlaw cars, but instead regulate their use with radar guns, for example.
Similarly, alcohol has some legitimate uses, such as an ingredient in cooking (I love beer cheese soup myself!) and as a beverage (particularly when you’re somewhere where “you don’t drink the water”). Also, you can enjoy a glass of wine or a beer without altering your perceptions to the point that you lose control of your actions.
I know full well the potential consequences of such loss of control with alcohol, and I do not minimize it — but the legitimate uses and the ability to prevent perceptive distortion are such that, the way I see it, it merits legal status. The behavior that is directly derived from its abuse is what should be the subject of regulation, just as our behavior behind the wheel is subject to speed limits and lane markers — because that behavior can infringe on the rights of others.
The problem is, there is only one use for recreational drugs — to alter perception. There is no other redeeming value in them that is objectively verifiable (which is why, for example, the FDA has refused to rule that smoking marajuana is a “safe and effective” therapy).
When you alter your perception, you impair your control over your actions, with no guarantees you can stop behavior that will spill over into the lives of others — and when that happens, the cause of these actions now becomes the legitimate concern of the designated protector of individual rights, our government.
If there are other uses for recreatonal drugs in “regular” society, as opposed to the lab environment or (in the case of cocaine) medical treatment, that brought us benefit beyond just a buzz, I would treat them just like alcohol, and advocate regulating the behavior derived from their abuse.
With as much objectivity as I can muster, I don’t see legitimate uses for the drugs we have designated as “illegal” in regular society — so why does anyone have the right to put the rest of us at risk just so they can get a buzz? There is no redeeming social value in doing so, unlike the risks we take in our cars and with a beer — so there is no legitimate reason to even “go there”.
But Rich, why do you or the state have the right to tell me what’s best for me? Do you really think that the elderly post-polio patient is putting the rest of us at risk by smoking a marijuana cigarette?
Marijuana causes far less societal damage than alcohol. Dope doesn’t make people violent, and it’s nearly impossible to OD on marijuana, unlike alcohol.
If all drugs are legalized, will people get high and do dumb things? Of course. Just like they do now. Just like people today have too much to drink and do dumb things. Legalizing drugs doesn’t mean we OK the laws people break once they’re high.
If a guy gets drunk and beats his wife, do we prosecute him for being drunk? No. We prosecute him for beating his wife. The same scenario would apply to the decrminalization of drugs.
As for “legitimate uses,” my grandfather used to wear a copper bracelet around his wrist to ease his arthritis. We knew it was a crock. But you know what? It made him feel better. So who were we to tell him it wasn’t working?
I’ve seen science on both sides of the “therapeutic marijuana” debate. But if an old lady who’s allergic to pain killers says it helps ease the pain in her leg that’s been withered by polio, is it really necessary to send in DEA agents to point assault rifles at her head?
The last two comments by Radley and Rich goes to show there is no right answer. Where do you draw the line between infringing on a person’s rights and freedom, and protecting the lives of those who might come into contact with that person.
There is a compelling agrument that marijuana use is no worse than alcohol use – maybe it’s even better. However there are studies that show that marijuana is often the first step of drug use – after trying marijuana, many people go on to try other drugs. This should be investigated more before saying marijuana use is no worse or no better that alcohol use.
Radley,
I don’t think we should legalize drugs for everyone just because a small minority of people are positively affected by the use of drugs, no more should we raise the speed limit because sometimes people have a good reason to speed (like volunteer fire-fighters on their way to the firehouse)
We should also criminalize religion, because some people take it to the point of cultism and they could abuse their children.
First off, I’d like to say that this debate is extraordinary and I appreciate the points brought on by both sides.
But, I look at this as more of an availability issue. Drug use is a personal choice, just as smoking ciggarettes, drinking beer, riding a bike, or any dangerous activity that could cause damage to youself or others.
As a young boy growing up in urban, suburban and rural areas, I learned that all kids are the same- They want to cause trouble and want to be older than what they are. Kids chew tobacco, smoke ciggarettes, and drink beer because they’re not supposed to do it and older people do.
Likewise, tobacco, beer, and drugs are easily available and consequently, addiction reliable at any age. In all areas of town, rural or urban, drugs, especially marijuana, can be obtained through a few phone calls in less than an hour.
If drugs were legalized, it would not open up a closed market for millions of potential drug users- the market is already split in half. People under the age of 20 who have a moral issue with the use of controlled substances don’t have the moral issue because it’s illegal, they have an issue because they have been taught that it’s wrong. It’s a personal decision.
So why do we lock up people who would use whether legal or not? Is their personal decision, that would be made regardless of the law, worth the billions of dollars we put in every year trying to stop them?
Of course not, right or wrong is a personal dilemna, but we, as a country, should realize that drug use is an unbeatable battle that is costing us money when it could be making us money. Yet, as parents and mentors to children, we could put more money into providing a sturcture of morality, open mindedness, and acceptance.
The Drug War isn’t working, why don’t we try something else?
First off, I’d like to say that this debate is extraordinary and I appreciate the points brought on by both sides.
But, I look at this as more of an availability issue. Drug use is a personal choice, just as smoking ciggarettes, drinking beer, riding a bike, or any dangerous activity that could cause damage to youself or others.
As a young boy growing up in urban, suburban and rural areas, I learned that all kids are the same- They want to cause trouble and want to be older than what they are. Kids chew tobacco, smoke ciggarettes, and drink beer because they’re not supposed to do it and older people do.
Likewise, tobacco, beer, and drugs are easily available and consequently, addiction reliable at any age. In all areas of town, rural or urban, drugs, especially marijuana, can be obtained through a few phone calls in less than an hour.
If drugs were legalized, it would not open up a closed market for millions of potential drug users- the market is already split in half. People under the age of 20 who have a moral issue with the use of controlled substances don’t have the moral issue because it’s illegal, they have an issue because they have been taught that it’s wrong. It’s a personal decision.
So why do we lock up people who would use whether legal or not? Is their personal decision, that would be made regardless of the law, worth the billions of dollars we put in every year trying to stop them?
Of course not, right or wrong is a personal dilemna, but we, as a country, should realize that drug use is an unbeatable battle that is costing us money when it could be making us money. Yet, as parents and mentors to children, we could put more money into providing a sturcture of morality, open mindedness, and acceptance.
The Drug War isn’t working, why don’t we try something else?
James – you sound like you only want to legalize drugs for your own benefit
What would my benefit be? I don’t use (unless you count coffee) and never have. But that was a cute attempt there Mr. or Ms. no name.
Travis, You have a good point.
However, I know some people who do not smoke pot solely for the reason that it is illegal, including me and my husband. My husband sees no difference between getting high and getting drunk. But he choses not to smoke pot because it is not worth the risk of getting caught.
I am glad that smoking pot is illegal. I smoked pot in high school. Getting high caused my grades to go down, caused me to be more depressed, and made me forgetful. After I quit, I became a happier person, was able to raise my GPA in college – leading to scholarships and honors. If I hadn’t quit because of the risk of getting caught – I doubt I would have done as well in college as I did.
I’m also glad my husband doesn’t smoke pot due to the risk because I think being stoned makes you forgetful – I have a hard enough time getting him to remember which night is bath night for the kids and so on.
It is a sad state of affairs when the government has to make things illegal so that the weaker-willed among us can get good grades in school. Puh-leeeze.
A cliches that I think fits the discussion: Everyone is doing it – makes it right?
Of couse we will never win the war on drugs, just like there will always be robberies, murders, etc. That is no reason to give up.
How does the fact that “getting stoned makes one stupid” make me weak willed?
The fact that you let your grades slip and instead of quitting for that reason, you needed the government to scare you into quitting. That’s pretty weak-willed in my department.
James – I have an open mind in this discussion – even if I sound conservative.
No one has answered my earlier question:
For those of you who want to legalize drugs:
Should drugs be made legal to use for everyone, or just people over the age of 21 (like alcohol).
Should all drugs be made legal, just marijuana, “organic” drugs, or only the drugs that aren’t highly addictive.
If street drugs are going to be legal, how we will regulate that the drugs are “safe” to use. Should the be controlled in the same way as prescription drugs?
Maybe if you explain why you feel so strongly about legalizing drugs, we can understand your point of view better – and have a better chance to be persuaded.
Did you start smoking pot not knowing that it could cause a few problems?
OK – so what if I am weak willed. Aren’t all drug users weak willed then – to take the risk of fines and jail time to get high?
TJ – I did not know that smoking pot would affect me outside of being high. I think that many people think this – why else are street drugs often called recreational?
I have two points to make:
1. It seems that whenever there is a debate about the legalization of marijuana, somebody has to jump in with the suggestion that it is a “gateway” drug that leads users to experiment with heroin, cocaine, and other hardcore narcotics. This is essentially the same as saying that alcohol should be illegal because many people who drink will eventually become violent alcoholics (that first drink is nothing more than a gateway to addiction).
It makes me wonder if alcohol is a gateway drug too? I’m pretty sure most marijuana users got drunk before ever getting high.
Most of my friends have smoked pot in high school or college, and some continue using today (I’m in my 30′s), but I don’t know anybody who went on to become a heroin junky just because they smoked a little weed.
I’m curious to hear if any of you current or ex- pot smokers believe in the “gateway” drug theory. Does anybody have personal experience moving from marijuana to the more dangerous drugs? How many of you attribute your experimentation with harder drugs directly to your marijuana use?
2. Why can’t the anti-pot movement grasp the reality that some people are simply incapable of doing anything in moderation? Whether it’s drinking, using drugs, eating, dieting, exercising, working, etc., there is always going to be that segment of the population who can’t control themselves; they must take everything to the extreme. Why does our government legislate according to the lowest common denominator? Should responsible members of society be encumbered by laws that are designed to protect the stupid, the sick, and the weak from their own shortcomings?
I’m don’t smoke weed anymore, but if I suddenly felt the urge to get the munchies and the giggles in my own home, I should have that right without being considered a criminal by my elected government in a “free” society.
I’ll answer the question.
I smoke pot, I dont drink alcohol except for family get togethers which are rare enough. It’s MY personal choice. And if I go out and wreck my car and kill a family of innocent people, I sure hope that they put me away for a VERY long time.
The drinking age should be 18, because if you are old enough to fight and die for your country, you should be able to drink if you so choose. No one is holding a gun to you’re head forcing that beer down your throat.
I feel the same should be for pot, it should be regulated as best as people can mangae without creating a witch-hunt atmosphere, but we as a free people should have the right to chose.
The risk of getting busted is a risk I am willing to take. But the thing is, I dont drive high, just like I dont drive drunk.
Other drugs should be regulated too, but obviously, the more socially disruptive a drug is, the tighter the sanctions should be on it. You dont see a someone who just took a few bong hits walk into a bank and kill 5 people to finance his “weed habit” But you will see someone do that on cocain, or even worse, crystal meth. You cant get a girl stoned and date rape her, you can with alcohol or even worse with GHB.
You get my point yet?
My mother always said to me “moderation in all things” whether its getting high, drunk, just driving your car, or listening to rap music in your car that can be heard a mile away. One mans pain is another mans pleasure. The drug war is wrong as we can all see, but there does need to be less than an all out free for all.
I don’t think smoking pot causes you to want to do other drugs. Some people like to experiment – and often start with pot because it is safe and easily accessible. On the other hand, it is a gateway drug in a way because (speaking from personal experience) it often leads you to meet people who have access to other drugs (which are less accessible to first timers). At least where I’m from – you get drugs from “friends”. I don’t know of any “anonymous” dealers. You get into a circle of drug friends first by smoking pot and gaining their trust, then they will offer you other drugs.
Ryan, you make a good point, but I think you are an exception – I don’t think most people use drugs in moderation.
Let me say, there are many studies disproving the gateway drug theory, like a previous posting, most of the time the “gateway” is the enviroment in which the drug is obtained. Secondly, I too smoke “herb” and my IQ is 136, this is highly gifted to sub-genius for those of you who don’t know IQ scales. So, to say someone won’t achieve their full potential by use of drugs is absurd. It totally depends on the individual him/herself. Do I think all drugs should be legalized, personally no. But, as far as society goes, it’s a must. The harm reduction in itself by knowing what a person is injesting ie, purities, is the plus that come from legalization, I personally believe we should stick to organics, but we all know addicts are going to get high no matter what. So we should keep these people as safe as possible, plus it’s better for our kids. How many bars can a 12 year old kid walk into and place money on the bar and get a beer? But, how many street corners can a kid go to and get a sack of crack for his parents or run crack for his local pusher. I wish I had more time as I just became familiar with this board, however it’s time for me to leave work and go home, so hopefully we’ll speak again in the near future. Everyone keep up the good fight, years of propaganda has poisoned our fellow Americans, sooner or later rationality will pervail.
Thank You.
Radley:
If we are to live in a society where each of us is free to choose and do what is best for us as individuals, as you and I both seek, we must expect each other to exercise the self-control necessary to stay out of each other’s way. Otherwise, we will spend even more time than we do now looking over our shoulders instead of looking ahead to our individual progress.
Recreational drug use greatly impairs the maintenance of that self-control, inhibiting the ability to even protect ourselves. Unless we wish to create a harsh, dog-eat-dog society where you bear the total burden for your own police, fire, and medical protection, that lack of self-control burdens (and sometimes threatens) the well-being of others as they end up cleaning up any “messes” you make in your life, while you are incapable of either preventing them or cleaning them up yourself.
When your perceptions are altered, you simply cannot guarantee that the mess you make as a result of that loss of self-control won’t spill out of your home and into the “street” of society.
There are other areas where we give up a measure of control from time to time — even sleeping is a risk in that regard. However, there are legitimate compensating benefits (such as rejuvenation of physical stamina, in the case of sleep) that justify that temporary loss of control. There is no such benefit to recreational drug use, that cannot be acheived by alternate methods that avoid the loss of self-control.
In nearly all cases, I am right beside you when it comes to keeping the government out of individual behavioral choices — because that has proven in practice to be the best way for the most people to find the optimal answers to the problems we all face. It also minimizes the negative impact of any errors in judgment that may be committed (especially by the leaders of our society). Even weird decisions, like wearing copper bracelets to treat arthritis, are tolerable because they have little impact on the rest of us — and for government to dictate behavior at that level limits the available pool of alternative ideas that we can use to solve our problems. That is counterproductive to progress, regardless of how good it makes the “progressives” feel.
Once you take that drug, though, you lose your ability to make those choices from a basis of rational, objective thought, at least temporarily — without a compensating benefit to anyone beyond physical and emotional stimulation, which cannot justify risking the infringement of others’ rights in this society.
This isn’t about jamming morality down anyone’s throat — this is about keeping each other free to pursue life as we see fit, while minimizing the effort needed for self-defense.
Also, I still believe that part of our responsibility to our society is for each of us to strive to reach our full potential, based on our own talents, desires, and discipline — for America has shown us that, when its citizens strive for personal achievement while still respecting the rights of others, we all benefit from their success.
Drug use keeps our society from “hitting on all cylinders” to the maximum degree, and holds all of us back as a result.
(BTW, I agree that the response of the DEA to the senior citizen you described was way over the top, and definitely not justified — but using her to justify decriminalization of drugs is the equivalent of using the rape/incest cases to justify legalized abortion for any reason.)
I know this is long, but the way I see it, the truth — while simple — is not simplistic. Thanks for your tolerance.
great column my nig.
keep letting everyone know the..
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Fellow Brothers and Sisters,
Life is one big spiritual battle. All is invovled in it all the time, including the drug war. From a Christian point of view there is nothing wrong with smoking weed. No where in the Bible does it speak against pot. Humans and orginized religion made these laws and rules. You can not trust anything that is human made ! It will fail you and many others. Jesus Christ, God, The Holy Spirit, and The Bible are not human made . They are the only things that we can ever truly trust and live by. Human made laws should mean nothing to a true believer. It says this in the Bible.”Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justifeied by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16 Also keep in mind that God made every plant and animal on earth for us to use.
He also gave humans a thing called FREE WILL! So having free will we should humble ourselves and so should our government and appreciate other people and their free will. You don’t have to like or agree with people smoking pot but you do need to let them choose if they want to or not. No one has the right to force. The use of weed should not be left to the government to decide . It should be every citizen for themselves.
It in the Bible does speak about alcohol. It does not totally allow it. Jesus taught that the disciples should not be drunkards. And his first miracle was to turn water in to wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.Jesus taught moderation, always moderation. That should also be considered. Alcohol is alot worse than weed. You can’t drink and drive because drinking impares your judgement, but you can smoke and drive. Weed does not impare your judgement. It calms you and in has many, many medical uses. It can be an anti-depressant, pain killer, prozac, and many other things. It will only make you “dumb” if you let it. I did not start smoking pot untill my senior year in high school and my grades only got better from there. I graduated from a 2 year college program with a 3.2 GPA. You can have your cake and eat it too. You just need to keep it in moderation.
For those of you who are in favor of keeping the drug laws as they are, I have a few questions about this contentious issue, and maybe you can help me. Any resources you could offer regarding the following questions would be much appreciated:
1. America is a great country, but sometimes I think we suffer from having too much freedom. Tell me, what other rights can I give up in order to make America a more “righteous” country?
2. One of my friends is a casual pot-smoker, and I fear for his life. Tell me, how many years in prison will it take to reverse the damage?
3. I’ve found a plant in my yard that I suspect would not be entirely good for my health should I ingest or smoke it. Should I call local law enforcement? If it turns out it ISN’T good for my health, will I go to jail if I’ve tasted a small piece of it?
4. I’m concerned for our elderly population, particularly those who are terminally ill. Some of them think this gives them the right to smoke medical marijuana! How do I explain to them that engaging in an activity that some might consider offensive is too high a price to pay for them to alleviate their needless suffering?
5. Along the lines of the last question, an elderly woman claims that her DOCTOR has actually suggested she take medical marijuana to relieve her pain! How do I convince her that politicians, despite not having gone to medical school, are actually in a better position to tell her what is and is not best for her body?
6. Should pot become legal, should I dump all my Phillip Morris stocks? I’m scared to death that should this abomination become legal, less people might smoke cigarettes, and cigarette stocks could plunge!
7. One of my friends claimed that the War on Drugs is racist! But so long as you are rich enough to hire a good lawyer, or know a politician, anyone can avoid doing time. Do you concur?
8. If I see someone whom I suspect is smoking pot, should I try to find out who their dealer is before I inform the proper authorities? I just want to do my part to make sure all of the domestic terrorists are gotten rid of.
9. Also, I’ve been having a debate with one of my friends as to whether it’s better for our gov’t to install left-wing or right-wing dictators in Latin American countries where drugs seem to come from. Does it really matter? So long as the dictator murders and oppresses his own people, the problem’s solved, right?
10. One last question. In California, some people are actually advocating that marijuana be decriminalized because there’s so many pot-users in jail that there’s less and less room for murderers and rapists. But this is ridiculous. Isn’t the real solution to spend billions more of the taxpayers money to build more prisons? Afterall, pot users pose AT LEAST as great a threat as murderers and rapists, right?
I believe that Pot SOULD be legal for one reason the local police station can focus on Heroin and crack and the real problems in this world. Pot has never been know to kill 1 person of overdose and lets not forget that fucking alchol is legal and it kills more people then we could all count. We all have a choice to smoke or not but i believe that i will keep smoking. 420 is in 17 days get high for me :)
To respond to your comment. It’s not the alcohol or the pot that kills people. It’s the people who use those drugs and then don’t make good decisions due to their influence of the drug. When he/she is “sober” their mind processes are clearer and not clouded. So let’s not start talking about how certain drugs don’t “kill,” because they can all be a factor in the death of someone, user or bystander…I have seen what happens and it’s not pretty,just keep that in mind.
It is said by many drug users around the world that they are in control of their actions, that they aren’t addicted. The truth hurts : no longer are they in control they are fighting a losing battle. If one saw one child picking on another who did something so small with no harmful intention ment to themself or the other child yet are forced to stand alone in a crowd who doesn’t stop the fight but only lets it continue even though they are aware it is occuring. This one who would see this fight has a choice: help or let this child lose “a losing battle,” some would chose to help and some to stand and watch yet not interveen. The child playing the part of the victum is the drug user, and the other child is the drug. This simple act not ment to harm is the drug user cracking to the pressure to try a drug without tring to cause harm to any. Though it is put apon the people to choose their choice, lest they remember one might act upon the same desion as they themselves would have made in what is their time of need. Help or let it be?
It’s about time someone spoke their mind on this issue.And how true yuour article is. I am all for legalizing marajuana. There are really no dangers in smoking herb, as there are with harder drugs such as cocaine and ecstacy. As a matter of fact, I beleive it would bring the crime rate down drastically if the criminal element was taken out of the act. Aside from that, have you ever seen a voilent cannibis user? I haven’t. Random urine tests and searches of any and all of our properties is a destruction and a breakdown of our civil rights. The only reason I beleive this “war on drugs” keeps raging is because of the money it produces. The money which is taken from our taxes and destroys our liberal rights as American citizens.
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