Sure. They don’t want what is best for us. So that means we have to want to it, loudly. If we make this our cause it will drown out theirs. Instead of removing a constitutional right it will restore one. Or should we say, several.
Ending the War on Drugs is a big part of the solution; ending for-profit incarceration and handing everyone free healthcare (if only so the addicted can get assistance ending their addictions without ending up in jail) are also necessary.
I largely agree with you overall. For cannabis, I think it should be 100% legal for everyone 18+, and treated no more stringently than alcohol or tobacco. Psychedelics should also be legal as well, as per spiritual freedom as well as cognitive liberty. I do have a couple of questions though regarding hard drugs:
1) Which, if any, drugs would still remain illegal under your preferred policy? Would you legalize fentanyl or its analogues, crystal meth, PCP, or roofies, for example?
2) What regulations would there be, beyond basic quality control, labeling, and stuff like that?
3) What should the age limits be?
4) What restrictions, if any, should there be on advertising of drugs? And if so, how do you get around the legal precedents protecting "commercial speech" under the First Amendment?
5) Should drug users be allowed to own or carry guns?
(Note that these are not trick questions from me, but rather the sorts of antithetical questions that the prohibitionists would predictably ask. Plus the vague emotional appeal of "but what about the children?")
These are all great questions. In a liberal (free thinking - not “left”) society we answer these together. Instead of forcing answers down each other’s throats. That’s the problem with wokeism and social Justice fundamentalism - they provide only one solution that you MUST accept or else you are racist, transphobic or whatever. Free thinkers start off with a question, allow for all answers, and use idea labs to attempt the ideas. If they fail they are not afraid to reverse course.
The drug war we are afraid to reverse course despite’s decades of failure.
I hesitate to support the legalization of now-illegal drugs, primarily because Uncle Sam is hating on cottage industries and can’t control his lunatic impulses. Add to that the likelihood Big Pharma will assume regulatory control. We’ve seen how that worked out with opiates and vaccines. It’s complex and nuanced, but you present a coherent and mighty persuasive argument. Well thought out. Thanks, RS. I like getting called out to think.
For sure BP traffics in all kinds of drugs that should be illegal, but I haven’t seen evidence connecting BP to illegal fentanyl traffic—at least not on a scale comparable to what comes in from Mexico—but it wouldn’t surprise me. What have you found?
It happened partially so far with cannabis mostly because people realized the power of direct democracy and ballot initiatives and did it ourselves. We need to use this power better
Portugal has had mostly positive results from decriminalising drugs. Most places where marijuana has been decriminalised the level of related crime has reduced.
Maintaining a high cost to vices is claimed to reduce their harm. Prohibition and tobacco tax has had very little beneficial effect. Removing the pharma industry promotion of alcohol and tobacco has removed more propaganda that hooks people.
If alcohol tax was a legitimate deterrent to alcoholism why are there any sober rich people. The cause and effect are reversed and taxing alcohols is cruel, though I am not against regulation to the under 20 year old.
I believe that personal consumption and production of anything should be allowed under human rights. Selling harmful substances should be regulated but their precursors should only be restricted in quantities in excess of personal use and to minors. Mandatory jail time for contributing to the delinquency of a minor or offering habit forming substances to them.
I want to see a world where my distilling of fuel alcohol is not criminalised because some prohibitionist thinks that their god tasked them with controlling the alcohol consumption of others.
While I do not think alcohol consumption is productive nor do I partake I still think it should be a personal choice if you do not harm others. Parents and drivers should not be given much leeway when abusing it but only if it causes harm or potential harm to others.
Triple sentence if convicted when under ANY chemical influence.
Your second statement of fact has no empirical data to support it. Your first statement of fact is probably close enough that determining the actual number is not worth the effort. I shall return tomorrow to leave a longer message.
Al Capone killed other bootleggers trying to infringe on his geographic territory. The same is true of urban drug dealers, who are largely black and Hispanic members of gangs. Sometimes law enforcement gets caught in the crossfire. Where marijuana has been legalized, it is still more profitable to grow it yourself and sell it. Individuals are rarely arrested only for use.
You know what.. there has never been a war on Drugs in this country. Only a war on its people. Sad news my friend. Have you ever read a book called Aids, Opium and Diamonds? People could think I am anti American when I say this but I love America, my father gave his life for it (sadly).. but Drugs are a commodity for sale and control of the American people. We can stop the current drug flow into the U.S at the Border any time ANY ADMINISTRATION has the will do do so. but it won't because the drugs allow for the mass exchange of human trafficking, women and children, body parts, and the mass redistribution of money all while keeping AMERICANS in their place. Only Christ will set one free. BTW,, that goes for all GLOBAL GOVERNANCE and its elites. IMHO. only
They don't want to reduce gun violence, they just want to have a monopoly on it.
Sure. They don’t want what is best for us. So that means we have to want to it, loudly. If we make this our cause it will drown out theirs. Instead of removing a constitutional right it will restore one. Or should we say, several.
Ending the War on Drugs is a big part of the solution; ending for-profit incarceration and handing everyone free healthcare (if only so the addicted can get assistance ending their addictions without ending up in jail) are also necessary.
We can't end the War on Drugs...it makes too much sense.
I largely agree with you overall. For cannabis, I think it should be 100% legal for everyone 18+, and treated no more stringently than alcohol or tobacco. Psychedelics should also be legal as well, as per spiritual freedom as well as cognitive liberty. I do have a couple of questions though regarding hard drugs:
1) Which, if any, drugs would still remain illegal under your preferred policy? Would you legalize fentanyl or its analogues, crystal meth, PCP, or roofies, for example?
2) What regulations would there be, beyond basic quality control, labeling, and stuff like that?
3) What should the age limits be?
4) What restrictions, if any, should there be on advertising of drugs? And if so, how do you get around the legal precedents protecting "commercial speech" under the First Amendment?
5) Should drug users be allowed to own or carry guns?
(Note that these are not trick questions from me, but rather the sorts of antithetical questions that the prohibitionists would predictably ask. Plus the vague emotional appeal of "but what about the children?")
Thanks in advance :)
These are all great questions. In a liberal (free thinking - not “left”) society we answer these together. Instead of forcing answers down each other’s throats. That’s the problem with wokeism and social Justice fundamentalism - they provide only one solution that you MUST accept or else you are racist, transphobic or whatever. Free thinkers start off with a question, allow for all answers, and use idea labs to attempt the ideas. If they fail they are not afraid to reverse course.
The drug war we are afraid to reverse course despite’s decades of failure.
Very well-said.
I hesitate to support the legalization of now-illegal drugs, primarily because Uncle Sam is hating on cottage industries and can’t control his lunatic impulses. Add to that the likelihood Big Pharma will assume regulatory control. We’ve seen how that worked out with opiates and vaccines. It’s complex and nuanced, but you present a coherent and mighty persuasive argument. Well thought out. Thanks, RS. I like getting called out to think.
Doesn’t fentanyl all come from them already?
For sure BP traffics in all kinds of drugs that should be illegal, but I haven’t seen evidence connecting BP to illegal fentanyl traffic—at least not on a scale comparable to what comes in from Mexico—but it wouldn’t surprise me. What have you found?
Ban advertising for alcohol. Ads with bikinis & beaches sell a lot of beer and adolescent boys equate beer with maturity.
We don't allow cigarettes to be advertised and we went after Joe Camel for advertising to kids.
Promote this as a legislator and you will never get elected again.
There are voices of reason out there. https://lawenforcementactionpartnership.org/our-issues/drug-policy/
Indeed. LEAP is great, and they certainly prove that ACAB is a fallacy.
This sounds like what I've read about legalizing drugs since the 70s, IIRC. Hasn't happened yet.
It happened partially so far with cannabis mostly because people realized the power of direct democracy and ballot initiatives and did it ourselves. We need to use this power better
And it took how many years with cannabis? Do you think we have 50 more years to get the rest of this done?
The punishment machine needs an overhaul.
Over to the scrap heap.
Portugal has had mostly positive results from decriminalising drugs. Most places where marijuana has been decriminalised the level of related crime has reduced.
Maintaining a high cost to vices is claimed to reduce their harm. Prohibition and tobacco tax has had very little beneficial effect. Removing the pharma industry promotion of alcohol and tobacco has removed more propaganda that hooks people.
If alcohol tax was a legitimate deterrent to alcoholism why are there any sober rich people. The cause and effect are reversed and taxing alcohols is cruel, though I am not against regulation to the under 20 year old.
I believe that personal consumption and production of anything should be allowed under human rights. Selling harmful substances should be regulated but their precursors should only be restricted in quantities in excess of personal use and to minors. Mandatory jail time for contributing to the delinquency of a minor or offering habit forming substances to them.
I want to see a world where my distilling of fuel alcohol is not criminalised because some prohibitionist thinks that their god tasked them with controlling the alcohol consumption of others.
While I do not think alcohol consumption is productive nor do I partake I still think it should be a personal choice if you do not harm others. Parents and drivers should not be given much leeway when abusing it but only if it causes harm or potential harm to others.
Triple sentence if convicted when under ANY chemical influence.
Once you violate the "no harm" principle, then there must be consequences.
Your second statement of fact has no empirical data to support it. Your first statement of fact is probably close enough that determining the actual number is not worth the effort. I shall return tomorrow to leave a longer message.
Al Capone killed other bootleggers trying to infringe on his geographic territory. The same is true of urban drug dealers, who are largely black and Hispanic members of gangs. Sometimes law enforcement gets caught in the crossfire. Where marijuana has been legalized, it is still more profitable to grow it yourself and sell it. Individuals are rarely arrested only for use.
One day sooner than you may think, as the status quo continues to deteriorate, legalization may simply win out by default:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/dea-issues-dire-warning-fentanyl-mixed-flesh-eating-tranq-zombie-drug-seized-48-50-states.amp
Behold, a real life zombie apocalypse unfolding before our eyes in slow motion.
You know what.. there has never been a war on Drugs in this country. Only a war on its people. Sad news my friend. Have you ever read a book called Aids, Opium and Diamonds? People could think I am anti American when I say this but I love America, my father gave his life for it (sadly).. but Drugs are a commodity for sale and control of the American people. We can stop the current drug flow into the U.S at the Border any time ANY ADMINISTRATION has the will do do so. but it won't because the drugs allow for the mass exchange of human trafficking, women and children, body parts, and the mass redistribution of money all while keeping AMERICANS in their place. Only Christ will set one free. BTW,, that goes for all GLOBAL GOVERNANCE and its elites. IMHO. only