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I would say that the numbers probably would increase. At the same time I think some of the things we normally think of as a "crime" would possibly decrease. Hopefully the money going to gangs and drug cartels would start going to taxes and could potentially be used for legitimate purposes. At the same time the prison populations (a huge problem in the US) would likely drop saving the state even more money. I know a lot of that is wishful thinking and there would be some negative effects created but Im not sure which of the two evils are the worst.
I would never expect a politician to tell the truth if that's what your asking. But its my personal philosophy that people should be given the freedom to choose things for themselves and the responsibility to live with those choices. That ultimately the fewer laws a government can have and still be effective at accomplishing its very limited role in our personal lives the better. As with any "rule" Im sure there are exceptions but as complicated as the drug laws are today is it really stopping anyone from doing anything that the really want to do? If there were no addicts and drug dealers and gang wars and overcrowded prisons then maybe I would be in favor of the law as it is but that's not the case, it has not stopped or probably significantly decreased the drug trade, just driven it underground.
If not legalized, decriminalized to the point where possession is only an infraction (like a parking ticket) punishable by a small fine. Regulation of it is also okay, just like alcohol and tobacco are regulated but legal.
Criminalization of drug use has been tried and tested for decades now. It doesn't work. It makes no sense to keep doing what has been proven not to work and not accomplished the goals stated. We are just helping to make more criminals.
I too, have come to believe it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. I come to that reluctantly because people will come to believe that if something is popular enough, it should be legal.
We've been lied to from the beginning about marijuana. It was originally criminalized because "Negro musicians are smoking it, going crazy and raping white women." Most of America had never heard of it at the time. It finally was hyped as a gateway drug. It's no more a gateway drug than alcohol or tobacco.
But remember that it will probably prove to be as dangerous as those two. I just agree that sending people to prison is now doing more damage than good.
United States
If marijuana then why not cocaine? And if cocaine they why not heroin? The slippery slope argument has some merit.
Other than liberals forcing me to take care of someone who chose to become a drug addict who cant work......why NOT heroin?
Maybe because if heroin were legalised the number of users might increase. MIGHT - but is the risk worth taking?
I would say that the numbers probably would increase. At the same time I think some of the things we normally think of as a "crime" would possibly decrease. Hopefully the money going to gangs and drug cartels would start going to taxes and could potentially be used for legitimate purposes. At the same time the prison populations (a huge problem in the US) would likely drop saving the state even more money. I know a lot of that is wishful thinking and there would be some negative effects created but Im not sure which of the two evils are the worst.
A thoughtful comment Jondough. But do we have any right to expect a politician to say "Heroin use will increase but its a price I am prepared to pay"?
I would never expect a politician to tell the truth if that's what your asking. But its my personal philosophy that people should be given the freedom to choose things for themselves and the responsibility to live with those choices. That ultimately the fewer laws a government can have and still be effective at accomplishing its very limited role in our personal lives the better. As with any "rule" Im sure there are exceptions but as complicated as the drug laws are today is it really stopping anyone from doing anything that the really want to do? If there were no addicts and drug dealers and gang wars and overcrowded prisons then maybe I would be in favor of the law as it is but that's not the case, it has not stopped or probably significantly decreased the drug trade, just driven it underground.
This comment was deleted.
[1 point] 2 years ago by deleted user ReplyAbsolutely not. Do you have ANY idea how big an industry the War on Drugs is? It would be like moving all our manufacturing off-shore.
As I've said before, yes.
If not legalized, decriminalized to the point where possession is only an infraction (like a parking ticket) punishable by a small fine. Regulation of it is also okay, just like alcohol and tobacco are regulated but legal.
Criminalization of drug use has been tried and tested for decades now. It doesn't work. It makes no sense to keep doing what has been proven not to work and not accomplished the goals stated. We are just helping to make more criminals.
I too, have come to believe it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. I come to that reluctantly because people will come to believe that if something is popular enough, it should be legal.
We've been lied to from the beginning about marijuana. It was originally criminalized because "Negro musicians are smoking it, going crazy and raping white women." Most of America had never heard of it at the time. It finally was hyped as a gateway drug. It's no more a gateway drug than alcohol or tobacco.
But remember that it will probably prove to be as dangerous as those two. I just agree that sending people to prison is now doing more damage than good.
This award in carpentry is issued to JWBrothers on this day for _nailing it_.