Is the War on Drugs winding down?

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HerCrazierHalf

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Is the War on Drugs finally winding down?

Everywhere it was on the ballot, legalization or decriminalization of marijuana passed. Most states have either legalized or decriminalized it already. And recently the House moved towards decriminalization on the federal level.

Add to that Oregon decriminalization of nearly all drugs while Columbia considers decriminalizing cocaine.

The criminal justice system often caused more harm in prosecuting the War on Drugs than the drugs imo. I’m happy to see it wane. Not advocating drug use, but treatment and less harm towards users.
 
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Hopefully it is. Prohibition gave rise to organized crime. It was foreseen that the war on drugs would do the same thing, and boy did it ever.

Not to mention that the worst drugs available were created because of a lack of supply of the more pure kind.

The war on drugs was a failure in every way, shape and form.
 
Unfortunately yes. This isn’t going to make things better. Our immoral society doesn’t need easier paths to degeneracy.
 
It should be treated as a health issue since most people who abuse drugs don’t have a criminal mind but are self medicating.
 
HerCrazierHalf said:
The criminal justice system often caused more harm in prosecuting the War on Drugs than the drugs imo.
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HerCrazierHalf said:
Add to that Oregon decriminalization of nearly all drugs
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Living in Oregon and having done criminal defense work, I was and continue to be personally opposed to the move in Oregon.

Unless or until you have had a family member go off the deep end and have had to try to deal with their addiction, it is all just chin chatter and opinions, all too often based on nothing of substance. The threat of criminal prosecution has been a tool to help identify the pushers and the pushers suppliers. Furthermore, it has been a tool as an alternative to get the user into drug rehab. The “objective” of the vote (funded primarily, it appears, by George Soros) was to decriminalize possession of drugs.

It (the vote) has accomplished two things; 1) it has taken away the ability of a judge (or a District Attorney) to give a user two alternatives: tike and a record, or enrollment in a drug rehab and 2) it assures people who are either considering using, or are using, to continue as there are no meaningful consequences.

The idea, apparently of many (the vote passed by 60%) is that without criminal prosecution, somehow, by some mental gymnastics, drug addicts are going to line up for treatment. In short, it is a Pollyanna-esque wish and hope without considering possible consequences.

What has kept at least some, if not many teenagers from starting in drug use. Teenagers generally do not have the wisdom or common sense of adults and are subject to peer pressure; pray tell what is going to stop more now from starting down the path?

Have you ever dealt with a heroin addict who looks you in the eye and tells you they are not an addict and they can stop at any time because they are just a “skin popper”?

I have.

Yes, they develop serious criminal records. How do you think they pay for their addiction?

Theft. Burglary. Some, by robbery. And for the runaway kids on the street, all too often by selling their bodies.

So now that we are decriminalizing possession, how are they going to pay for their next fix?

And we already have drug rehab programs, but the early and middle users are not going to those programs voluntarily; it is most often someone who has hit rock bottom but not overdosed to the point of death.

According to one of the District Attorneys in Oregon, in the current prison population of @ 15,000, 5% are there for drugs, largely the pushers and the long-term users with repeated arrests in an attempt to get them into rehab while in prison.

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I have no doubt that many people are upset that users end up with records and their lives are pretty much a mess. Choices have consequences; now we are going to take away the consequences. Please, somebody tell me how this is going to make a bad situation better.

Kevin Sabet, a three-time White House Office of National Drug Control Policy adviser, said the threat of criminal prosecution can be a powerful incentive for people to seek treatment, he said. Likewise, legalization can empower people to abuse drugs without fearing legal jeopardy.
 
No one solution is the best in all cases. However, in contrast to your case are all those who’s lives were destroyed by the justice system more than the drugs they used ever did. There’s also all the others killed during aggressive police actions. The various no knock raids yielding nominal amounts of drugs if any while destroying property and too often killing people when they raid the wrong house. And let’s not forever those who’ve endured invasive searches during traffic stops on suspicion of hiding drugs “internally”.

I’m not for a nation of users, but like alcohol it seems clear that most of the issues we see are partially due to its prohibition. For example, if I had an addiction I would be hesitant to seek help as that implies admission of a crime.

I do wonder what the proper balance is between full legalization and forcing those with problematic levels of drug abuse into rehab. What nonzero amount of use is abuse?
 
Not living in the USA I can’t tell you, but personally I think drugs should be treated as a social and health problem.
I think the users themselves shouldn’t be prosecuted. But if users do do some sort of violent crimes then they should be jailed immediately or given other options to jailing such as live-in addiction treatment.
But it must be in a setting where the public is still protected.

As for the dealers themselves, I would make any drug dealing come with a minimum 10 years sentence, with no leniency given if first offence, etc. Anyone dealing should get automatically at least 10 years. This will send a clear message to people that are happy to live in luxury from exploiting others misery.
 
My words may sound harsh, but how ignorant is society becoming? It’s like everything bad has become normal and OK. How backwards is it that not wearing a mask can be more of a crime than doing drugs??? Serving drugs is less of a crime than serving people food outdoors in some locations??? I get it people need rehab, but if certain drugs are legalized, guess what, more folks will need rehab, that’s just common sense.

Am I just getting older, or is my reality blurred in thinking this country is really degrading at an excellerated pace?
 
When you say war on drugs, yes the war has failed.

For those who equate marijuana to heroine, cocaine, meth, or even prescription pain pills, they are ignoring reality and the harm caused by certain drugs.

Marijuana should never have been classified as it was and still is. Schedule 1 drugs are listed to have no medical use and high potential for abuse. We know this is not the case for marijuana. There are certainly beneficial medical uses for this drug.

As noted by the decriminalization or legalization of many states, the states certainly disagree with the federal position on marijuana. I am not concerned about folks smoking a little pot, any more than I am about them having their beer, wine or whiskey. Marijuana needs to be legalized and regulated like alcohol or tobacco is.

The other drugs whether they are prescription opiods, meth, heroine, ecstacy, and the like which cause serious problems certainly need to remain illegal as they are.

Prescription pain meds are much more of a problem than marijuana is.
 
We already have enough trouble with drunk drivers on the roads without adding stoned drivers to the mix.
 
I don’t believe it is because you are getting old. I am not old age and I this is how I see it also. These days people have full legals rights to marijuana (totally fine if for medical purposes, but I highly doubt this is the case for everyone), men are free to “spread their seed far and wide” by impregnating multiple women in private ivf, so that children can grow up without knowing their father.

Men are allowed to donate sperm now like as if they are donating candy these days…

Schools can teach kids about “gender fluid ideology” etc.
All this is totally legal and even accepted because the PC crowd seem to now run the narratives in society, so all that was bad in the past is now a good, and vice versa.

Meanwhile in Melbourne, if people don’t wear masks, police were given full power by the premier to act like it is North Korea, with zero repercussions for their actions. It’s all reasoned as “for the public good”…


 
MikeInVA said:
We already have enough trouble with drunk drivers on the roads without adding stoned drivers to the mix.
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No one is suggesting that they drive stoned, any more than folks think people should drive drunk, or on any other drugs whether legal or illegal which impair ones abilities.
 
Rozellelily said:
I don’t believe it is because you are getting old. I am not old age and I this is how I see it also. These days people have full legals rights to marijuana (totally fine if for medical purposes, but I highly doubt this is the case for everyone),
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Are you suggesting that we reinstate prohibition and make alcohol illegal again?

Ask any cop which is worse to deal with a drunk or a person high on weed. Most certainly they will say the drunk.

What does the rest of your statement have to do with the war on drugs?
 
I am not an expert, and have no experience of my own, but is it possible for a person to smoke and then drive unimpaired hours (or days) after smoking marijuana? I understand that the THC remains in a person’s blood stream for several days (up to a month f used regularly). I know that I can go to a restaurant and have a single drink with dinner and most likely will not be impaired. Can the same be same for marijuana?
 
MikeInVA said:
We already have enough trouble with drunk drivers on the roads without adding stoned drivers to the mix.
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No-one is taking about decriminalising driving under the influence of drugs that I am aware of. So ‘stoned drivers’ are unlikely to become more of a problem.
 
Yeah, allowing people to legally get stoned and hoping they won’t drive or operate machinery is going to work well.
 
Any drug which can lead to intoxication has some level of impairment at any level. Your one drink may not put you at the level of being legally intoxicated based on the legal statutes for you state, but that doesn’t mean it has no effect on your ability.

After years of study, states have determined the level they find acceptable for alcohol in one’s system before it is deemed illegal to drive.

I don’t know how much or for how long marijuana affects one’s ability to drive. I am certain with it becoming legal, studies will be done and a level will be set.

Yes THC remains in ones body for longer than alcohol, but just because it is in your system doesn’t necessarily mean you are intoxicated. After all, if the THC in your system meant you were high, folks really wouldn’t need much of it to get high and remain high. Sales would be really low.

I am not advocating that people be allowed to drive while intoxicated on any substance whether it be alcohol, marijuana, prescription pain pills, meth, heroine, or whatever floats their boat. But locking folks up for smoking weed is a bit ridiculous based on the other things we allow people to do while being legal.
 
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