Ending the War on Drugs

Costs of persuing a failed strategy

Published on February 15, 2004 By PoetPhilosopher In Politics

This is your brain on drugs.

Seems quaint now doesn't it? Humorous.

In 2003 the US spent $19 billion in the war on drugs, a stunning $600 a second. And for what?

1.6 million arrests, someone arrested every 20 seconds - 40% of which are for marijuana possesion. Not selling drugs, not traffiking, but POSSESION.

$600 a second to arrest 650,000 people for smoking pot.

What are we thinking???

Prohibition didn't work in the 1920s and it has not worked in the 30 years that we have waged the war on drugs. When will we learn a new approach is needed ?

Comments (Page 3)

jeblackstar

on Feb 17, 2004

It also kills your brain cells.

Cheers

Muggaz

on Feb 17, 2004

So does Alcohol.

BAM!!!

messybuu

on Feb 17, 2004

Oh yeah... so lets blame the break up of the beatles on Pot... right.

So it's only because of pot when it's a good thing, even when there are many other reasons for something being the way it is?

If you are so against drugs, you had better get rid of all of your albums, because its a fair chance that the artists were real fukn high on drugs.

I'm not against drugs. They don't bother me at all. It's the addicts that do. Praising pot for everything and yet never acknowledging situations that can be blamed as pot (especially if they're willing to put the blame on it as much as they want to thank pot for everything). Always trying to get others to smoke it, never telling of its problems, only its benefits (E makes sex better, so everybody should take it and those who don't are missing out!). That's why I'm against decriminalization.

debidoll

on Feb 17, 2004

I'm sorry........WHY are you against decriminalization? Do you want everyone who uses pot to be prosecuted? They don't have a jail big enough. BTW, Messy, noone is trying to talk you into it here (maybe in your life outside this forum?). Why would you want anyone to take away MY right to smoke it? What is the difference in smoking a couple of bongs in front of the TV than drinking a couple of wine coolers.....becasue it's illegal (like "wine coolers" would have been in the '20's) isn't going to prevent me from doing it.

Muggaz

on Feb 17, 2004

Haha Meesy...

I dont want you to use drugs. Even though it seems you would benefit from their relaxing effects.

You are making huge assumptions that we would force our nasty habits on to anyone else... i think you are missing our point... our point is really pro-choice. We know its bad, but its up to us to decide if we want to use it or not... not some beurocrat.

If someone says they dont want a toke of my rastafarian spliff, i say fair enough, but its rude not to offer.

If you must know, I despise the way pot effects some poeple - it kills any semblance they had of a life, and turns them into de-motivated couch potatoes. I realise this, and there is no way i would let it happen to me, and essentially, i only have to look after me, not other people who aren't responsible with their use, and cannot see what it is doing to them.

BAM!!!

bakerstreet

on Feb 17, 2004

I'm sorry, but this is the most stereotypical crowd of drug users I have ever seen in my life. I stopped caring about 15 posts back, but it is really hilarious to read. I people have told me I am 'scared', that I am 'a mindless citizen stuck in the box', that it would 'open my mind'... I've been expecting someone to call me a square.

Is this the part in the public service announcement where I go talk to a 'trusted' adult? I mean, gah, if I read your posts in a Dennis Hopper accent it is perfect. Great kitsch; congratulations earth children, I dig your groovy scene...

.

This hippy crap is so lame. After this I would be ashamed to say I used pot even if I did.

Muggaz

on Feb 17, 2004

Was the point of that post to prove your ignorance?

mission successful.

BAM!!!!

I dont see you providing any advice on the situation... it would be apparent that it is you doing the ridiculing!!!! All you have done is point out obvious facts? that we agree with?

What would be your solution to the current war on drugs Baker? i am very interested to know. Or is everything ok in your world?

Peace Out.

bakerstreet

on Feb 18, 2004

Everything is fine in my world. Actually, I see a lot of people who use drugs here who are against the war on drugs. No brainer? Of course you are against the war on drugs. Every time you leave the house with a baggy in your pocket you are a target for law enforcement.

This discussion isn't about the war on drugs, it is about how there shouldn't be one. I don't see anyone here posing better ways to prevent drug use, because the most vocal here use them.

bakerstreet

on Feb 18, 2004

To me, the sourness of the conversation started with:

Poetphilosopher. #7

"Everyone doesn't drink alcohol SOLELY for it's intoxicating effects, but it is certainly one of the primary desirable affects - if you are serious about that argument you hang out with some unusual people (IMO)."

That is what I find provocative about these opinions. You guys can't seem to conceive of people not wanting to be stoned or drunk. I can't get my mind around the jaded view that everyone that buys a $50 bottle of wine does so for the intoxicating effects. This is believed to the degree that those who don't are 'unusual". Unusual? To me that twists your idea of 'usual' to the point that you have no right speaking for what is usual.

When you are presented with someone who doesn't want to get drunk or stoned, then you start in the "Well, if you knew what it was like..." , "I used to feel that way". Basically saying I don't know what I am missing, or that I lack the proper experience to understand. Then you say you don't promote drug use? That's a lie, because you just did.

I don't need to validate the criminalization of recreational drugs, it is already criminal. If you do drugs, you are a criminal, whether or not you have been caught. So far I have seen nothing here that changes my mind, other than the fact you say the 'war on drugs' doesn't work. Fine, lets find something that does. You still won't be allowed to do recreational drugs. Then you won't like that either.

For that reason, I don't believe drug user's opinions of the War on Drugs are valid. Why? Because the basic nature of a drug user is the polar opposite of what the War on Drugs seeks to do, prevent people from using drugs. OF course you won't agree with it. Believe all you like that everyone that drinks alcohol gets drunk if it makes you feel better, but they don't. Believe that you are somehow in the majority in a world where there are virtually no nations without laws preventing recreational drug use, but you aren't. Believe you can 'handle your highs', but drug treatment centers are full of people who do, too.

jeblackstar

on Feb 18, 2004

So does Alcohol.

I don't drink alcohol. And even if I did, it's not against the law to drink alcohol, but it is against the law to do drugs. Perhaps it's unfair, but if it's illegal, you probably shouldn't do it. But definitely fight to get it changed if you want. The problem is, a majority of americans favor it being illegal.

Cheers

bakerstreet

on Feb 18, 2004

This pretty much sums up my opinion of this discussion: Discussing the War on Drugs vs. Discussing Legalization

I just don't think you are interested in a successful war on drugs, rather you want to spotlight the failings of it to further the argument that we shouldn't be fighting recreational drug use at all.

Weltregierung

on Feb 18, 2004

" Perhaps it's unfair, but if it's illegal, you probably shouldn't do it." jeblackstar

The majority of people in this World does not believe in one white-bearded creator who impregnated some girl before her husband could see to her, .....and you don´t see us outlawing christianity. IMAO.

Many people think people who go to church are idiots, as well as many people think potusers are idiots.
Difference: Millions are in jail for pot, the other millions just get sentenced to heaven.

bakerstreet

on Feb 18, 2004

Drugs aren't a religious issue. The effect of addiction on society is obvious, no faith is required.

Weltregierung

on Feb 18, 2004

well isnt the effect of religiousness obvious as well?

....and Drug use isnt the same as addiction, don´t mix it up.

there are millions of people who even use "hard" ( more-likely-to-cause-addiction ) drugs
and they lead normal lives.
Not to speak of the MJ and Alc. users.

PoetPhilosopher

on Feb 18, 2004

I am bitter that this post spawned five other blogs for which I am getting none of the points.

Life is so unfair.

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