The War On Drugs - An Election Issue????

[Senior]

There is really no larger problem that I can think of than the war on drugs. It has completely failed, it costs of millions of dollars a year, and it robs our society of people that could make a positive impact for us all. When are we going to move forward as a country to a more workable solution than what we currently have?

I know that I will be asking my candidates if they will work towards ending this sham.

There is no over night solution to problems like crack and heroin dealers on our streets. However there are simple, less expensive and workable ways of dealing with these problems.

1 - legalize marijuana - take grow rooms out of basements and move them into industrial settings. this will take billions of dollars away from organized crime that can be redirected to other parts of our society.

2 - make heroin available to addicts removing the criminal aspects of this disease. Addicts will no longer be forced to commit crimes to support their addictions. This will also reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV.

3 - spend money on rehabilitation instead of incarceration. Sending a drug addict to prison ensures that a drug addict will come out as a criminal and have a much smaller chance of recovering. Rehabilitation does not guarantee that a person will go onto have a healthy productive life but it does create that chance.

People that want to talk about lowering our taxes should talk about ending the war on drugs.

[Drazkers]

1 - legalize marijuana - Most possible of your three options, somehow i really doubt that our goverment is going to do this anytime soon, why? The States, we're having enought problems getting the billion the states owes us from softwood.

2 - make heroin available to addicts - People are going to argue this isn't fixing a problem its just sweeping it under the rug.

3 - spend money on rehabilitation instead of incarceration - If something is illegal you must have a punishment, its as simple as that and sadly prisons cost money.

[Senior]

Originally Posted by Drazkers

1 - legalize marijuana - Most possible of your three options, somehow i really doubt that our goverment is going to do this anytime soon, why? The States, we're having enought problems getting the billion the states owes us from softwood.

The US constantly threatens us over our "liberal" drug policies. The reality is though that they are not going to stop buying our electricity, wood or other products becuase we legalize marijuana. At a certain point when you grow up you have to stop being scared of your big brother.

Originally Posted by Drazkers

2 - make heroin available to addicts - People are going to argue this isn't fixing a problem its just sweeping it under the rug.

It's not meant to fix the problem of addiction. If you call this sweeping it under the rug than what do you call junkies shooting up in alley ways with rain water????? Getting people into the health care system for their drug addiction is a positive step towards them looking at rehab. Putting people into the criminal justice system for having a disease just doesn't make sense.

Originally Posted by Drazkers

3 - spend money on rehabilitation instead of incarceration - If something is illegal you must have a punishment, its as simple as that and sadly prisons cost money.

This arguement reminds me of when a little kid when questioned about their actions responds "because." You are not providing any reason or justification for why drugs are illegal or why that money is best spent in that way.

[Drazkers]

Originally Posted by Senior

The US constantly threatens us over our "liberal" drug policies. The reality is though that they are not going to stop buying our electricity, wood or other products becuase we legalize marijuana. At a certain point when you grow up you have to stop being scared of your big brother.

They stopped buying our beef based on zero facts, the truth is it worth making the states angry at us? They will be petty and they have done it in the past, two prime examples, the ban on candian beef for awhile and the softwood lumber incident. Until we find a partner as large as the states we are going to bow to their pressure. Sure they won't stop buying but they may tax the shit out of us...

Originally Posted by Senior

It's not meant to fix the problem of addiction. If you call this sweeping it under the rug than what do you call junkies shooting up in alley ways with rain water????? Getting people into the health care system for their drug addiction is a positive step towards them looking at rehab. Putting people into the criminal justice system for having a disease just doesn't make sense.

hey i'm all for this idea, its the general public thats going to think that way.

Originally Posted by Senior

This arguement reminds me of when a little kid when questioned about their actions responds "because." You are not providing any reason or justification for why drugs are illegal or why that money is best spent in that way.

I don't know why these drugs are illegal(besides the old protecting the population routine), cigs and booze do just as much damage, hell they kill more. The facts are, they are illegal at the moment and if you break the law you will be punished.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Senior

1 - legalize marijuana - take grow rooms out of basements and move them into industrial settings. this will take billions of dollars away from organized crime that can be redirected to other parts of our society.

just what we need. processed marijuana. because tobacco companies did such a good job with cigarettes... how many carcinogens would you gather there in cigarettes these days that aren't normally found in tobacco?

frankly, i don't wanna see it decriminalized and i don't want to see it regulated. i just want to be allowed to grow, say, 3 plants in my closet for personal use.

[Senior]

Originally Posted by Drazkers

hey i'm all for this idea, its the general public thats going to think that way.

I'm in the middle of something right now so i don't have time to address all your points but I do have a question. Who is this general public? Your parents maybe?????? Do you have any empirical data to suggest this is actually the case with regards to the general population of Canada?

[Senior]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

just what we need. processed marijuana. because tobacco companies did such a good job with cigarettes... how many carcinogens would you gather there in cigarettes these days that aren't normally found in tobacco?

frankly, i don't wanna see it decriminalized and i don't want to see it regulated. i just want to be allowed to grow, say, 3 plants in my closet for personal use.

Just to be clear, I in no way oppose people growing marijuana for personal use. I don't see it as being any more harmful than home brewing a small batch of beer for personal consumption. On that note I ask you this, has legalization ruined alcohol as you claim it will weed? My biggest concern is the public is spending millions trying to stop the commercial grow shows. The profits being made off of these are largely going to the pocket of organized crime rather than going to education, health care and other more deserving destinations.

Would you suggest that we make booze illegal again? It's basically the same thing.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Senior

Just to be clear, I in no way oppose people growing marijuana for personal use. I don't see it as being any more harmful than home brewing a small batch of beer for personal consumption. On that note I ask you this, has legalization ruined alcohol as you claim it will weed? My biggest concern is the public is spending millions trying to stop the commercial grow shows. The profits being made off of these are largely going to the pocket of organized crime rather than going to education, health care and other more deserving destinations.

Would you suggest that we make booze illegal again? It's basically the same thing.

good points. and no, i'm not saying we should make booze illegal (no clue how you put those words in my mouth, bit of a logistical leap). it's just that i could see the tobacco companies being the first to jump on the idea of selling marijuana cigarettes, and i don't see them being nice to the stuff they put in there.

i did hear that drug companies want to have marijuana in drug stores by the end of 2006. that would be hella good. now if we can just get it maneouvered to otc-status...

[Cosmos]

I think most canadians are open on the issue of legalizing pot. The PM candidates should acknowledge this and take steps in making sure legalization will eventually happen. Sooner than later, k thx. It would be a kick in the face to the US, which is long overdue..and in turn save us a shitload on busting and ruining all these perfectly good growops. Not to mention lower crime rates, and less herb dealers that think they're hardcore.

[ja_raul]

war on drugs: a retarded issue

before i get all riled up on a multi paragraph essay telling the good people of fnk WHY the war on drugs is bullshit, ill just state my beliefs, short and sweet: all drugs should be legalized and controlled by the gov't if we want to save money in the long haul.

[Senior]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

good points. and no, i'm not saying we should make booze illegal (no clue how you put those words in my mouth, bit of a logistical leap). it's just that i could see the tobacco companies being the first to jump on the idea of selling marijuana cigarettes, and i don't see them being nice to the stuff they put in there.

Agreed, you in no way said that booze should be illegal. I'm just drawing the comparison. If you think that legalizing weed is so bad than what about booze? As for tobacco companies jumping on weed, I see the concern. I honestly imagine that would be the case. However just as we have Budweiser I'm sure there would also be "micro smoke" weed available. As far as that goes though it's really the center of the argument. It's nearly impossible to stop people from growing weed in a free society. What would really ever stop people from having a few plants in the basement?

Also as far as I know the Supreme Court ruled a year or two back that something had to be done in relation to this. As far as i know they ruled that the status quo was a failure and that measures had to be taken to further enforce the laws that exist (American style stiff penalties and such) or we had to legalize it.