Legalizing drugs, would it be bad or good?

[rancher824]

For some things there is just no easy answer. I'm against the sale of alcohol' date=' I'm against drinking, but we know from history that it was worse druing the Prohibition than it have been since it was lifted.[/quote']
My step uncle (Grandad remarried a widow after Granny past away) has worked in a public school system for years and years. He says that he never saw a student come to school drunk until after prohibition was lifted. That does not sound like it was worse during prohibition. There may have been more ilegal activity around alcohol while it was illegal. That only makes since. If you made it where you could get a licence to be a hit man, there would be a lot less illegal murders. The people would hire the legal hit man rather than break the law. But would the removing of the laws against it make it any more right?? I personaly cannot believe this conversation is going the way it has on an IFB board!!!

[ptwild]

Very interesting topic with some very surprising posts. Good, open minded intellectual conversation is a good thing.

My two cents, and nothing more: Look at it this way. A deacon at northern California Baptist Church suffers from glaucoma. He goes to the doctor and is given a variety of options for treating his disorder. The cheapest, most readily available, natural and effective drug is marijuana. He can get a prescription which can be filled at any pharmacy in town, and can even get a license to grow his own. Another option is one of an assortment of opiates. The poppies which are used to make the drug are grown by Taliban sympathizers in Afghanistan. It takes a 13 year old girl in India up to six months to transfer the opium from the poppy into tab form at a costs of about 30 cents per hour. The owner of the drug company responsible for the manufacturing of the drug made $40 million dollars last year without employing a single American. Now explain why there is a taboo surrounding marijuana.

As someone relatively recently removed from college, I can tell you first hand that almost any drug is available to anyone that wants it at any time they want it. Anyone who wants to do drugs right now at this instance, can do them. No problem. I don't believe there is any evidence which suggest that people would all of a sudden start doing drugs if they were made legal. Alcohol is legal now and not everyone (in fact a small percentage) is a falling down drunk. Plus, you can easily travel to places where drugs are legal and not everyone is flocking to those places. The legalization of certain narcotics would only cut out the crime syndicates that transport and sell them. Our government pays thousands of farmers not to grow crops on millions of acres of land across the U.S. Just think of the jobs, profits, and industry that could be created if those farmers were allowed to cover those acres with marijuana, poppies, coca plants . . .

Everything God made is good. That includes all the plants listed above. It is man that corrupts God's creation. As long as you have God in your life, I don't think "drugs" pose any danger to you and can be used responsibly and safely. I haven't seen any evidence to make me think otherwise. Everyone have a blessed day.

[John81]

FROM THE TRENCHES OF THE DRUG WAR: A STREET COP?S PERSPECTIVE

By Frosty Wooldridge
March 12, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

In this thirteenth part of a continuing series, I interviewed my brother, 18 year veteran police officer and detective, Howard Wooldridge (retired), with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, www.leap.cc; www.copssaylegalizedrugs.com, now stationed in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this series aims to educate Americans on the ongoing fraud and deception of the U.S. government?s ?War on Drugs? now dragging into its 38th year without a single success to keep drugs off the streets of America.

Officer Howard Wooldridge remembers a poignant moment in his career:

?The nine year old boy?s eyes grew as big as saucers as my 40 caliber Glock came into view and paused for a split second on his chest,? said Officer Howard Wooldridge. ?Being the fourth officer through the door of the townhouse meant the woman and her three kids were already in a state of shock. We spent 30 minutes looking for the marijuana mentioned in the search warrant, coming up empty. In retrospect at least we had bothered to obtain a warrant!

?As we left, no one apologized for our intrusion, the terror we created or for any action on our part. Since we were the ?Good Guys?, doing good work, what need was there to apologize? Looking back and realizing now what havoc I caused makes me ill. Incidents like this ?spurred? me into riding my horse across North America to speed the end of the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow.

?I spent 18 years in law enforcement near Lansing, Michigan. The first three were in a cadet-type program, the next twelve as a road officer and the last three as a detective. Essentially I did everything in police work but shoot someone or be shot at. The War on Drugs went from almost zero to a huge factor in my professional life as my career spanned 1974 -1994.

?When I first started, a mentor Lt. Terry Meyer summed it up best, ?I don?t give a d*** what you do in your own home. But what you do in public becomes my business.? And for the first 10 years we focused on public safety, not what an adult did in private. The turning point came about 1986, when we were educated on how to take property from citizens. I will never forget the two hour seminar I attended at the Michigan State Police Headquarters in Lansing. A narcotics officer was almost gleeful, as he explained to the uniformed, street cops how they too could become foot soldiers in winning the Drug War. ?No drugs need be found in the vehicle to seize it,? he explained. ?All you need is cash, drug paraphernalia or drug documents. How much cash? Your local prosecutor will decide. When in doubt, seize the money and vehicle. We can always give it back.?

?I was a mature 35 year old when they tried to enlist me in their money-making scheme. Without any conscious thought, I rejected what I learned. I continued my relentless pursuit of stopping people using 3000 pound killing machines (AKA cars and trucks) from killing innocent motorists in my Township. Who cares if Michigan State students have some pot in their glove box, as long as they were not driving stoned?

?My early twenty-something colleagues however saw catching pot smokers as great sport, fun and rewarding. They were rewarded with ?Atta-Boys? from the chief for pot busts and especially when they were able to seize a car. Mind you, despite what you see on TV, the average car seized was 10 years old and worth $2,000. No matter, it all counted. I remember the first thing my chief bought with Civil Asset Forfeiture money was a pager for all of us?.for the stated purpose so we could be quickly assembled if we needed to go on a drug raid. I looked at the thing with an Alice in Wonderland, what the bleep are we doing? Nonetheless, I carried it with me, like I carried my off-duty 38.

?Being the ever curious type, at the donut shop one night I asked my colleagues why they spent almost all their free time stopping and searching cars for a baggie. ?It?s a hoot. It is so easy to get them to agree to a search. Chief likes it. I feel good about it.? they responded. ?What about the drunk drivers that actually hurt and kill people?? I asked. They shrugged their shoulders. Talk about disconnect!

?A few years later I became our department?s first detective. As I investigated the home burglaries and car thefts, I learned quickly the drug war was the cause of 80 percent of theft crimes. Crack was the drug du jour and addicts needed about 200 dollars per day and were stealing to get the money. Addicts told me that some dealers would take the stolen goods in exchange for crack? a barter system. I saw the pain and anguish as home owners described their precious heirlooms stolen, their sense of violation knowing that strangers had been in their ?castle?. As one homeowner described his grandfather?s pocket watch, his wife began to cry and the man suddenly slammed his fist into the wall. It was at that moment that I became conscious of my opposition to drug policy. Why not let these d*** idiots have all the crack they want until they are dead? Leave the good people of Bath Township alone!

?Two years after retiring and moving to Texas, I became a foot soldier in the movement to end drug prohibition. I expect to see it end in my life time but if not, I am confident that others will carry on the effort. I will work on this until Modern Prohibition is in the history books or I draw my last breath. Little boys do not deserve to have weapons shoved in their faces. That moment still haunts me 30 years later.?

?After 38 years of ?Drug War? and the arrest of 38 million Americans, the majority for marijuana possession, we must accept the reality that the state, through its police department, cannot fix personal stupidity and personal self-destructive behavior,? Officer Wooldridge said. ?Only family and friends can help in such a situation.?

Today, my brother Howard Wooldridge heads up a task force in Washington, DC to educate and enlighten congressmen at the highest levels. He works for a better future for all Americans. He can be reached at: Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, www.leap.cc, Washington, DC. He speaks at colleges, political clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs across America. LEAP speakers in 36 states address this issue to citizens around the country to bring an end to the Drug War. Check out the web site and join. Book a speaker in your state! Wooldridge also presents at political conferences in Washington. wooldridge@leap.cc; www.copssaylegalizedrugs.com



The mission of LEAP is to reduce the multitude of unintended harmful consequences resulting from fighting the war on drugs and to lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by ultimately ending drug prohibition.



?Envision a country which employs the principles of personal responsibility, personal freedom and limited/effective government toward marijuana,? Officer Wooldridge said. ?I see a growing respect for the police, as they stop intruding into the decisions of adults, made in the privacy of their castles. Teens find it as hard to buy pot as beer. Fewer teens use it because it lost its glamour. Imagine a land where the deadly DUI and reckless drivers kill far fewer, as officers focus on them, not the next pot bust. Envision detectives arresting more child predators as they abandon the time spent arresting someone selling pot to an adult. All this becomes possible, when America becomes wiser and abandons the prohibition approach to marijuana.?

http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty449.htm

[JerryNumbers]

But, our police are making out like bandits, the sheriff, mayor, they love it, so does out state and federal government, its less money they have to support the police with.

You can't legislate good morals, for evil come from the heart, the only thing that can change the heart is Jesus, but when will we learn.

[war_eagle]

I realize Jerry and Matt are going to accuse me of telling everybody to go out and do drugs and have orgies and whatnot, but the truth is that the War on Drugs has been a complete failure.

All prohibition of drugs has done is to increase crime, pack our prisons with non-violent and otherwise law abiding citizens, waste billions of tax payer dollars, and lead to laws and actions that have had severe adverse effects on our Constitution.

First, the federal government simply does not have the legal or Constitutional authority to tell people what to do or what to put in their mouths, so long as those things don't harm others.

Second, a guy works hard, loves his family, pays his taxes, and has never even gotten so much as a parking ticket. What's the point of putting him in a prison cell with murderers and rapists just because he got caught with a joint?

Third, economics 101: The reason there is so much crime associated with recreational drugs is that they're so expensive and so hard to get.

By legalizing them, you take the profit away and, by doing that, you take away both the incentive of the drug dealer to sell them and you take away the need to knock little old ladies over the head to get money to buy them with.

Now, despite what Jerry and Matt are going to say about me, I do NOT advocate drug use. In fact, I think anybody who does drugs is a moron and that if you know someone who's doing drugs, you should do every thing in your power to persuade them to quit.

I also believe that the Bible is more than clear that we should abstain from all intoxicating substances.

However, I do not see a Biblical precedent for requiring others to abstain, nor do I see a Constitutional allowance for the government to do so.

Gentlemen, I'm ready for your attacks now.

[war_eagle]

I realize Jerry and Matt are going to accuse me of telling everybody to go out and do drugs and have orgies and whatnot, but the truth is that the War on Drugs has been a complete failure.

All prohibition of drugs has done is to increase crime, pack our prisons with non-violent and otherwise law abiding citizens, waste billions of tax payer dollars, and lead to laws and actions that have had severe adverse effects on our Constitution.

First, the federal government simply does not have the legal or Constitutional authority to tell people what to do or what to put in their mouths, so long as those things don't harm others.

Second, a guy works hard, loves his family, pays his taxes, and has never even gotten so much as a parking ticket. What's the point of putting him in a prison cell with murderers and rapists just because he got caught with a joint? If he has no intent to distribute then, at worst, he should be confined to his home or sentenced to community service.

Third, economics 101: The reason there is so much crime associated with recreational drugs is that they're so expensive and so hard to get.

By legalizing them, you take the profit away and, by doing that, you take away both the incentive of the drug dealer to sell them and you take away the need to knock little old ladies over the head to get money to buy them with.

Now, despite what Jerry and Matt are going to say about me, I do NOT advocate drug use. In fact, I think anybody who does drugs is a moron and that if you know someone who's doing drugs, you should do every thing in your power to persuade them to quit.

I also believe that the Bible is more than clear that we should abstain from all intoxicating substances.

However, I do not see a Biblical precedent for requiring others to abstain under threat of imprisonment, nor do I see a Constitutional allowance for the government to do so.

Gentlemen, I'm ready for your attacks now.

[war_eagle]

All prohibition of drugs has done is to increase crime, pack our prisons with non-violent and otherwise law abiding citizens, waste billions of tax payer dollars, and lead to laws and actions that have had severe adverse effects on our Constitution.

First, the federal government simply does not have the legal or Constitutional authority to tell people what to do or what to put in their mouths, so long as those things don't harm others.

Second, a guy works hard, loves his family, pays his taxes, and has never even gotten so much as a parking ticket. What's the point of putting him in a prison cell with murderers and rapists just because he got caught with a joint? If he has no intent to distribute then, at worst, he should be confined to his home or sentenced to community service.

Third, economics 101: The reason there is so much crime associated with recreational drugs is that they're so expensive and so hard to get.

By legalizing them, you take the profit away and, by doing that, you take away both the incentive of the drug dealer to sell them and you take away the need to knock little old ladies over the head to get money to buy them with.

Now, despite what Jerry is going to say about me, I do NOT advocate drug use. In fact, I think anybody who does drugs is a moron and that if you know someone who's doing drugs, you should do every thing in your power to persuade them to quit.

I also believe that the Bible is more than clear that we should abstain from all intoxicating substances.

However, I do not see a Biblical precedent for requiring others to abstain under threat of imprisonment, nor do I see a Constitutional allowance for the government to do so.

[kevinmiller]

I agree with you, for the most part, WE, but that's prOBably because I'm libertarian. I do disagree that the Bible commands us to abstain from alcohol but that's another argument.

[Psalms18_28]

bad, alot of babies are suffering because their parents took drugs such as crack. It is bad enough that they are smoke and drink during pregnancy, we don't need to make it worst.

[war_eagle]

bad, alot of babies are suffering because their parents took drugs such as crack. It is bad enough that they are smoke and drink during pregnancy, we don't need to make it worst.

And notice that they did so while drugs were illegal. The issue in this case isn't the legality or illegality of the drugs, but the responsibility of the mother.

[kevinmiller]

When it comes to these kinds of issues, Republicans are of much the same philosophy as the Democrats - saving people from themselves rather than letting people be responsible for their own actions.

[Psalms18_28]

And notice that they did so while drugs were illegal. The issue in this case isn't the legality or illegality of the drugs, but the responsibility of the mother.

yes, but look at people who smoke because it is legal. Now they are trying to make it illegal to smoke in restaurants and even in the car with their child. Well in my states, they already ban smoking in resturants.

[Psalms18_28]

yes, but look at how many people smoking because it is legal. It's a pretty high number. Now they are trying to make it illegal to smoke in restaurants and even in the car with their child. Well in my states, they already ban smoking in resturants.

[war_eagle]

yes' date=' but look at people who smoke because it is legal. Now they are trying to make it illegal to smoke in restaurants and even in the car with their child. Well in my states, they already ban smoking in resturants.[/quote']

People don't smoke or drink or do drugs because it's legal or illegal.

When Prohibition was repealed, it isn't like all of the tea-totaling grandmothers out there suddenly woke up and ran down to the liquor store because they just had to have a bottle of Old Crow.

Likewise, I remember talking to my grandfather once and he told me "we wouldn't have known there was Prohibition if the newspapers hadn't told us so" because alcohol consumption didn't even slow down. People just found other places to get alcohol and, in so doing, a culture of crime grew up around the illegal production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol.

When I was a kid, you know how I made my money? My friends were breaking their backs mowing lawns or working at McDonald's, but my brother and I made our money by driving to North Carolina, loading our car up with fireworks, and bringing them back to New Jersey to sell to our friends.

I remember going down once in my stepfather's Cessna and coming back with more things that go "BOOM" than an F-16.

I remember literally making as much money in two weekends as I did the entire previous summer mowing lawns.

Do you know why? Because you couldn't get fireworks in New Jersey. If you wanted to blow your finger off, you had to drive 600 miles.

Same with drugs. The only reason we have drug dealers is because there is no legitimate source to buy recreational drugs. If you could go into your local Walgreens and buy a couple of hits of heroin for $5 like you can in England, we wouldn't have people shooting little kids in the inner city, nor would we have people rOBbing and killing people to get money for drugs.

Economics 101: less of something makes it more expensive and creates a black market, while more of something makes it less expensive and creates legitimate sources to get it.

It you want to stop the drug prOBlem, stop going after the casual, recreational user and start going after dealers by taking their market away from them.

[Psalms18_28]

I am sorry but alot of kids became brain damaged because their mother took drugs.

They made it illegal for market to put lead in paints because kids became brain damaged over it. They even made it illegal for allowing kids to pump gas.

anytime it cost the gov't more money to care for these kids, they will make it illegal to be freely available as a prevention.