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April 17th, 2009
10:29 AM ET
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This is a step in the right direction, especially for minors. However when it comes to adult drug users arrested for mere posession, forcing them into abstinence is still nothing short of a totalitarian policy, irreconcilable with the ideal of individual liberty.
Taking drugs is a personal decision and does not affect any third person, no matter what prohibition advocates might tell you about broken families and drug-related crime. These are problems that came into existence only with the criminalization of drug users.
Until 1914 any adult could buy heroin and cocaine over the counter in every pharmacy and yet there were less addicts and those addicted were mostly law-abiding, respected members of society.
I am growing tired of the language commonly used with regards to drugs. Terms like 'drug offender', 'Drug Abuse' or 'Drug addict' all are deragatory terms used to intentionally mislead the audience and spur an atmosphere of hate and fear.
These terms do not describe everyone who uses a drug. While there are some people who have problems in their lives, who seek a path of destruction using drugs (usually alcohol), these people represent a tiny percentage of all drug use. Most people are drinking beer and wine or using Marijuana and living full, happy, rich and productive lives.
I enjoy Marijuana frequently (time permitting). I also have my own business and employ 5 people. Marijuana is part of my culture and a positive force in my life. I will never obey tyrannical marijuana laws no matter how harsh they get.
What is it about prohibitionists that makes them go out of their way to destroy other peoples lives? Are they so miserable in life that they hate anyone who is living a happy full life?
I am happy to see that the courts FINALLY took the "right direction" in the drug war! This does help our children and may help to educate the public on the true wonderul values and properties that have been found in the cannabis plant! This needs to be decriminalized and should never have been put into law "a crime" to begin with! With support for legalization coming from law enforcement, governors and state officials, and people nationwide, this law needs to be overturned and the people need to take control of this situation. Not only will it keep the drugs OUT of the hands of our children (through the proper regulations), but it also allow the American people to enjoy the freedoms that we like to believe we have! We need a national vote to find the ultimate cure..
Obama has done a 180 turn on drug policy since being the first black President. As presidential campaigner, Obama spoke out against the drug war as a failure on many levels and advocated decriminalizing marijuana as a policy solution to the drug problem. The national media has yet to call Obama out on this flip-flop. There have been questions about the President's turn around on the assault weapons ban, but nothing reported about his postion "change" on marijauna.
The national media did some aggressive questioning of Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs on this issue, but he just repeated his bosses's dismissive answer without explaining any logic or rational behind his newly acquired position on pot. Thankfully, with the bloggers on the internet, Obama will be held accountable for regressinging to a get-tough "crackdown" on drug use and hopefully the mainstream media will follow the bloggers lead. The movement for ending the second prohibition has never been stronger and will continue to gain in strength with groups like the Marijuana Policy Project, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, NORML and the DRCNet leading the real change in the public's growing skepticism regarding the drug war.
Drug possession should be legalized/decriminalized and regulated .Currently, drug availability is regulated by street dealers and drug cartels. This is unacceptable. Current policy creates the perfect storm, i.e., more problems than it solves and very costly in human, social and financial terms.
Ok first off, not every "offender" is an addict. Some people simply want to use a substance. Why does everyone try to blend users with abusers.
What about all those people in prison who before their arrest were law biding people who had jobs and paid taxes.
If we are REALLY trying to help those with "drug problems" then Legalize it and let those people seek help, and allow those who can use it responsibly, do so without fear of arrest or prejudice!
(22,000 per person times 30,000 inmates {http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/fdo99.pdf} equals $880,000,000 per year) and that is using old stats, the number has gone up since then.. This "War" is just not working!!!!