Here's my general take on it. Few in government actually hate pot or really care about it in and of itself. It rarely has anything to do with keeping pot away from people, it has to do with........ You guessed it! $$$$$$$$ It's the industrial prison system/prison for profit that they are worried about. That's the part I think a lot of pro pot activists miss the mark on and why it has this ebb and flow towards legalization. More attention needs to be addressed to the fact that marijuana remains illegal and so many ignorantly want to keep it that way because it is so damn profitable and grants so much authority having it illegal. For any real change or promise that it becomes legal on a national level we need to focus more attention on the root cause of it and that's the industrial prison complex that so many suits and politicians profit off of. Anyone who has any connections or insight into the system knows drug prohibition in general is a lost cause and results in more harm and devastation to life, health, safety, and liberty than the substances themselves ever do on their own. Yet, it's the $$$$$ and power they are after and concerned about. More prohibitions= more criminal charges. More criminal charges= more prisoners and records. More criminal records and prisoners= More $$$$$. More drug laws= more law enforcement. More law enforcement= More $$$$ and power.
It's all aboput having a mechanism to kick down your door when they want to, and get dat tax $$$$$. Period/full stop
There are programs in Germany and Holland now which deal with things like ice addiction by treating it as and emotional and physical illness rather than a crime. The success rate for prevention of falling back into addiction and crime is roughly 80% as compared with 20% for the prison system. This is just one of the reasons why I think both the USA and Australia would benefit from studying what works best in other countries and why.
I agree with you about the dangers of a commercial prison system run for profit - it is guaranteed to corrupt any system of justice.
Yep - same drug/s. The problem is not yet as bad as overseas but it is serious. The impact on families and local communities cuts across all classes and is extremely damaging. One new phenomenon is that it is easily available not just in the capitals but in every rural town including quite remote areas. That suggests extremely well-organised distribution networks. We have begun one pilot program in King's Cross, Sydney, widely regarded with skepticism by the right-wing of politics but already proving to be very successful. I expect that as the evidence for the success mounts up, it will become harder to ignore.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at December 2, 2016 6:37 PM MST
Meth is pretty much everywhere here but it's mostly concentrated in rural areas. Out West you see more of it in urban centers than the urban centers here in the East. It's not good. It's around in my area but is overshadowed by just about every other substance. I guess more of a niche drug in NY. Like anyone, I mean anyone could track down cocaine or opiates if they were inclined quickly. Speed and meth would take a little more digging and more isolated to very specific fringe groups in my parts.
Prolly. The Federal government has been ignoring the fact they have no Constitutional authority for a BS War on Drugs for decades.
I find it funny how many pro states rights supporters change their tune when it comes to legalization. So much for personal freedom and liberty. n It's all about the cherry picking.
The Federal government is involved in a great many things the Constitution does not give them power to regulate. (Abortion, education, drugs, ATF, marriage, EPA etc) They usually hide behind the commerce clause anything that involves activity that crosses state lines (even answering an out of state call) the claim the right to regulate.
Benedict Arnold 