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I'm not saying the addiction rate would go down if it were legalized. Undoubtedly, it would increase. But there are still questions... how much would the addict

by beat 11y ago

I'm not saying the addiction rate would go down if it were legalized. Undoubtedly, it would increase. But there are still questions... how much would the addiction rate increase, and what is the social cost of that addiction, relative to the social cost of our current policy of criminalization? Certainly, violence among dealers would disappear. Liquor stores don't have drive-by shootings to settle their turf. America's absurd incarceration rate would drop tremendously. Incarceration is a major contributor to child poverty. Moreover, a felony criminal record makes it extremely difficult for many adults to find productive work even after serving their time, which begets more crime and more cycling of the system. The incredible militarization of our police forces, the costs of civil forfeiture (which doesn't require a conviction to take someone's property), the racism, the myriad other ways the "War on Drugs" damages our society and our souls - are you certain that an increase in addiction is so profoundly evil that it's worth this price?

dinkumthinkum 11y ago
Are you under the impression that gangs would no longer exist and no longer have violent turf wars under a "no substance is illegal" situation? When you're taking about poverty and getting rid of felonies you have to think is the fact the marijuana going to make the members of "Sex, Money, Murder" gang think "By George, I believe we will now have to earn our collective living by nursing the elderly and painting school gymnasium" .... I mean lets get real. Any time that proponents-of-drug legalization-that-also-believe-it-will-end-gang-violence are ready to come back to reality, I will be waiting for them. :) As far as the other business, yes racist police actions should be universally reviled. But you have to think if unintendee consequences and the world is not one thing or the other. I agree with you that there are violent criminals that are never caught committing violent crimes but only end up going to prison because they are caught with a kilo of cocaine; I guess you think that is tragedy that person is in jail and now cannot take care of his or her children. The child would probably also be in poverty if his parents were addicted to Krokodil. I'm not sure "free heroine for everyone" is as much a panacea for the worlds problems as you suggest.

by beat 11y ago

dinkumthinkum 11y ago

Are you under the impression that gangs would no longer exist and no longer have violent turf wars under a "no substance is illegal" situation? When you're taking about poverty and getting rid of felonies you have to think is the fact the marijuana going to make the members of "Sex, Money, Murder" gang think "By George, I believe we will now have to earn our collective living by nursing the elderly and painting school gymnasium" .... I mean lets get real. Any time that proponents-of-drug legalization-that-also-believe-it-will-end-gang-violence are ready to come back to reality, I will be waiting for them. :) As far as the other business, yes racist police actions should be universally reviled. But you have to think if unintendee consequences and the world is not one thing or the other. I agree with you that there are violent criminals that are never caught committing violent crimes but only end up going to prison because they are caught with a kilo of cocaine; I guess you think that is tragedy that person is in jail and now cannot take care of his or her children. The child would probably also be in poverty if his parents were addicted to Krokodil. I'm not sure "free heroine for everyone" is as much a panacea for the worlds problems as you suggest.