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Oh ok so the real thing to do is shove them in jail - that helps them recover and totally helps their families and stuff. :/

marcoperaza 10y ago
Putting addicts in jail is certainly not the answer. Harsh enforcement against drug users is one of the biggest failings of the War on Drugs. So is the ban on "soft" drugs like weed and hallucinogens, which don't have the same abuse potential. But the majority of people serving sentences for drug crimes are there for selling drugs. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/top-10-marijuana-myths-and-facts-20120822/myth-prisons-are-full-of-people-in-for-marijuana-possession-19691231 http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/top-10-marijuana-m... "About 40,000 inmates of state and federal prison have a current conviction involving marijuana, and about half of them are in for marijuana offenses alone; most of these were involved in distribution. Less than one percent are in for possession alone." Remember that distribution of weed, while it sounds relatively harmless, is very often controlled by violent gangs. It's like getting Al Capone for evading taxes. The best solution is to legalize weed and put it in the hands of legal businesses. Also: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/releasing-drug-offenders-wont-end-mass-incarceration/ http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/releasing-drug-offenders-... There he shows that releasing all prisoners who are in jail with drug offenses as the most serious charge would only reduce the prison population by about 14%. This is counting both distribution AND simple possession. Not insignificant, but not the headline figure of 50% that you often hear.
- nitrogen 10y ago
  How many of those distribution charges were automatic based on amount in possession?
- bgribble 10y ago
  "Involved in distribution" can mean "possession with intent to distribute", which in some places is triggered by a quantity in possession. One person's "personal party stash" may be enough to cross this threshold. So without more details about the particular state laws, it's impossible to know who was really jailed for "possession alone" vs "distributing".
- lostgame 10y ago
  >> The best solution is to legalize weed and put it in the hands of legal businesses. Because giant corporations are 'less evil' than the gangs. looks at virtually every major corporation's use of cheap, offshore labour, sometimes child labour At least the gangs are upfront about killing people.
  - marcoperaza 10y ago
    I can't help you if you really believe that. Move to small-town Mexico, the south side of Chicago, or rough parts of LA and maybe you'll wake up from your little political fantasy.

marcoperaza 10y ago

Putting addicts in jail is certainly not the answer. Harsh enforcement against drug users is one of the biggest failings of the War on Drugs. So is the ban on "soft" drugs like weed and hallucinogens, which don't have the same abuse potential. But the majority of people serving sentences for drug crimes are there for selling drugs. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/top-10-marijuana-myths-and-facts-20120822/myth-prisons-are-full-of-people-in-for-marijuana-possession-19691231 http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/top-10-marijuana-m... "About 40,000 inmates of state and federal prison have a current conviction involving marijuana, and about half of them are in for marijuana offenses alone; most of these were involved in distribution. Less than one percent are in for possession alone." Remember that distribution of weed, while it sounds relatively harmless, is very often controlled by violent gangs. It's like getting Al Capone for evading taxes. The best solution is to legalize weed and put it in the hands of legal businesses. Also: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/releasing-drug-offenders-wont-end-mass-incarceration/ http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/releasing-drug-offenders-... There he shows that releasing all prisoners who are in jail with drug offenses as the most serious charge would only reduce the prison population by about 14%. This is counting both distribution AND simple possession. Not insignificant, but not the headline figure of 50% that you often hear.

nitrogen 10y ago
How many of those distribution charges were automatic based on amount in possession?
bgribble 10y ago
"Involved in distribution" can mean "possession with intent to distribute", which in some places is triggered by a quantity in possession. One person's "personal party stash" may be enough to cross this threshold. So without more details about the particular state laws, it's impossible to know who was really jailed for "possession alone" vs "distributing".
lostgame 10y ago
>> The best solution is to legalize weed and put it in the hands of legal businesses. Because giant corporations are 'less evil' than the gangs. looks at virtually every major corporation's use of cheap, offshore labour, sometimes child labour At least the gangs are upfront about killing people.
- marcoperaza 10y ago
  I can't help you if you really believe that. Move to small-town Mexico, the south side of Chicago, or rough parts of LA and maybe you'll wake up from your little political fantasy.