4 ms·

I don't think this is about weed. It's about a structure that's set up with all the wrong incentives. Police departments get to seize assets related to drug of

I don't think this is about weed. It's about a structure that's set up with all the wrong incentives. Police departments get to seize assets related to drug offenses with no due process. Departments are being flooded with money to buy military resources, with the provision that they use them within the year. And once they have the resources there's a whole industry of ex-military businesses designed to train departments in SWAT-like techniques. When your local police department trains on equipment meant for executing urban warfare, is it any wonder that the wars come to our cities?

mnm1 10y ago
Oh, without a doubt weed is just an excuse to feed the rubes. I should've been more clear. I agree with your thoughts on armaments buildup in police departments. It's no wonder at all.
- bradbatt 10y ago
  Radley Balko's book "Rise of the Warrior Cop" goes into these issues in depth. He looks at the history of how the war on drugs, among other things, has contributed to the rise in military equipment and tactics being used at the local level. There are a shocking number of no-knock raids which have resulted in death of not only officers and some offenders, but innocent people who's homes were raided based on wrong information and in some cases the police literally getting the address wrong. http://amzn.to/2mlNWxj http://amzn.to/2mlNWxj