War on Drugs

[Charade]

If someone steals your life savings, say $50,000, you'd be opposed to seeing them go to prison?

Apparently.

Crime pays.

 

[chobie]

If someone steals your life savings, say $50,000, you'd be opposed to seeing them go to prison?

Put them on house arrest, make they pay for it themselves, make them pay back the money and then do community service for years on any days off they have from work. Or something like that. They steal money so we all pay for them to sit in jail. We're not only punishing them, we are punishing ourselves.

 

[alldiz]

Heck yeah I did. Only marijuana (in fact I wish THAT were legal, rather then alcohol)

The Migraine Cure from God himself, as far as Im concerned.

Anyone who thinks marijuana is worse than alcohol.....has obviously
NEVER smoked.

I think if a person is caught with drugs for their personal use.....not trying
to "sell" it......leave them alone.....go look for Al Quaida or something.
Kerri

 

[alldiz]

how many small time users turn into full blown additcs?? my brother only did "weed" thru high school, he progressed into other stuff by the time he was out a year. How many violent crimes are caused by people who are high and dont have money for drugs?? Its a no win situation.

How many people die from DWI's.....why is only Alcohol legal?

I'm tired of my tax dollars locking up tax paying citizens cause they
indulge a little on the side.
I don't want my DD to drink alcohol, get tattoos, piercings....but it's legal
you just have to bring up your kids and hope for the best.
Kerri

 

[Charade]

Put them on house arrest, make they pay for it themselves, make them pay back the money and then do community service for years on any days off they have from work. Or something like that. They steal money so we all pay for them to sit in jail. We're not only punishing them, we are punishing ourselves.

Doesn't sound like much of a punishment.

 

[TCPluto]

How many people die from DWI's.....why is only Alcohol legal?

I'm tired of my tax dollars locking up tax paying citizens cause they
indulge a little on the side.
I don't want my DD to drink alcohol, get tattoos, piercings....but it's legal
you just have to bring up your kids and hope for the best.
Kerri

Good point. If we could go waaay back in time, knowing what we know now, I don't think alcohol would be legal either, at least not with the advent of the auto. Add to that the helath/medical toll, nope.

There's a great percentage of the population who will not do it simply because it's illegal, and that's a good thing. But you're not going to turn the clock back on that one.

All cost savings from the displaced enforcement would be absorbed, and exacerbated, by the social and medical costs.

 

[BCV02]

No one is in prison for USING illegal drugs.

Selling illegal drugs? Yes

Commiting property crimes to finance drug habits? Yes

Robberies to support habit? Yes

Other violent crimes as a result of their drug use? Yes

Use? Nope.

Isn't it called posession? And if your trying to sell it's possesion with intent to sell?

 

[Pigeon]

No one is in prison for USING illegal drugs.

Selling illegal drugs? Yes

Commiting property crimes to finance drug habits? Yes

Robberies to support habit? Yes

Other violent crimes as a result of their drug use? Yes

Use? Nope.

I'm curious as to where you came up with that theory, but it's simply untrue. See, for example, Long-Run Trends in Incarceration of Drug Offenders in the United States Jonathan P Caulkins, Sara Chandler. Crime and Delinquency. New York: Oct 2006. Vol. 52, Iss. 4; pg. 619-649. There are plenty of people who are in prison for possession.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Isn't it called posession? And if your trying to sell it's possesion with intent to sell?

Yep.

http://www.onlinelawyersource.com/criminal_law/drug-possession/sentences.html

Drug possession sentences are the set of punishments ordered through the federal or state criminal justice system against a person who is convicted of illegal drug possession. Drug possession sentences vary considerably depending on the type of drug possessed, the amount of that drug, an offender’s criminal background, and the geographic location of the crime. Drug possession sentences are typically determined as a result of an offender’s guilty plea. Only five to ten percent of drug possession sentences are determined through trial proceedings.

Drug possession sentences can be enhanced under a number of circumstances. The type of drug that offenders possess can play a large role in drug possession sentences. Possession of drugs with a higher potential for abuse and addiction and those who can cause physical injury or death are often results in more serious drug possession sentences. Possession of larger quantities of illegal drugs can also result in harsher drug possession sentences. In these cases, offenders may be charged with “possession with intent to distribute.” This is a more serious crime with harsher drug possession sentences.

People who have had prior drug offense convictions will often face harsher drug possession sentences. Approximately 80 percent of offenders who receive drug possession sentences are first time offenders. Drug possession sentences can also be enhanced when the crime took place in close proximity to a day care center, housing project, school, or university. Some jurisdictions may have other provisions which can enhance drug possession sentences under other circumstances.

According to 2000 government statistics, drug possession sentences account for approximately thirteen percent of all state criminal convictions. Of these state ordered drug possession sentences, approximately 33 percent of offenders received prison time, 31 percent received jail time, and 36 percent received probation time. Drug possession sentences can be different depending on whether they are ordered by the federal or state courts. The average incarceration for federal drug possession sentences is 81 months, and the average incarceration for state drug possession sentences is about twenty months.

Some jurisdictions have mandatory minimums for drug possession sentences. This means that a pre-determined punishment will be ordered in drug possession sentences for possession of certain quantities of certain drugs. These laws give a judge little discretion when determining drug possession sentences and do not take into account a defendant’s background, character, role in the crime, and threat to society. In recent years drug courts have been established throughout the United States to provide non-violent drug offenders with drug treatment programs. Successful completion of these programs can result in reduced or dismissed drug possession sentences. They are also proving to be more effective and less costly than incarceration options.

 

[TCPluto]

Isn't it called posession? And if your trying to sell it's possesion with intent to sell?

PWID, possession with intent to deliver. It's not your garden variety user possessing a personal use quantity of controlled substances.

There are no "Sam's Club" users, ie., buy a pound of MJ for the year, kilo of coke for the year, etc.

 

[TCPluto]

I'm curious as to where you came up with that theory, but it's simply untrue. See, for example, Long-Run Trends in Incarceration of Drug Offenders in the United States Jonathan P Caulkins, Sara Chandler. Crime and Delinquency. New York: Oct 2006. Vol. 52, Iss. 4; pg. 619-649. There are plenty of people who are in prison for possession.

Nope.

What you, and likely the study, are confusing is the term "possesion with the intent to deliver". That right there is your neighbor dealer and wholesale distributor.

 

[BCV02]

All cost savings from the displaced enforcement would be absorbed, and exacerbated, by the social and medical costs.

we are going to throw $475 million dollars at Afghanistan alone next year. We threw $430 million at it last year and they had a record crop. This year looks on par to be another record year. That is just the cost of one part of this war. that would pay for a lot of rehabs.

 

[TCPluto]

we are going to throw $475 million dollars at Afghanistan alone next year. We threw $430 million at it last year and they had a record crop. This year looks on par to be another record year. That is just the cost of one part of this war. that would pay for a lot of rehabs.

You're right. We need to step up enforcement and border security, and to figure out how to reduce demand.

I don't claim to have all the answers to how we do that, but legalization is definitately not the answer.

 

[BCV02]

I don't claim to have all the answers either but stepping up enforcement is what we have been doing and it is not working. That crop is worth $38 billion dollars. Profit is a big motivator. For every dealer we take down there are another dozen or so waiting to take their place. By legalizing it we take away the profit.

 

[Crankyshank]

I smoked pot on a weekly basis until about 7 or 8 years ago. I once tried mushrooms and ecstasy when I was in my late teens/early twenties.
I've never been a stoner, addict, or slacker. Except for my freshman year of college, I have always maintained excellent grades (and that year was due to alcohol and not drugs).
We're at record highs for prison population, and I feel it's time we re-examine the drug laws in the country.