Now this is some BS!

[X*Cell]

Re: Now this is some BS!

I know its not a popular opinion but I honestly believe all drugs should be legal. It would destroy the crime rate. Let the junkies go pick it up and kill themselves with it.

I agree with you and Bahnzo.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Now this is some BS!

I know its not a popular opinion but I honestly believe all drugs should be legal. It would destroy the crime rate. Let the junkies go pick it up and kill themselves with it.

Exactly! In a truly free country, what you do to yourself would never be against the law.

What I find amazing, is that for almost 40 years now we've had this so called "war on drugs" and has it worked? If anything it's made things much worse in terms of violence and crime. Not to mention the BILLIONS of dollars we spend each year on it (some estimates as high as $65B/yr). And people still want to use drugs at the same rate today as they did then.

We've tried it for one way for so long, it's time to admit it's not working and try it my way for awhile. Any logical person can see it.

[nightcreeper]

Re: Now this is some BS!

wtf i cant believe this ****! o my

[Brandon13]

Re: Now this is some BS!

I know its not a popular opinion but I honestly believe all drugs should be legal. It would destroy the crime rate. Let the junkies go pick it up and kill themselves with it.

Pretty much the way I feel, and I've never done any kind of drug except drinking alcohol.

[Cebby]

Re: Now this is some BS!

Legalizing drugs isn't quite as easy as some make it out to be.

First, you'd have to deal with the large drop in employment in police offices, federal agencies, prosecuting offices, and defense lawyers.

Then comes the problem of just taking the taboo off very dangerous substances. While it's obvious that people aren't going to begin immediately mainlining heroin, drug use will go up, especially amongst young people. While I don't smoke anymore, there's generally a noticeable reaction, especially in girls, about smoking when compared to alcohol. Smoking weed isn't as bad as drinking or chain smoking cigarettes, yet a lot of people won't consider doing the first but binge on the other two. If you take the social taboos off, there are going to be significant problems. Sure, kids won't be smoking crack, but you're kidding yourself if ecstasy, xanax, and OC use won't go through the roof. And anybody denying that needs only to look at why they drink. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They aren't good for you at all.

After kids, you then have a painkiller and medication problem. Why take 3 tylenol when you can take 2 percocet? The use of Adderall and meth will go straight through the roof when kids realize it helps them study on tests. Want a guaranteed way to drop 20 pounds? Try any amphetamine or cocaine. Bad day? Pop a few Xanax bars. Those are problems going on right now while those are controlled substances. Making them legal would amplify the problem exponentially.

I don't like current way we deal with drugs, but legalizing them wholesale would be an absolute disaster.

[pfunk880]

Re: Now this is some BS!

Legalizing drugs isn't quite as easy as some make it out to be.

First, you'd have to deal with the large drop in employment in police offices, federal agencies, prosecuting offices, and defense lawyers.

Then comes the problem of just taking the taboo off very dangerous substances. While it's obvious that people aren't going to begin immediately mainlining heroin, drug use will go up, especially amongst young people. While I don't smoke anymore, there's generally a noticeable reaction, especially in girls, about smoking when compared to alcohol. Smoking weed isn't as bad as drinking or chain smoking cigarettes, yet a lot of people won't consider doing the first but binge on the other two. If you take the social taboos off, there are going to be significant problems. Sure, kids won't be smoking crack, but you're kidding yourself if ecstasy, xanax, and OC use won't go through the roof. And anybody denying that needs only to look at why they drink. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They aren't good for you at all.

After kids, you then have a painkiller and medication problem. Why take 3 tylenol when you can take 2 percocet? The use of Adderall and meth will go straight through the roof when kids realize it helps them study on tests. Want a guaranteed way to drop 20 pounds? Try any amphetamine or cocaine. Bad day? Pop a few Xanax bars. Those are problems going on right now while those are controlled substances. Making them legal would amplify the problem exponentially.

I don't like current way we deal with drugs, but legalizing them wholesale would be an absolute disaster.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[McLite]

Re: Now this is some BS!

I know its not a popular opinion but I honestly believe all drugs should be legal. It would destroy the crime rate. Let the junkies go pick it up and kill themselves with it.

On the contrary it would raise the crime rate. I don't understand why people think drug dealers perpetuate crime...it's mostly the buyers not the sellers!

Yes selling it at 7-11 would get rid of turf wars (few and far between), but it would skyrocket burglaries, robberies, and shootings.

First off their would be more junkies. The threat of not getting in trouble with the law plus a never ending supply would increase drug use without a doubt. More junkies leads to more people needing money who don't have jobs...leading to more burglaries/robberies.

Then with the drug use that increased, you will have more high/wacky people all over the place. Most dopers aren't the most responsible. People will be high behind the wheel, and high in the streets. I can easily see more fights, more domestics, more stabbings and shootings.

Finally places that are infamous for selling drugs would turn into war zones. What happens to Frank when he can't make money off selling dope anymore. More than likely Frank does not get a job...therefore Frank starts robbing and burglarizing everything in sight. All of a sudden living in the projects is even more dangerous. True after a while maybe the police can get rid of all the Frank's...but in the meantime the bloodshed is going through the roof.

There will always be dope...I'm not stupid...I by no means believe the police/Feds will ever get rid of it. Legalizing it by no means would solve the problem though.

If the US was really serious about the war on drugs we would have to cut it off at the source. Meth is mostly from Mexico (at least out here), and cocaine (and thus crack) is mostly from south of that. Shut down the boarders, stop the flow into the US and it would be huge. Once it's here it's too late.

[PVarck31]

Re: Now this is some BS!

On the contrary it would raise the crime rate. I don't understand why people think drug dealers perpetuate crime...it's mostly the buyers not the sellers!

Yes selling it at 7-11 would get rid of turf wars (few and far between), but it would skyrocket burglaries, robberies, and shootings.

First off their would be more junkies. The threat of not getting in trouble with the law plus a never ending supply would increase drug use without a doubt. More junkies leads to more people needing money who don't have jobs...leading to more burglaries/robberies.

Then with the drug use that increased, you will have more high/wacky people all over the place. Most dopers aren't the most responsible. People will be high behind the wheel, and high in the streets. I can easily see more fights, more domestics, more stabbings and shootings.

Finally places that are infamous for selling drugs would turn into war zones. What happens to Frank when he can't make money off selling dope anymore. More than likely Frank does not get a job...therefore Frank starts robbing and burglarizing everything in sight. All of a sudden living in the projects is even more dangerous. True after a while maybe the police can get rid of all the Frank's...but in the meantime the bloodshed is going through the roof.

There will always be dope...I'm not stupid...I by no means believe the police/Feds will ever get rid of it. Legalizing it by no means would solve the problem though.

If the US was really serious about the war on drugs we would have to cut it off at the source. Meth is mostly from Mexico (at least out here), and cocaine (and thus crack) is mostly from south of that. Shut down the boarders, stop the flow into the US and it would be huge. Once it's here it's too late.

Great points. But im not saying make it a free for all, it should be regulated somehow. I respect your opinion very much You would know more about this than most being a police officer. However I bet if you did a survey of your fellow officers many would be for the legalization of drugs. My father is a retired police officer and he is a big proponent of legalizing drugs. Also people need to realize just because we believe in the legalization of drugs, doesn't mean we are junkies. I have never done anything other than marijuana. My father hasn't even done that.

Like I said I respect your opinion but I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.

[X*Cell]

Re: Now this is some BS!

I know this may sound like I had no self-control, but when I was under 21, my friends and I would drink on every outing that we got a chance to, even though the consumption of alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal.

I turned 21 on February 21st this year, and I gotta say... I HARDLY drink anymore. I don't know if it's my subconscious or my desire to rebel or whatever it may be... now that it is legally available to me, I hardly drink. Neither do my friends.

I think in theory this could happen with the use of drugs if they were legalized.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Now this is some BS!

First, you'd have to deal with the large drop in employment in police offices, federal agencies, prosecuting offices, and defense lawyers.

And that's a bad thing? There's nothing anywhere that says we have a responsibility to keep as many of these people employed as possible...and on our dime as well.

Then comes the problem of just taking the taboo off very dangerous substances. While it's obvious that people aren't going to begin immediately mainlining heroin, drug use will go up, especially amongst young people. Drugs are illegal for a reason. They aren't good for you at all.

Who says you have to take the taboo off them? Actually they are glamorized because of their illegal status and MORE attractive to people due to this. Drug may increase slightly, but not much. Think about it, just because drugs are legal does that mean you will go out and start doing them? To assume millions of others would, while you wouldn't, is wrong thinking. And saying it would increase use among kids is ludicrous. It would actually lower their use. Right now, it's been proven that illegal drugs are easier for kids to obtain than alcohol...last I looked drug dealers don't ask for ID.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Now this is some BS!

On the contrary it would raise the crime rate. I don't understand why people think drug dealers perpetuate crime...it's mostly the buyers not the sellers!

Yes selling it at 7-11 would get rid of turf wars (few and far between), but it would skyrocket burglaries, robberies, and shootings.

First off their would be more junkies. The threat of not getting in trouble with the law plus a never ending supply would increase drug use without a doubt. More junkies leads to more people needing money who don't have jobs...leading to more burglaries/robberies.

Then with the drug use that increased, you will have more high/wacky people all over the place. Most dopers aren't the most responsible. People will be high behind the wheel, and high in the streets. I can easily see more fights, more domestics, more stabbings and shootings.

Finally places that are infamous for selling drugs would turn into war zones. What happens to Frank when he can't make money off selling dope anymore. More than likely Frank does not get a job...therefore Frank starts robbing and burglarizing everything in sight. All of a sudden living in the projects is even more dangerous. True after a while maybe the police can get rid of all the Frank's...but in the meantime the bloodshed is going through the roof.

There will always be dope...I'm not stupid...I by no means believe the police/Feds will ever get rid of it. Legalizing it by no means would solve the problem though.

If the US was really serious about the war on drugs we would have to cut it off at the source. Meth is mostly from Mexico (at least out here), and cocaine (and thus crack) is mostly from south of that. Shut down the boarders, stop the flow into the US and it would be huge. Once it's here it's too late.

Again, thinking there would be a dramatic increase in use and addiction is a scare tactic and nothing more. As I posted above, just making them legal isn't going to make 99% of the people out there run out to use drugs. Trying to scare people with images of hordes of junkies walking the streets like zombies after their fix is laughable. One reason all this crime exists among users is due to the illegality of drugs. They are super expensive due to it; legalize and the price WILL go down and no longer will users ave to rob and steal to support their habits.

And talking about selling them at 7-11 is another one prohibitionists use to scare us. We're not talking about selling them at every corner store and supermarket out there. Selling them at specialized stores like we do with liquor in some states that are regulated and strictly controlled instead.

And it would be a real shame to take away the drug dealers source of income, wouldn't it? Again tho, he wants to scare you with the prospect of all these dealers turning to a life of crime (?) after they can't sell drugs any more. Get real. Low income areas are always going to have crime rates higher than other areas, but saying they will turn into bloodbaths is a joke.

Wacky dopers high on the streets? Driving their cars? LOL. You really like to paint the picture don't you. Let me ask you, what drug causes the most violence in our society? Cocaine? Heroin? Meth? Nope, it's alcohol hands down.

Like I said earlier, we've been having this "war" now for 40 years and it's not working and in fact has only made things worse. You've had your chance, now it's time to try it my way. Any person who thinks this through logically...not with their heart, don't base it on your morals...can see this is the correct way to fix this problem.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Now this is some BS!

Great points. But im not saying make it a free for all, it should be regulated somehow. I respect your opinion very much You would know more about this than most being a police officer. However I bet if you did a survey of your fellow officers many would be for the legalization of drugs. My father is a retired police officer and he is a big proponent of legalizing drugs. Also people need to realize just because we believe in the legalization of drugs, doesn't mean we are junkies. I have never done anything other than marijuana. My father hasn't even done that.

Like I said I respect your opinion but I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.

My best friend is a cop in a large Texas city and we've had a frank discussion about this. He agrees there isn't much they can do about it....even if they turned all their force's attention to the problem, it would still be something they could never stamp out. He agrees that legalization is the best way to deal with it, even tho he's scared about what would happen to his job. And there's no way he could talk about it with his fellow officers...if there's one taboo subject it's this.

Is your father a member of LEAP, PJV? If not, have him look into it. They are an important group who are making inroads into people's views about this.

[CS10029]

Re: Now this is some BS!

THe problem here is both sides are looking for a complete solution. That will never happen. Unless every person is monitored all day every day, people will commit crimes regardless.

What needs to be done is controlling the inevitable. The best idea in this thread was stopping it from getting in the country. If it doesn't exist the problem could go away, at least somewhat. Making it legal or just punishing people for it will never solve the problem.

If its legal people will abuse it, if its illegal people will abuse it. If its legal you have to pay for it, if its illegal you have to pay for it. Anytime you have an addiction that is fed by money you will have problems, end of story.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Now this is some BS!

What needs to be done is controlling the inevitable. The best idea in this thread was stopping it from getting in the country. If it doesn't exist the problem could go away, at least somewhat. Making it legal or just punishing people for it will never solve the problem

You will never stop it from coming in the country however...our borders are just too large to patrol and those that bring it in are ingenious in their methods. And even if you could stop it, it would then be grown/produced here.

The only way is to curb the demand and that's done by education, not by arresting people who use it.

[Cebby]

Re: Now this is some BS!

Who says you have to take the taboo off them? Actually they are glamorized because of their illegal status and MORE attractive to people due to this. Drug may increase slightly, but not much. Think about it, just because drugs are legal does that mean you will go out and start doing them? To assume millions of others would, while you wouldn't, is wrong thinking. And saying it would increase use among kids is ludicrous. It would actually lower their use. Right now, it's been proven that illegal drugs are easier for kids to obtain than alcohol...last I looked drug dealers don't ask for ID.

The idea that it's easier for kids to get drugs than alcohol is 100% foolishness. The concept is laughably ridiculous.

Drug dealers don't ask for ID. Drug dealers also aren't located on every single corner, in every supermarker or shopping center, and found in damn near every house in the country. You should realize that it's relatively difficult for drug dealers to find drugs. Yes, marijuana is relatively easy to find. Maybe not good weed, but weed is not difficult. Trying to find affordably priced quality cocaine, ecstasy, or pharmaceuticals is not so easy. Alcohol is by far the most wildly used illegal drug among teenagers. Next is tobacco. Maybe if you live in a city, it's relatively easy to buy low quality crack or heroin, but the notion that drugs are easier to acquire than alcohol or tobacco is absolute lunacy. I don't even know how that even sounded right in your head.

It's not a coincidence that alcohol and tobacco are the most wildly used drugs. They certainly aren't the most fun. The certainly aren't the least-bad for you. The ease of acquiring them, along with the legality makes them the most used drugs. If you take away the negative stigma, the cost, the difficulty of acquiring, and the fact that you no longer have to worry about police arresting you and the much hyped "get raped by a large black male" factor, and there's absolutely no way drug use will decrease. Add in that you could no longer be fired from work for using drugs, and people would have little incentive to stop using drugs.

People don't spend $150 on an 8 ball because it's illegal and cool. Few people decide to pop 3 $20 pills because they're glamorous. They do it because using drugs is fun to them.

If drugs were made legal, hell yes I'd be doing them, and anybody who drinks or smokes tobacco on this board would probably be doing them too (maybe not now, but definitely in high school/college). Why drink some liquor after a rough day when a Xanax would be better? Why drink at a bar/club when you can do ecstasy? There's absolutely no valid answer to those questions other than that they're illegal/controlled.