Does drug decriminalization work?

[crash9201 10+ year member]

I think everyone can agree the 'war' on drugs isnt working so its definitely time for another approach.
Would complete decriminalization of all drugs work in a country like the us? Very doubtful but it could be a start in the right direction.

of all drugs? heck no.. americans are to compulsive and such. plus you never hear some1 say "I smoke crack on occassion" but marijuana //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif california and 12 other states have decriminilized it, granted you need a liscence to get it but if you didnt that would be amazing. the govt could tax it like ciggerates(hopefully not as much) and they would spend less money on putting people in jail

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

I am with you that I dont think use would increase but I also think a majority of Americans have shown time and time again that they are less responsible than a good deal of the Eu, especially considering epidemics such as this.
I am also unaware of a meth problem over there which if it does not exist makes the US more unique and difficult to solve.

And duece is merely trolling so disregard his comments //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

Actually not trolling. Would I like to see certain drugs legalized for MY own use, sure. Do I think the country as a whole would responsibly accept change and not go to shit, nope. If there is one thing Americans really love, its their drugs, legalizing them won't put a dent in that thirst for drugs.

DUI's kill people every year, would legalizing driving drunk make things safer here or stop drunk drivers?

Also what do you druggies think will happen with your employment when drugs are legalized? Just because the government says its ok for you to get high doesn't mean your employer won't still drug test and tell you to hit the road...

 

[AllDayMJ 10+ year member]

My standpoint from a college student persepective is, weed does not ruin lives, im not saying it does not ruin your ambitions. Ive honestly had in possession enough to put me away for over 5 years and become a felon, I know for a fact that what i sold did not ruin any lives, it was used and abused in a safe manner. I dont see how my 'crime' is equal to that of a ****** deviant or ******.

I even did a little experiment of my own this year during college. For my entire 1st semester i quit smoking completely, after smoking 3 months straight during summer. I managed a 3.8 and am on the deans list. This semester, I began using marijuana again, on a near daily basis, as of right now, i still have a 3.8. I understand yes, there are a lot of other variables in play, but none the less, little to nothing changed. Also, i understand I am also not getting a 4.0 and I'm also pretty naturally smart and weed effects people differently, but when it comes down to it from my own personal perspective, It changed little in my life other than i had a better experience out of college during my second semester over my first. Take it as you like.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

My standpoint from a college student persepective is, weed does not ruin lives, im not saying it does not ruin your ambitions. Ive honestly had in possession enough to put me away for over 5 years and become a felon, I know for a fact that what i sold did not ruin any lives, it was used and abused in a safe manner. I dont see how my 'crime' is equal to that of a ****** deviant or ******.
I even did a little experiment of my own this year during college. For my entire 1st semester i quit smoking completely, after smoking 3 months straight during summer. I managed a 3.8 and am on the deans list. This semester, I began using marijuana again, on a near daily basis, as of right now, i still have a 3.8. I understand yes, there are a lot of other variables in play, but none the less, little to nothing changed. Also, i understand I am also not getting a 4.0 and I'm also pretty naturally smart and weed effects people differently, but when it comes down to it from my own personal perspective, It changed little in my life other than i had a better experience out of college during my second semester over my first. Take it as you like.

I read that as you are a dumb kid in college who is willing to ruin his life, go to jail, get kicked out of college, all for some weed...

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

Actually not trolling. Would I like to see certain drugs legalized for MY own use, sure. Do I think the country as a whole would responsibly accept change and not go to shit, nope. If there is one thing Americans really love, its their drugs, legalizing them won't put a dent in that thirst for drugs.

Do you have any evidence to confirm that belief? Even if legalizing didn't put a dent in drug demand (which again, you're making an assertion without any evidence), I don't see prohibition doing a very good job, either.

DUI's kill people every year, would legalizing driving drunk make things safer here or stop drunk drivers?

That is a truly stupid analogy and I'm sure you know why.

Also what do you druggies think will happen with your employment when drugs are legalized? Just because the government says its ok for you to get high doesn't mean your employer won't still drug test and tell you to hit the road...

That's between the employer and the employee then. What does that have to do with legalization?

 

[mokedaddy 5,000+ posts]

Actually not trolling. Would I like to see certain drugs legalized for MY own use, sure. Do I think the country as a whole would responsibly accept change and not go to shit, nope. If there is one thing Americans really love, its their drugs, legalizing them won't put a dent in that thirst for drugs.
DUI's kill people every year, would legalizing driving drunk make things safer here or stop drunk drivers?

Also what do you druggies think will happen with your employment when drugs are legalized? Just because the government says its ok for you to get high doesn't mean your employer won't still drug test and tell you to hit the road...

If you werent trolling then how would sending everyone to Portugal solve anything? They are smart and dont want Americans.

Would making alcohol illegal curb the problem of drinking and driving? No.

I currently take drug tests for my job. It aint no thang but a chicken wang playa.

 

[AllDayMJ 10+ year member]

I read that as you are a dumb kid in college who is willing to ruin his life, go to jail, get kicked out of college, all for some weed...

Ill let you think that, but you said it exactly, why should some 'weed' be able to ruin my life, send me to jail, and get kicked out of college(you don't get kicked out for possession as long as its not a felony.) I'm a rather upstanding citizen and I just dont understand how that small aspect of my life should be that large of an impact on the person that I am.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

Do you have any evidence to confirm that belief? Even if legalizing didn't put a dent in drug demand (which again, you're making an assertion without any evidence), I don't see prohibition doing a very good job, either.

That can be flipped, do you have an evidence that drug use would go down besides data from a different country which you have already asserted is different from the US. Just because prohibition isn't doing a good job doesn't mean enforcement processes can't be changed to something that delivers better results.

That is a truly stupid analogy and I'm sure you know why.

Not a stupid analogy at all, even if you don't like it...both have had enforcement issues, does that mean we should give up on enforcement of them both, even if the illegal act causes harm to innocent people?

That's between the employer and the employee then. What does that have to do with legalization?

You are right, lets not look at the idea of legalization from all angles and think through all possible hurdles...lets just march on ignorant and blind to any realities to the legalization scenario...

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

DUI's kill people every year, would legalizing driving drunk make things safer here or stop drunk drivers?

DUI's kill people every year. Does that mean you are saying alcohol should be illegal? Or, can the substance use be legal, so long as it meets certain safety criteria such as not driving under the influence?

Should an employer be able to fire you on Monday for you smoking a joint last Friday night at a party, in which you did not even drive yourself home from? How about if you drank at this party instead?

 

[Bigrick31 10+ year member]

DUI's kill people every year. Does that mean you are saying alcohol should be illegal? Or, can the substance use be legal, so long as it meets certain safety criteria such as not driving under the influence?
Should an employer be able to fire you on Monday for you smoking a joint last Friday night at a party, in which you did not even drive yourself home from?

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

If you werent trolling then how would sending everyone to Portugal solve anything? They are smart and dont want Americans..

Wishful thinking not trolling //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Ill let you think that, but you said it exactly, why should some 'weed' be able to ruin my life, send me to jail, and get kicked out of college(you don't get kicked out for possession as long as its not a felony.) I'm a rather upstanding citizen and I just dont understand how that small aspect of my life should be that large of an impact on the person that I am.

You missed the point, weed is so important to you that you are willing to risk everything for it.

Now I agree that weed laws should not be so severe as to make that a risk for you, but the fact remains that it is illegal, is currently causing you risk, and you still choose to do it. To break it down, continuing your relationship with weed is more important to you than college, going to jail, etc....

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

That can be flipped, do you have an evidence that drug use would go down besides data from a different country which you have already asserted is different from the US. Just because prohibition isn't doing a good job doesn't mean enforcement processes can't be changed to something that delivers better results.

80 years ago (before the conference in Shanghai), drug use was lower than it is now. Addiction rates worldwide are the same now as they were prior to the earnest beginning of the war on drugs. At least I have some form of evidence whereas you have nothing.

Not a stupid analogy at all, even if you don't like it...both have had enforcement issues, does that mean we should give up on enforcement of them both, even if the illegal act causes harm to innocent people?

Actually, it is a completely stupid analogy because drunk driving is extremely dangerous to others. Personal drug use is not. Drug use is a health problem whereas drunk driving is an ignorant and willful risk of other people's lives.

You are right, lets not look at the idea of legalization from all angles and think through all possible hurdles...lets just march on ignorant and blind to any realities to the legalization scenario...

Legalization is a discussion of the relationship between enforcement and users. The relationship between employer and employee is in no way an obstacle to legalization.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

DUI's kill people every year. Does that mean you are saying alcohol should be illegal? Or, can the substance use be legal, so long as it meets certain safety criteria such as not driving under the influence?
Should an employer be able to fire you on Monday for you smoking a joint last Friday night at a party, in which you did not even drive yourself home from? How about if you drank at this party instead?

That is exactly it, it must meet certain safety criteria, or risk analysis, which I don't believe is met in legalizing all drugs.

Does the employer's tests have the ability to prove you were high on Friday and not today? Also many employers have zero tolerance policies, some now even for smoking tobacco. Do you think they would care if you told them you got high on Friday, not today?

 

[AllDayMJ 10+ year member]

You missed the point, weed is so important to you that you are willing to risk everything for it.

Now I agree that weed laws should not be so severe as to make that a risk for you, but the fact remains that it is illegal, is currently causing you risk, and you still choose to do it. To break it down, continuing your relationship with weed is more important to you than college, going to jail, etc....

but see the point is, I understand these repercussions, and even being a user of weed, I understand it is still not accepted by society. Ive been clean for the last 2 weeks because I still maintained my understanding that I may have to drop to be employed this summer. Nothing has changed for me other than not smoking solely so i piss clean, I still hold the belief that i will smoke weed the rest of my life. I just dont understand how God gave me the right to freedom of choice yet the government believes they hold themselves higher than god and think that they can truly stop me from smoking. its just ignorant on their part.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

80 years ago (before the conference in Shanghai), drug use was lower than it is now. Addiction rates worldwide are the same now as they were prior to the earnest beginning of the war on drugs. At least I have some form of evidence whereas you have nothing.

The societies of 80 years ago and today are worlds apart

Actually, it is a completely stupid analogy because drunk driving is extremely dangerous to others. Personal drug use is not. Drug use is a health problem whereas drunk driving is an ignorant and willful risk of other people's lives.

You are correct drug use is not dangerous to others, especially immediate families of drug users. If you honestly think personal drug use ends at the person you have the blinders on man.

Legalization is a discussion of the relationship between enforcement and users. The relationship between employer and employee is in no way an obstacle to legalization.

You don't think employment enforcement of drug use policies which could impact your livelihood is not valid "enforcement" to be concerned about. The relationship between employer and employee is in no way an obstacle to legalization may be true, but it is still an obstacle to the employee. If you choose to disregard that to move on with the discussion feel free.