Make all drugs legal in single step is such radical solution with unknown outcome.
What ever my wishes are, I know that isn't going to happen. First we will legalize pot and then the rest will follow. The flood gates will be open. People will start looking at the research seriously and DEA propaganda will have much less weight.
The outcome is pretty much known though. There will be an initial spike in use as people will try to find out what all the excitement was about and then use rates will stabilize at pretty much the rates that were prevalent during prohibition.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.
Diogenes wrote:You realize the deep flaw in your logic here? All of those things you mentioned have real life applications for which they are useful. The good is by far the dominant usage, and the bad is a very small component of the whole, and what bad there is is usually the result of an idiot or an @sshole misusing them.
I did a little checking. According to Wiki, 5.3 million Americans are subject to felony disenfranchisement. So, of the porported 25 million currently living who have been arrested on drug related charges, that should still leave close to 20 million people who can vote and organize to change the drug laws.
Congresswoman Cathy Gifford was able to organize herself to vote, after suffering the trauma of a gunshot to the head. While most people who suffer gunshot trauma to the head do not continue voting, it needs to be asked, are the 25 million drug convicted Americans therefore suffering even greater trauma, to the extent that they cannot organize politically?
If this is the case, then the 25 million have suffered even greater trauma than a gunshot to the head. Either that or the self medication has more debilitating side effects than a gunshot to the head. If there is truely that much trauma across the USA(25 million victims), what in hell kind of a society are you running down there.
Another possibility to the lack of a political movement by convicted users is, they agree with both the laws and believe they were wrong in using drugs. That or they do not agree that trauma played any role in their decision to use drugs, that the reason was recreational.
Even if only 1 out of every 100 of these 25 million users were to organize, thats a formidable political force, surely they can muster that many. They have a plausible case, if only they pursue it.
Even if only 1 out of every 100 of these 25 million users were to organize, thats a formidable political force, surely they can muster that many. They have a plausible case, if only they pursue it.
Let us look at the historical record. Some where back in the 70s something like 12% of Americans supported legalization. It is now 50% and still rising - but more slowly - fewer target opportunities.
Once it is over 60% the war will be over.
So that 1 in 100 have been busy even if you are unaware of their efforts.
There is MAPS - the guys working WITH the government to get psychedelics approved for use for PTSD and its aftermath such as alcoholism - which is where Tim Leary started.
In a police state courage, ordinarily a rare commodity, is a very rare commodity. None the less some can't shut up. And others work on the QT.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.
Even if only 1 out of every 100 of these 25 million users were to organize, thats a formidable political force, surely they can muster that many. They have a plausible case, if only they pursue it.
Let us look at the historical record. Some where back in the 70s something like 12% of Americans supported legalization. It is now 50% and still rising - but more slowly - fewer target opportunities.
Once it is over 60% the war will be over.
So that 1 in 100 have been busy even if you are unaware of their efforts.
There is MAPS - the guys working WITH the government to get psychedelics approved for use for PTSD and its aftermath such as alcoholism - which is where Tim Leary started.
In a police state courage, ordinarily a rare commodity, is a very rare commodity. None the less some can't shut up. And others work on the QT.
Excellent response! Now, if the cartels own the government as proposed, and want to maintain prohibition because theres too much money in it, will 60% support really be enough. It might take up to 90% before the will of the electorate is no longer subverted. That's why, as I have often suggested, you need to go after the political corruption to make changes.
Excellent response! Now, if the cartels own the government as proposed, and want to maintain prohibition because theres too much money in it, will 60% support really be enough. It might take up to 90% before the will of the electorate is no longer subverted. That's why, as I have often suggested, you need to go after the political corruption to make changes.
I think it will be enough to cause them enough financial harm to cause them to come out in the open.
California is almost there. They have collected about 1/2 the dope from national forests compared to previous years. This is due to quasi legalization and the indoor grows that have sprouted up as a consequence.
The Feds also have another problem in California. Jury nullification. Convictions are no longer a slam dunk assembly line process. Some details here:
Once everyone starts asking for jury trial the justice system grinds to a halt. There will be no resources for civil trials or many other trials. This will piss people off. Making more allies.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.
MSimon wrote:
Let us look at the historical record. Some where back in the 70s something like 12% of Americans supported legalization. It is now 50% and still rising - but more slowly - fewer target opportunities.
Once it is over 60% the war will be over.
You might be interested to know that WTNH news in Connecticut did a poll today about marijuana legalization. 59% were in favor of legalization.
The New London mayor tried to get the police to stop going after drug arrests, but the state wouldn't let him.
Check out the quotes from some people interviewed for the story:
"I'm a big proponent of medical marijuana, so I 'm okay with it," said Katherine Roberts, supports order.
"I mean more people are killed with alcohol and that's legal," said Michael Woodhouse, supports order.
"The cops have, they're so overloaded they should be doing, getting the coke dealers and every other drug dealer there are in town, but some people say that marijuana is a gateway drug to those drugs. I don't believe that," said Lorraine Spath, New London.
"It's kind of a drug you know, and it just promotes for kids to use more," said Betty Meara, opposes order.
"..are doing no more harm to themselves or society than anyone who picks up a beer on a Friday afternoon," said Finizio.