jame$thegreat

I think fatal flaws would prevent this from happening within the next 50 years at least.

Legalization of marijuana is something that could and should happen in the next 15-20 years, with it should be accurate, balanced drug education for students.

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JAD_333

When the mexican cartels start shooting US police chiefs, when the death toll among teenage dealers reaches epic proportions, when medical costs for treating emergency cases from bad drugs become uncontrollable, when the prision population become unmanageable because of the number of jailed drug offenders, when kids under 12 become regular drug users, when work productivity begins to seriously drop due to drugged up employees, and so forth...then people will begin to think seriously about legalization.

But the biggest push could well come from drug using citizens themselves. As more and more people use illegal drugs, a tipping point could be reached where there are enough voters fed up with high prices, bad drugs and shady dealers to demand that the government do something. Think of it like a tax cut...

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dark-alias

JAD Sir,
In this regard, i would support it. It seems a very logical and effective way to stem drug cartels, and violence that is on a very sharp incline over recent times.

You also might be right about enough legal citizen voters getting fed up with all of the BS that comes with just getting high one in a while to relax and not have to worry about going to prison for it. THey could in the future change things.

dark-alias

If we legalize drug use how does this affect our relationships with the most illegal production ie...columbia, mexico, and so on.

JAD_333

There would be privacy aspects to having an ID card (a swipe card). It's primary purpose is to limit quantities purchased in given time periods. Stigma? Maybe that's good. But for most, especially for an addict, and easy, safe, and relatively inexpensive source beats the street anyday.

I see your point, but consider that we have passports, driver's licenses and other forms of ID. All states police, but a "police state" isn't defined by ID cards, but by a lack of democratic institutions and basic rights.

A good point. Must be dealt with to prevent illegal selling.

JAD_333

Well, we'd buy the base for cocaine from Columbia, Peru, etc. The opiate base for heroin from Afganistan, good weed from Mexico... The basic substances would come from farmers as it does now, but legally.

ChrisF202

The majority of drugs in the US (ex. 90% of our meth comes from Mexico) are imported which means:



+


and


=

a severely reduced amount of drugs

No need for legalization if its next to impossible to get.

Army5339

It is policy to not destroy poppy crops in Afghanistan, which supplies a good chunk of heroin to the world. We already don't have the will to destroy drug crops overseas that affect our nation because of the associated costs.

You could lock down the US to make drug use almost nil, but the social cost of such an action would be worse than the drugs themselves. Never mind the economic costs associated with it. How high would taxes be with all this stuff going on? Someone has to pay for the increased police presence.

The Taliban pretty much had crime and other social vices locked down, but I wouldn't look to them as a model of how to control those types of activities.

Besides, it just makes smuggling more lucrative than it already is, or would shift drug production stateside.

Tronic

Though I agree with the legalization of Marijuana; I somewhat disagree with the legalization of drugs such as cocaine, heroine and the like; basically the more addictive drugs. Or if they are to be legalized, then at the same time, there should be a huge awareness campaign telling people how addictive these drugs are!

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JAD_333

Absolutely.

JAD_333

Once you stop drugs at the border, enterprising drug dealers will create designer drugs here at home. The drug problem is a social problem not a supply problem. That's why we haven't licked it and won't until the vast majority of users wise up and realize drug use=weakness.

jame$thegreat

How well has this worked thus far? People will always dream up a way to get what they want, especially if what they want is drugs.

jame$thegreat

I understand that much, but I think you can see where possession of such a card would hurt one's credibility in a court room situation, and most likely cause a search in the event of a traffic stop. I just am uncomfortable with anyone looking down on people because they use recreational drugs, particularly if they are legalized.

That may be true, but these forms of ID are not used to track people's purchases. I really do not like the idea of any person or entity tracking me, my movements or my purchases. I am not one for government conspiracies, in fact I have more faith in the government than most, but I really like my privacy and really just appreciate the ability to do what I want, enjoy myself and protect my family and property.

How?

JAD_333

Why would the card cause a search? You are thinking in today's mindset. If drugs were legal, what will a serach prove. Anyway do cops stop you and look at all your credit cards? As for credibility in court, there is a standard of proof; proving someone has a card is meaningless unless a law has been broken.


You have to show your ID to buy booze or tobacco; if the vendor wanted he could keep a record of your purchase? Credit card charges are used to establish credit, track consumer tastes, direct advertising to consumers... To live in an organized society part of life will be lived in a fishbowl. If you want total privacy, drop out, quit driving and pay cash..but then there's your social security.



I haven't gotten that far yet. There will lots of kinks to work out.

jame$thegreat

It is just that an officer would be less likely to believe someone who uses drugs than someone who does not, I don't agree with this reasoning, but this stigma will exist for at least a generation of law enforcement.

There is a big difference between individual vendors or credit card companies recording your purchases and a vast national organization completely dedicated to tracking what you have purchased, how much and where. This is in many ways an invasion of privacy. As much as I am for the legalization of drugs, I doubt I am willing to forfeit these many of my rights for that goal.