The Battle to Decriminalize All Drugs

Star Forge wrote:

Abhaya Budhil wrote: I think the confusion was when Br. John said his daughter was lovely and Star Forge responded with "thanks a ton." I know that made me think he was saying that the girl in the photo was his daughter.

Nah, but that photo does sorta remind me of her. My girl, like the girl in the picture, looks super white but with mildly Asiatic features due to being 1/4 Sami. Sorry for the confusion. In lieu of having a pic of my girl here, I will nonetheless accept the compliments!

my boy and i were talking about genetics today. he is white as rice, but with brown eyes and dirty blonde hair. he is 1/4 'indigenous' per his genetic analysis i paid for a while back, meaning his grandma, my mother, is dark skinned, black haired bolivian. and my fathers grandmother, of which i have only seen one picture my entire life, was full blooded cherokee. so that is 1/16 or 1/32, i forget.

in any case, hes a handsome little bugger.

/sidetrack

edit: forgot there is a pic of him on his first day of kindergarten in my other pics section.

I actually did a research paper and presentation on this topic for one of my college classes, now I'll have to dig around my files to see if I ended up saving it (doubtful).

The kicker was that my instructor was a retires LEO, and advised me not to take up the topic for my presentation, I did regardless and if my memory serves me correctly, still got a passing mark.

Point of the paper was (to the best of my memory), to each their own and that such. If the benefit of a reduced rate of crime and increased tax revenue from a decriminalized drug trade would benefit the majority of those involved on both sides of the table, then it's nothing short of insanity to continue down the current path our current system is operating on.

Kohadre wrote: I actually did a research paper and presentation on this topic for one of my college classes, now I'll have to dig around my files to see if I ended up saving it (doubtful).

The kicker was that my instructor was a retires LEO, and advised me not to take up the topic for my presentation, I did regardless and if my memory serves me correctly, still got a passing mark.

Point of the paper was (to the best of my memory), to each their own and that such. If the benefit of a reduced rate of crime and increased tax revenue from a decriminalized drug trade would benefit the majority of those involved on both sides of the table, then it's nothing short of insanity to continue down the current path our current system is operating on.

It depends on what you mean by "reducing crime." Of course, decriminalizing weed, or instance, would result in a massive decline in weed-related convictions, but would more people commit other crimes under the influence? It's stuff like that that I worry about.

Maybe I have a puritanical take on this, but to me, when discussing drug problems and legislation, I tend to blame the users, dealers, and producers, and put the burden of guilt upon THEM, not law enforcement. What's wrong with giving people incentive-positive or negative- to simply not use drugs?

Star Forge wrote: It depends on what you mean by "reducing crime." Of course, decriminalizing weed, or instance, would result in a massive decline in weed-related convictions, but would more people commit other crimes under the influence? It's stuff like that that I worry about.

True, there is always a double edged sword when considering legalizing drugs that while the amount of crimes relating to sales/possession and possession/use would decrease, there is always the risk that crimes relating to influence from use of a controlled substance may go up.

You can't hope to solve a problem by making an aspect or element illegal, all that does is basically sweep it under the rug and hope that it will go away. You have to actually address the problem and what causes it to begin with to ever hope of finding a lasting solution to a lasting problem. Unfortunately, our society does both, but invests fewer resources in the second aspect I mentioned than they do in the first.

Star Forge wrote: Ren, when you talk about a cig that is the equivalent of many cigs, do you mean just in toxicity or in effect? Because, if it's like the nicotine of a whole pack or so in one single cig, I might be making a trip to the UK soon.

The EU heavily regulates the tobacco sector, it's the toxicity, whether random componds or the "regular" stuff like tar and carbon monoxide that you have to lookout for. Genuine brand cigarettes outside the EU usually contain more tar and carbon monoxide. nicotine itself isn't bad for health, and even has some benefits. the only real issue with it is that it's addictive.

ren wrote:

Star Forge wrote: Ren, when you talk about a cig that is the equivalent of many cigs, do you mean just in toxicity or in effect? Because, if it's like the nicotine of a whole pack or so in one single cig, I might be making a trip to the UK soon.

The EU heavily regulates the tobacco sector, it's the toxicity, whether random componds or the "regular" stuff like tar and carbon monoxide that you have to lookout for. Genuine brand cigarettes outside the EU usually contain more tar and carbon monoxide. nicotine itself isn't bad for health, and even has some benefits. the only real issue with it is that it's addictive.

I try to smoke "healthy" cigs when I have the extra cash, for instance American Spirits, even though they are rough and rather expensive. I think the best way I could go, short of quitting, is to roll my own, using pipe tobacco or healthier tobacco. E-cigs don't do a thing for me, and I'm not willing to spend that much money on those vaporizers that look like a portable Jabba the Hutt hookah, and still don't do the job as good as a cig.

http://ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-crime

While drinking and driving has received a great deal of public and media attention, the relationship between alcohol and crime, for both offenders and victims, has not received the same level of public attention. The relationship between alcohol and crimes including domestic abuse and violence, underage drinking, robbery, assault and sexual assault is clearly documented.

FACT: 5.3 million adults − 36% of those under correctional supervision at the time − were drinking at the time of their conviction offense

Excessive drinking leads to criminal behavior:

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) estimated that a majority of criminal offenders were under the influence of alcohol alone when they committed their crimes.

Federal research shows that for the 40% of convicted murderers being held in either jail or State prison, alcohol use was a factor in the homicide.

FACT: Alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes today

About 3 million violent crimes occur each year in which victims perceive the offender to have been drinking. Crimes include: rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault. About two-thirds of violent crimes are characterized as simple assaults.

Based on victim reports, alcohol use by the offender was a factor in:

37% of rapes and sexual assaults
15% of robberies
27% of aggravated assaults, and
25% of simple assaults

Statistics showing correlation between alcohol and crime http://ncadd.org/images/stories/PDF/factsheet-alcoholandcrime.pdf

Br. John wrote: http://ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-crime

While drinking and driving has received a great deal of public and media attention, the relationship between alcohol and crime, for both offenders and victims, has not received the same level of public attention. The relationship between alcohol and crimes including domestic abuse and violence, underage drinking, robbery, assault and sexual assault is clearly documented.

FACT: 5.3 million adults − 36% of those under correctional supervision at the time − were drinking at the time of their conviction offense

Excessive drinking leads to criminal behavior:

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) estimated that a majority of criminal offenders were under the influence of alcohol alone when they committed their crimes.

Federal research shows that for the 40% of convicted murderers being held in either jail or State prison, alcohol use was a factor in the homicide.

FACT: Alcohol is a factor in 40% of all violent crimes today

About 3 million violent crimes occur each year in which victims perceive the offender to have been drinking. Crimes include: rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault. About two-thirds of violent crimes are characterized as simple assaults.

Based on victim reports, alcohol use by the offender was a factor in:

37% of rapes and sexual assaults
15% of robberies
27% of aggravated assaults, and
25% of simple assaults

Statistics showing correlation between alcohol and crime http://ncadd.org/images/stories/PDF/factsheet-alcoholandcrime.pdf

Keep history in mind, though. Prohibition made the problem worse. I think we're doing the best we can, as far as alcohol is concerned.

I agree. Prohibition made things much worse. It did for alcohol and it's doing so for marijuana. We need to tax and regulate marijuana like we do wine. It's no longer a matter of if but when.

We've all drifted off topic. This is supposed to be about decriminalization (not legalization) of possession of substances for personal use.