Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

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24 Mar 2016 19:11 #235501 by Br. John

Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further was created by Br. John

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/24/top-medical-experts-say-we-should-decriminalize-all-drugs-and-maybe-go-even-further/

Best read at link above.

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24 Mar 2016 19:42 #235502 by

Replied by on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

While I do not personally agree with the use of recreational drugs (I even limit my caffeine intake to a soda or two every few weeks and I don't drink alcohol) I do believe that the current policies on drugs are wasting government time, tax money, and jail space. We would be better off legalizing them and taxing them. Then instead of spending tax money on catching and holding drug related criminals we could be making tax money on them.

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24 Mar 2016 21:25 #235511 by rugadd

Replied by rugadd on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

While I personally agree with the use of recreational drugs (I even enjoy caffeine intake through a coffee or two every morning and I do drink alcohol) I also believe that the current policies on drugs are wasting government time, tax money, and jail space. We would be better off legalizing them and taxing them. Then instead of spending tax money on catching and holding drug related criminals we could be making tax money on them.

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24 Mar 2016 21:35 - 24 Mar 2016 21:37 #235512 by Wescli Wardest

Replied by Wescli Wardest on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

Warning: Spoiler!

A group of 22 medical experts convened by Johns Hopkins University and The Lancet have called today for the decriminalization of all nonviolent drug use and possession. Citing a growing scientific consensus on the failures of the global war on drugs, the experts further encourage countries and U.S. states to "move gradually toward regulated drug markets and apply the scientific method to their assessment."

Their report comes ahead of a special UN General Assembly Session on drugs

Warning: Spoiler!

Organizational arrangements for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem

1. The General Assembly will convene a special session on the world drug problem from 19 to 21 April 2016 at UN Headquarters in New York, in accordance with its resolutions 67/193 of 20 December 2012, 69/200 of 18 December 2014 and 70/181 of 17 December 2015.

2. The General Assembly, in paragraph 3 (f) of resolution 70/181, decided that the special session shall consist of a general debate and interactive multi-stakeholder round tables conducted in parallel with the plenary.

Participation

3. Participation in the special session will be in accordance with paragraphs 11 and 12 of resolution 69/200 and paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 of resolution 70/181.

4. The special session will be attended by several Heads of State and Government and will have a significant level of ministerial participation. Convocation letters for the special session have been sent by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Member States, Observer States, Observers, heads of the principal organs of the United Nations and the heads of the specialized agencies of the United Nations.

5. In accordance with paragraph 3(d) of resolution 70/181, the list of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, who pre-registered to participate in the special session, will be circulated to Member States for their information.

6. In accordance with paragraph 3(e) of resolution 70/181, the list of representatives of relevant non-governmental organizations, representatives of civil society and the scientific community, academia, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders that may participate in the special session, will be submitted to Member States for their consideration. The final list will then be transmitted to Member States.

7. Pursuant to the provisions mentioned in paragraphs 5 and 6, registration is now open for representatives of organizations actively working on drug-related matters from non-governmental organizations, civil society, the scientific and academic communities, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders. Organizations wishing to attend the special session have been informed of the need to register by applying through the following website: http://bit.ly/UNGASS-2016. Applications for general registration are being accepted from 1 February – 28 March 2016.

8. In addition, pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 70/181, Member States, Observer States and Observers are encouraged to consider the possible participation of youth representatives at the special session.

Programme of the High-level Meeting

9. The special session will comprise plenary meetings and five interactive multi-stakeholder round tables. Additional explanatory details are provided below.

Plenary meetings

10. In accordance with paragraph 3(b) of resolution 70/181, the opening plenary meeting of the special session scheduled on 19 April 2016 at 10 a.m. will feature statements by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Chair of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the President of the International Narcotics Control Board and the Director-General of the World Health Organization.

11. The formal plenary meetings are scheduled on 19, 20 and 21 April 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. To enable maximum participation within the limited time available, statements in the plenary meetings should not exceed three minutes when speaking in the national capacity and five minutes when speaking on behalf of a group. A list of speakers is open for inscription at the General Assembly Affairs Branch (room S-3082. tel. (212) 963-5063; fax. (212) 963-3783; or email: poliakova[at]un.org).

12. Speaking order will follow the customary protocol order. Accordingly, precedence will be accorded to representatives at the Heads of State or Government and Ministerial levels.

13. The closing plenary meeting in the afternoon of 21 April 2016 will feature the Co-chairs’ summaries of the salient points of the interactive multi-stakeholder round tables and concluding remarks by the President of the General Assembly.

Documentation, statements and interpretation

14. At the special session of the General Assembly, hard copies of documents will be available at the documents distribution counters located inside the General Assembly Hall. For the roundtables taking place in conference room 4, hard copies of documents will be available at the documents booth in the conference room.

15. Delegations are requested to provide 30 copies of their statements, to be submitted by a delegation representative to the receiving area at the documentation desk located at the rear of the General Assembly Hall between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. for distribution to the various conference services. The delegation representative should be in possession of a valid United Nations grounds pass. Access will be at the 46th Street gate, through the screening area, utilizing the West side elevators in the lobby of the General Assembly Building to the second floor, where a representative of the Secretariat will accept the texts at a designated counter. The texts of the speeches will be accepted only on the day they are to be given.

16. Additionally, delegations are invited to submit PDF formatted versions of their statements via e-mail to papersmart[at]un.org. Delegations wishing to circulate their statements electronically through the PaperSmart portal should provide them not later than two hours in advance of delivery to papersmart[at]un.org. Alternatively, delegations can bring a hard copy (unstapled and printed single-sided), for scanning and uploading, to the PaperSmart portal at the documents distribution counter located inside the General Assembly Hall or at the conference officers’ desk in conference room 4. The name of the meeting and the agenda item should be indicated in the subject line of the e‑mail and in the heading of the statement. The statements will remain embargoed until their delivery and then posted. Only statements presented during the course of the meeting will be posted.

17. Statements made in any of the six official languages of the General Assembly are interpreted into the other official languages. Any speaker may also make a statement in a language other than the official languages. In such cases, in accordance with rule 53 of the rules of procedure of the Assembly, the delegation in question must provide either an interpreter from the non-official language into an official language, or a written text of the statement in one of the official languages to be read out by a United Nations interpreter. On the basis of this interpretation or the written text which is accepted by the Secretariat as representing the official text of the statement, it will be interpreted into the other official languages by United Nations interpreters. When a written text is provided, the delegation concerned should make available to the interpreter someone who knows the language in which the statement is to be delivered and the official language into which it has been translated, to guide the interpreter through the translated text and to ensure synchronization between the speaker and the interpreter. Detailed arrangements for interpretation from non-official languages, including access by non-United Nations interpreters to the interpreter booths in the General Assembly Hall, must be made in advance through the Meetings Management Section (telephone: 212 963 8114; e‑mail: emeetsm[at]un.org). The interpreter or the guide provided by the delegation should be brought by the delegation to the conference officers’ desk in front of the General Assembly Hall 30 minutes prior to the delivery of the statement.

Interactive multi-stakeholder round tables

18. By its resolution 70/181, the General Assembly decided that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the entity leading the preparations for the special session, shall address in an open-ended manner, supported and guided by the President of the General Assembly, the organizational arrangements for the roundtables. In line with that mandate, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, by its decision 58/16 of 11 December 2015, elaborated on logistical provisions for the roundtables.

19. The five interactive multi-stakeholder round tables will be held in Conference Room 4 on 19 April, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on 20 April, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on 21 April, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

20. The roundtables will provide an opportunity to have in-depth discussions on the themes identified in resolution 70/181. To promote interactive, free-flowing discussions, participants will be invited to make very brief remarks, not to exceed three minutes, to raise questions and to respond to other speakers.

21. Each roundtable will be presided over by two Co-chairs and will consist of a panel composed of five panellists, nominated by the regional groups and one panellist nominated by the civil society task force for the special session, as well as up to two speakers from the entities of the United Nations system. Background papers for each roundtables are being prepared by the Secretariat and will be posted on the website of the special session as well as the website of the President of the General Assembly. The final list of panellists and other speakers will be circulated by the President of the General Assembly and made available on the website of the President.

22. The roundtables are open to States Members of the United Nations, as well as observer States and observers, including relevant international organizations with observer status and entities of the United Nations system, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations, representatives of civil society and the scientific community, academia, youth groups and other relevant stakeholders participating in the special session. As the interactive multi-stakeholder roundtables will be held in Conference Room 4, access to the roundtables will be limited to 2 per Member State.

23. In order to promote interactive and substantive discussions; participation in the roundtables will be conducted without a list of speakers. However, Member States, Observer States and Observers are encouraged to inform the General Assembly Affairs Branch (room IS 3082. tel. (212) 963-5063; fax. (212) 963-3783; or email: poliakova[at]un.org) in which roundtables they wish to intervene.

24. As previously mentioned, pursuant to paragraph 3(g) of resolution 70/181, the Co-chairs of the interactive multi-stakeholder round tables will present summaries of the salient points of the roundtables at the closing plenary meeting.

25. The Co-Chairs of each roundtable will comprise a member of the Board tasked by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs with preparations for the special session and a representative from a different regional group. The President of the General Assembly conveyed to all regional groups by letter dated 19 February 2016 a request for nominations for the Co-Chair of each panel to be nominated by those groups. Regional groups are urged to convey the identity of the Co-Chairs to the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

Webcast

26. The plenary meetings and the interactive multi-stakeholder round tables will be transmitted via live webcast.

Accreditation of Delegations

27. Accreditation of official delegations and members of the parties of Heads of State or Government, Vice-Presidents and Crown Princes or Princesses will be carried out by the Protocol and Liaison Service. Missions/offices are required to submit their accreditation requests by using the existing online system “eAccreditation”, available through the eDelegate Portal at https://delegate.un.int. Delegations wishing to obtain information on the system may refer to the updated “Guidelines on eAccreditation” and “Frequently Asked Questions” posted on the Protocol website at www.un.int/protocol. It is to be noted that all accreditation requests, including requests for VIP passes, must be submitted via the eAccreditation system.

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29. The working hours of the accreditation unit (telephone: 212 963 7181) in the Protocol and Liaison Service in the days prior to and during the Special Session are posted on the Protocol and Liaison Service website and at the entry to the Protocol Office.

Access to the General Assembly Hall

30. Members of delegations will have access to the General Assembly Building via the Delegates’ Entrance. Access cards will not be required for the plenary meetings taking place at the General Assembly Hall, however, members of delegations are reminded that each Member State will be limited to six seats. Each intergovernmental organization will be allocated two seats and each specialized agency will be allocated one seat. All other delegation members wishing to follow the proceedings of the meetings may be accommodated at the third floor Gallery on a first come first served basis.

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32. Escorted motorcades and vehicles of Permanent Representatives will be allowed to enter the United Nations premises at the 43rd Street and 1st Avenue vehicular entrance, drop off their passengers at the Delegates’ Entrance, and then exit through the 45th Street and 1st Avenue gate. All escorted motorcades will be coordinated by the Host Country in conjunction with United Nations Security and Safety Service personnel.

Side-Events

33. Side events will take place on the day preceding the special session on 18 April 2016, as well as during the special session, from 19 to 21 April 2016. Participants attending side events during this period must complete the necessary accreditation procedures, including for 18 April 2016.

34. Additional information is posted on the website of the special session: http://www.unodc.org/ungass2016/en/side_events1.html.

Media arrangements

35. All members of the media accompanying Heads of State/Government or Heads of Delegation, including official photo/video, must submit a letter of assignment from the Permanent Mission concerned. The letter listing the names of the media representatives with their functional titles and affiliation, should be sent to the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, Department of Public Information, fax: 212-963-4642 or email: malu[at]un.org. First time applicants must create an online account: http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/form/

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37. All media representatives will be required to present a valid United Nations grounds pass to the United Nations security officers at the gate.

38. Members of the media need to be escorted to the media booths from the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit office (S-250) or liaison desks. For some meetings, tickets to the gallery will be available for print press, on a first-come first-served basis.

http://www.unodc.org/ungass2016/index.html

to be held next month, where the world's countries will re-evaluate the past half-century of drug policy and, in the hope of many experts, chart a more public health-centered approach going forward.

In a lengthy review of the state of global drug policy, the Hopkins-Lancet experts conclude that the prohibitionist anti-drug policies of the past 50 years "directly and indirectly contribute to lethal violence, disease, discrimination, forced displacement, injustice and the undermining of people’s right to health." They cite, among other things:
•A "striking increase" in homicide in Mexico since the government decided to militarize its response to the drug trade in 2006. The increase has been so great that experts have had to revise life expectancy downward in that country;
•The "excessive use" of incarceration as a drug control measure, which the experts identify as the "biggest contribution" to higher rates of HIV and Hepatitis C infection among drug users;
•Stark racial disparities in drug law enforcement, particularly in the United States;
•And human rights violations arising from excessively punitive drug control measures, including an increase in the torture and abuse of drug prisoners in places like Mexico.

"The goal of prohibiting all use, possession, production and trafficking of illicit drugs is the basis of many of our national drug laws, but these policies are based on ideas about drug use and drug dependence that are not scientifically grounded," said Commissioner Dr. Chris Beyrer of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a statement.

For instance, the last time the UN held a special session on drugs, in 1998, it set itself the goal of a "drug-free world" by 2008. The Hopkins-Lancet commissioners also fault UN drug regulators for failing to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse. "The idea that all drug use is dangerous and evil has led to enforcement-heavy policies and has made it difficult to see potentially dangerous drugs in the same light as potentially dangerous foods, tobacco and alcohol, for which the goal of social policy is to reduce potential harms," they write.

The commissioners cite research showing that "of an estimated 246 million people who used an illicit drug in the past year, 27 million (around 11%) experienced problem drug use, which was defined as drug dependence or drug-use disorders."

"The idea that all drug use is necessarily 'abuse' means that immediate and complete abstinence has been seen as the only acceptable approach," commissioner Adeeba Kamarulzaman, a professor at the University of Malaya, said in a statement. But, she added, "continued criminalization of drug use fuels HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis transmission within prisons and the community at large. There is another way. Programmes and policies aimed at reducing harm should be central to future drug policies."

The commissioners point to successes in drug decriminalization experiments in places like Portugal, where drug use rates have fallen, overdose deaths are rare and new HIV infections among drug users have plummeted. They recommend that other countries adopt a similar approach.

And beyond decriminalization, the commissioners recommend experimenting with the full legalization and regulation of certain types of drug use, as several U.S. states have done with marijuana.

"Although regulated legal drug markets are not politically possible in the short term in some places, the harms of criminal markets and other consequences of prohibition catalogued in this Commission will probably lead more countries (and more U.S. states) to move gradually in that direction—a direction we endorse," they write.

Other countries, particularly in Latin America, are already looking toward U.S. marijuana legalization experiments as a blueprint for how they might move away from overly punitive drug laws. But one challenge toward adopting a less stringent drug policy has always been the massive UN drug control treaties, which are now decades-old and which experts say reflect outdated and even harmful ways of thinking about drug use.

Reformers are hoping that the upcoming General Assembly Special Session on drugs will mark a turning point in the drug war. But getting nearly 200 countries to agree on any change in direction will be a challenge. And early indications appear to be that negotiators are setting their sights low.

A draft document of the resolution to be discussed at the special session reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the goals and objectives of the three international drug control conventions" -- the same conventions criticized in the Hopkins-Lancet report. And it calls on countries to "actively promote a society free of drug abuse," echoing the language of the failed drug control goals of the 1990s.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/24/top-medical-experts-say-we-should-decriminalize-all-drugs-and-maybe-go-even-further/

With a title like that, of course I would love to know where it comes from. So I looked in to it.

With medical experts coming to this conclusion, I wonder if there may be an underlying motivation. The reason I wonder is; they are not citing medical reasons to decriminalize nonviolent drugs. The argument seems to be based on, “the failures of the global war on drugs” and the impact that war has had on societal outcomes.

The "excessive use" of incarceration as a drug control measure, which the experts identify as the "biggest contribution" to higher rates of HIV and Hepatitis C infection among drug users

Is the only medical reason I noticed being given as to why the current drug policy is not good for general social health. Other than that, I don’t see medical reasons being cited by medical experts on why drug use should be legal.

If a law enforcement agency came out and said, "hey guys this war on drugs thing has really been just a waste of time. We’re really doing more harm than good and it hasn’t had any of the results we hoped for.” Then I could see many of these reasons being appropriate. But to me, this is like a policy officer coming out and saying, “Yah I think crack, although it’s bad, is a good diet supplement for loosing weight.” It may be!?!? I’m not a doctor. I’m also not in law enforcement.

This also causes me to ask, what benefit would the medical profession gain from the decriminalization of nonviolent drugs? And what are “nonviolent” drugs? Are they drugs that don’t attack you in your sleep?

Just being silly.

With regulation, the government would then make money off drug use. And who would supply those drugs? Farmers in some obscure location, in a back yard or basement? No, no, no… the medical, or better said, the pharmaceutical industry.

Is drug use bad? That is for you to decide for yourself. But don’t be fooled by people’s smooth approaches and well-rehearsed lines. This is all still part of the “war on drugs.” But now, we have politicians, industry and whoever else can profit from it joining in the fight to get their “fair share.”
[hr]
Br. John beat me to it. I was still trying to get it all together when he posted. But I put too much work in to it not to use it.

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Last edit: 24 Mar 2016 21:37 by Wescli Wardest.

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24 Mar 2016 21:45 #235513 by Br. John

Replied by Br. John on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

Welcome To Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

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24 Mar 2016 21:46 #235514 by rugadd

Replied by rugadd on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

If you want to effect real change...make it prosperous.

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24 Mar 2016 21:46 #235515 by

Replied by on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

Wescli Wardest wrote: ...With medical experts coming to this conclusion, I wonder if there may be an underlying motivation. The reason I wonder is; they are not citing medical reasons to decriminalize nonviolent drugs...

...I don’t see medical reasons being cited by medical experts on why drug use should be legal...

...If a law enforcement agency came out and said, "hey guys this war on drugs thing has really been just a waste of time. We’re really doing more harm than good and it hasn’t had any of the results we hoped for.” Then I could see many of these reasons being appropriate....

...This also causes me to ask, what benefit would the medical profession gain from the decriminalization of nonviolent drugs?...

...With regulation, the government would then make money off drug use. And who would supply those drugs? Farmers in some obscure location, in a back yard or basement? No, no, no… the medical, or better said, the pharmaceutical industry...

...Is drug use bad? That is for you to decide for yourself. But don’t be fooled by people’s smooth approaches and well-rehearsed lines. This is all still part of the “war on drugs.” But now, we have politicians, industry and whoever else can profit from it joining in the fight to get their “fair share.”

And Wescli hits the nail right on the head.

I didn't feel like hitting the 'thank you' button was enough this time.

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24 Mar 2016 21:55 - 24 Mar 2016 22:19 #235518 by OB1Shinobi

Replied by OB1Shinobi on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

afaik, the consensus among medical professionals is that addiction itself is, foremost, a medical issue, and should be dealt with at the medical level because of that fact alone

many of the greatest risks of drug abuse are clearly medical in nature: there are medical dangers associated with their use

in a lot of places, health care workers are required to report abuse or use of illegal drugs to the authorities

which means that people dont tell their doctors and in some cases just wont go to a doctor at all, which facilitates all kinds of developing medical issues and complications as time goes on

in many places it is difficult for those who use needles to get new ones

so they share when they "have to"

which spreads several diseases, hep-c being very common among "shooters" and hiv also being a big problem

in many cases, once the addiction becomes a full fledged physiological dependence, it can dangerous to go through the withdrawals

medical professionals have ways of dealing with this, but your average "wet brain" alcoholic or "junkie" doesnt have the knowledge or the resources to handle "kicking"

i understand that alcohol is legal, i include it because it is easy, i think, for people to grasp that alcoholics should not be put behind bars for having an addiction

those are the first MEDICAL arguments to come to my mind

People are complicated.

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24 Mar 2016 23:40 - 24 Mar 2016 23:41 #235528 by

Replied by on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

There are lots of functioning drug users who are educated, professional and upstanding people. As long as someone has self control, or is not necessarily negatively affecting those around them or the environment while under the influence I think it is their choice and are free to make that choice.

Legal and regulated drugs kill more people than all illegal drugs combined. The illegal drugs I worry about are cocaine, heroin, meth for starters.

When I was in high school everyone was doing coke at parties, I watched people turn into zombies and get strung out, so sickly addicted that they would beg people for it or do things to get the money to buy it, and nearly die using so much of it. Mostly because it wasn't totally pure cocaine, say if cocaine was made legal and pharmaceutical grade cocaine was made available and regulated, the problems wouldn't be so bad because supposedly a lot of that nasty behavior and the craving to get high comes from what they add to it to sell on the streets. People wouldn't need to smoke it or do all the other craziness to chase the dragon.

I moved away from my home town but have heard many stories now of heroin getting popular with high schoolers, they're dropping like flies.... like at least 10 overdoses in the last few years all kids, my friends little sister, my friends cousin, someone I knew sold to some people and two died now that person is in prison. They get strung out on that, then the doctors welcome them with open arms with the methadone, seboxin, or whatever the hell the latest is which ends up being worse and more debilitating than the street stuff. They say as soon as the US went into Afghanistan opium production increased, the US backed the Afghan guy who's brother was in charge of all that and then all of a sudden heroin makes a huge comeback in the American streets. It's a big game just like how the alphabet boys brought in the cocaine in the 80s, this time it feeds people right to the prison system and big pharma cartels so it's win-win for everyone except the person using it. So legalizing heroin, it's already pretty much done and it's absolutely horrible.

Meth, well I moved to northern CA where it's prevalent you see it in the faces of people walking the streets of Eureka, we call it Euretweaka. So many homeless people, vagrants, committing all sorts of crimes to feed their habits and just generally causing dysfunction and destruction throughout the entire community. A lot of these people seem lost, their cognitiive abilities gone, literal walking zombies. It's not that the criminalization of meth is the main problem, it's that meth itself is a problem and the people who make the choice to use it are..... yeah. So let's see, sure let the medical mafia push meth to these people, as it stands right now there are programs offered for these people to deal with addiction and such just like for any other addiction. It's not that they should be locked up for using meth, they should be locked up or put on a special reservation for the things they do while under the influence of it.

There's that new 'spice' legal drug I read about the other day that's messing people up, and you hear of that bath salts stuff or whatever it is that makes people skin fall off. Cannabis isn't a problem in comparison and I know some old people who work their butts off doing labor and they need pharmaceutical stimulants to keep them going, or yes they need some painkillers for all the work they've done their entire life, or some of the most wonderful artists and musicians who use hallucinogens But top medical experts aren't even schooled in nutrition, only know about which symptoms and diseases relate to which drugs, and will recommend things like chemotherapy so their opinions don't mean much to me. :lol:

In the end yes it's a medical problem not so much a criminal one, drugs should be decriminalized and users should be treated as patients not criminals. If it were open and accepted that people either just enjoy what they are doing and aren't causing a problem so leave them alone, or that the people who have a problem should be accepted and taken care of versus thrown in the system, there wouldn't be the same level of destruction associated with drug use. The problem is the drug war was created so that certain people could keep their jobs, and it's grown into a huge police state prison industrial complex system, so while the budgets go off the charts and the prisons get even more crowded they'll just tell us it's "too big to fail" and vacuum more tax money from the plebs to keep it going just like everything else because that system is useful to track, trace and database everyone to keep control of the herd.

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24 Mar 2016 23:41 #235529 by Br. John

Replied by Br. John on topic Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs and maybe go even further

Two medical reasons they mentioned are homicide (generally not good for your health) and being incarcerated. There may be someone somewhere who's mental and physical condition was improved by being in jail. But for most people it tends to have a bad effect on their health physically, mentally or both. And that's not counting the well-being of their families.

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