Drug Abuse

Question by Welcome to Amerika Mr. 0rwell !!: How much longer can people who supposedly support “limited govt and personal freedom” support the war on drugs?
I’ve noticed Republicans have started bringing back the limited government rhetoric that focuses on promoting more personal freedom. (Obviously attempting to convince the tea party people they will actually pursue policies like this unlike what they did during the Bush years).

The federal War on Drugs is the epitome of big government wasting money and resources to limit individuals personal freedom (basically attempting to dictate what people should and shouldn’t consume). If it was working that would be one thing, but it is failing in almost every single measurable way (not to mention greatly enriching criminal enterprises like Mexican drug cartels who get over half their annual revenue from marijuana sales in the U.S.).

So would “limited government” people at least be willing to legalize marijuana and possibly decriminalize small amounts of hard drugs?

Portugal’s decriminalization of hard drugs program appears to be working (decrease in addicts across the board):
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

In contrast, the U.S. federal war on drugs is failing in every respect (specifically: it has met ZERO of its goals after 40 years and trillion dollars spent):
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05/13/40-year-war-on-drugs-hasnt-worked-policy-chief-says/

http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress10/perkins050510.htm
Marijuana: Mexico is the number one foreign supplier of marijuana abused in the United States. In fact, according to a 2008 inter-agency report, marijuana is the top revenue generator for Mexican DTOs—a cash crop that finances corruption and the carnage of violence year after year. The profits derived from marijuana trafficking—an industry with minimal overhead costs, controlled entirely by the traffickers—are used not only to finance other drug enterprises by Mexico’s poly-drug cartels, but also to pay recurring “business” expenses, purchase weapons, and bribe corrupt officials. Though the GOM has a robust eradication program, many of the military personnel traditionally assigned to eradicate marijuana and opium poppy have recently been diverted to the offensive against
me……………”Lets legalize rape too because its hard to catch people and it costs so much to put them in jail.”

Raping someone would definitely infringe on that person’s liberties and rights. Smoking in the privacy of your own home would not infringe on anyone else’s liberties or rights. Not the same at all.
@carnage…………”it is about putting society at large at risk of injury and harms way”

So since 400,000 people died as a result of alcohol related incidents last year, you support making it illegal since it is “putting society at large at risk of injury and harms way”?
@Max50…………..”California has spoken the subject and they are not for making weed legal.”

The medical marijuana initiative failed the first time too. Do you honestly believe this won’t be back on the ballot in 2012? I mean it only lost by 8 points. Plus polls show those in favor of legalization has risen considerably in the last 5 years.

Best answer:

Answer by gitrdoneobama
Too many words for Republican voters, the need information in sound bites and talking points. Easier for them to process.

Answer by Shabba
Bilderberg Group

Stop giving yourself too much credit with debate as if you have any influence on the outcome, it’s like talking about the weather, it will just tell you to carry an umbrella but no one ever say i can make it stop raining.

In drug war, Americans support treatment, not prosecution
Still, despite a growing leniency among Americans regarding drug use and the application of drug laws, a strong majority (63 percent) still says drug abuse is a "serious problem" across the country. 31 percent describe it as a "crisis," while only 6 …
Read more on CBS News