Cost of the "War on Drugs"

[freethefly 6]

http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

http://www.sentencingproject.org/pdfs/waronmarijuana.pdf#search='cost%20of%20the%20war%20on%20marijuana'

The first link is a cost clock showing how rapidly your tax dollars are being wasted away.
The second is a pdf from the Sentencing Project concerning the cost and outcome of marijuana prohibition.
If you do comment on this thread, please read the file first before doing so. Formulate an informed and intelligent comment.
I would particularly like to see a comment from Billvon. You always seem to be informed and well read.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[billvon 3,120]

>I would particularly like to see a comment from Billvon. You always
>seem to be informed and well read.

I must say I am a bit confused. Australia does not spend enough fighting one drug (alcohol) but the US spends too much fighting others? Do you think that more or less effort should be expended fighting drug abuse? Or are you attempting to show that alcohol is a less desireable drug than some others?

But in general I think the war on drugs is overhyped, and that the effort to stop drugs does almost as much harm as the drugs themselves.

[kelpdiver 2]

there's little doubt that the war on drugs is counterproductive, esp wrt pot. California would do well to legalize and tax their top cash crop. [tobacco] Smokers can't fund every day care and preschool program LA actors can think up.

But yeah - you have some sort of agenda going in trying to prove alcohol is a bigger boogeyman. So cut the subterfuge and get to the point.

[freethefly 6]

It is false priority that I see governments focus on. Why so much is spent one way and very little the opposite. Billions towards marijuana deterrence and only a few million towards alcohol. Neither should be prohibited, yet neither should also not be encouraged. I would rather see an equal amount spent on education of substance and abuse than the floundering of tax dollars to law enforcement and an already heavily laden court system that does little to address a problem. I myself had 7 DWI's and the majority of my past legal problems stemmed from alcohol abuse. The lax attitude of the legal system towards alcohol abuse did nothing to deter me from using. Being educated to the real harm of alcohol abuse did. I normally stay away from where alcohol is being used. I have not been in a bar in more than ten years. In all fairness the government has been running a few anti-alcohol commercials but they will have very little impact much the same as anti-marijuana commercials or the DARE program have virtually no impact (people see through the lie). The focus should not be deterrance from use but to be responsiable for yourself and those who are in your group. Remember the "Friends do not let friends drive drunk" ad? It was a great commercial and people listened to it. It was not propaganda it was truth and people responded to it by way of disignated drivers. Money well spent. As for the "war" on marijuana, all that is shown is that it is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. All false and very few respond to it. Money not well spent. Why is it that a drug (alcohol) that is known to be highly addictive is tolerated while another that is not villified by the government? Effort should be geared towards telling the truth and nothing but the truth and people will respond.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[akarunway 1]

Man. You are like the guy that quits smoking and everyone else has to. Give it up. And by the way. I had 3 DUI's and I know what it CAN do to people. I just don't drink and drive anymore. I still drink tho. Get off your pulpit

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[sfzombie13 324]

it's all about rights here. people are allowed to smoke cigarrettes, drink alcohol, and have sex. it's a fact. also a fact is that all three can kill you, especially the first two. also a fact is that all three can also kill other people. i believe rights should not be abridged for people equally, as long as they harm nobody else while exercising these rights. my line of thinking says it's ok to smoke pot, or any ofthe other things i mentioned until you hurt someone else. dui and you kill someone? perp gets shot behind the car at the scene, no need for a jury, the cop just pulled the guy from the car. a couple of reports like that and you will see far less news of innocent people getting killed by idiots who can't control themselves.

_________________________________________
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes

[freethefly 6]

Quote

Man. You are like the guy that quits smoking and everyone else has to. Give it up. And by the way. I had 3 DUI's and I know what it CAN do to people. I just don't drink and drive anymore. I still drink tho. Get off your pulpit

I never said everyone should quit. Drink what you want. I have a beer every once in a great while. What I am talking about is the amount of money that is insanely spent one way and the very little that is spent the other way. On one side the government will spend BILLIONS to eradicate a plant that has never caused one death and on the other side spend but a few millions to deter alcohol abuse. What is the reason for this? Why is it that society in general just shrugs its shoulders to all the needless deaths each year due to alcohol abuse and then jump up and down screaming when they hear of someone smoking a joint? It is true that some states are taking a tougher stand on drunk driving. Here in Missouri a second DWI will now land you in prison for up to 5 years a third can get you 10 years. But this will do little to deter abuse. They have enacted these laws but still do not actively promote responsiable use. As with the billions spent on marijuana eradication there has not been any decline in its use. Why do you suppose that is? At what point will society say "enough is enough"? In no way am I saying that people should use any drug nor am I saying that people should not. You can shoot heroin for all I care, as long as you're not harming anyone. It's your body, do what you please with it. I do wish to hear what people think of the insanely amount of money spent on the "war on drugs" and the little amount spent to deter alcohol abuse.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[warpedskydiver 0]

Quote

it's all about rights here. people are allowed to smoke cigarrettes, drink alcohol, and have sex. it's a fact. also a fact is that all three can kill you, especially the first two. also a fact is that all three can also kill other people. i believe rights should not be abridged for people equally, as long as they harm nobody else while exercising these rights. my line of thinking says it's ok to smoke pot, or any ofthe other things i mentioned until you hurt someone else. dui and you kill someone? perp gets shot behind the car at the scene, no need for a jury, the cop just pulled the guy from the car. a couple of reports like that and you will see far less news of innocent people getting killed by idiots who can't control themselves.

it's all about the MONEY

the government wants all of it...

if there were no drug laws that would cause billions to go out of their pockets

Industrialists would have to admit their products are inferior to natural substances and that would affect their MONEY

Also the people of the US are so used to being bullshitted they actually belive it.

I had a female friend who once said "if marijuana makes you grow breasts why did I have to get implants?"

[sfzombie13 324]

if yo assume the equation that i like to use: power=control=money, for govt then i agree with your statement. if you asked a cop weather he would rather raid a home with a bunch of potheads high, or drunks, he'll always choose the potheads. this country is going way too far with it's suppression of our rights and it's time we did something about it. i have a 2 point plan to take care of the whole problem, but since it is a little radical, will only pm it to anyone who asks. an interesting tidbit: it does not involve a revolution. although that would probably be a little easier to get started. remember washington, jefferson, and the rest were considered criminals and outlaws until they won. we need to remember what it was they were rebelling from and return to the spirit of their will for the nation.

_________________________________________
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes

[AdD 1]

"Well we're winnin the war on drugs
ya we're winnin the war on drugs.
Praise the lord and pass the bong
we're winnin the war on drugs.
You hide em in your closet,
grow em off the bud.
Put your hands against the car
we're winning the war on drugs"

"If these things are illegal,
then God made a mistake"

- Wammo

Life is ez
On the dz
Every jumper's dream
3 rigs and an airstream