Aa
Examining the failure of the war on drugs
http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/11/27/examining-the-failure-of-the-war-on-drugs/
Has the U.S. surrendered in the war on drugs? On Tuesday’s show, Alex and the panel discussed a new article in New York Magazine examining how the U.S. is quietly abandoning its “War on Drugs” and entering a new phase of passive acceptance.
The article’s author, Benjamin Wallace-Wells, told Alex that recent efforts to stop the inevitable drift towards legalization are failing. In Washington State–which, along with Colorado, passed laws decriminalizing marijuana on Nov. 6–supporters of legalization spent $6 million while opponents raised a paltry $16,000.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in American life anymore who’s willing to stand up and put a bet on holding the line against marijuana,” Wallace-Wells said.
The legalization movement is unlikely to stop with Colorado and Washington. Now Maine and Rhode Island are positioning themselves to be the next states to legalize recreational marijuana use. Efforts in these states tend to reflect public opinion broadly. According to Gallup, 50% of Americans now support marijuana legalization, a sharp jump from the 31% who supported it in 2001.
The panel also discussed the fact that some Republicans–such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie–are openly acknowledging that the so-called “War on Drugs” was a failure. The show looked at some old footage from 2004, in which then-Senate hopeful Barack Obama declared the “War on Drugs” to be an “utter failure” and said the country needed to “rethink and decriminalize out marijuana laws.”
Has the U.S. surrendered in the war on drugs? On Tuesday’s show, Alex and the panel discussed a new article in New York Magazine examining how the U.S. is quietly abandoning its “War on Drugs” and entering a new phase of passive acceptance.
The article’s author, Benjamin Wallace-Wells, told Alex that recent efforts to stop the inevitable drift towards legalization are failing. In Washington State–which, along with Colorado, passed laws decriminalizing marijuana on Nov. 6–supporters of legalization spent $6 million while opponents raised a paltry $16,000.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in American life anymore who’s willing to stand up and put a bet on holding the line against marijuana,” Wallace-Wells said.
The legalization movement is unlikely to stop with Colorado and Washington. Now Maine and Rhode Island are positioning themselves to be the next states to legalize recreational marijuana use. Efforts in these states tend to reflect public opinion broadly. According to Gallup, 50% of Americans now support marijuana legalization, a sharp jump from the 31% who supported it in 2001.
The panel also discussed the fact that some Republicans–such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie–are openly acknowledging that the so-called “War on Drugs” was a failure. The show looked at some old footage from 2004, in which then-Senate hopeful Barack Obama declared the “War on Drugs” to be an “utter failure” and said the country needed to “rethink and decriminalize out marijuana laws.”
Decriminalization of drugs has not resulted in more people on drugs but less.
http://www.*******.com/group/99198/forums/read/8959585/Drugs_in_Portugal_Did_Decriminalization_work
Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does."
Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well.
http://www.*******.com/group/99198/forums/read/8959585/Drugs_in_Portugal_Did_Decriminalization_work
Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does."
Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well.
Since when did the "War on Drugs" become exclusively about Mary Jane? Mama Coca and Mr. Brownstone are JUST AS BIG now as they ever were, and infinitely more dangerous.
End the War on Marijuana, but not the overall "War on Drugs".
Legalize MJ already, and start concentrating on Rx pain-meds, coke, heroin, meth, ketamine, etc, etc...
End the War on Marijuana, but not the overall "War on Drugs".
Legalize MJ already, and start concentrating on Rx pain-meds, coke, heroin, meth, ketamine, etc, etc...
Yep just what we need more people on drugs. They are illegal for a reason and to be honest the way people are with DWI's and the addiction alchocol holds on people it really should be illegal also, but it's too much a part of our society.
The War on Drugs needs to get tougher not here in America but in Mexico and Columbia and places where cartels hold the chips and think they can do what they want.
Find the fields and burn them with napalm, find the cartels leaders and excute them. Drugs have taken more lives then terrorism has and should be treated like terrorism.
The War on Drugs needs to get tougher not here in America but in Mexico and Columbia and places where cartels hold the chips and think they can do what they want.
Find the fields and burn them with napalm, find the cartels leaders and excute them. Drugs have taken more lives then terrorism has and should be treated like terrorism.
VERY expensive...
I hope this is true.
It's been an expensive waste.
It's been an expensive waste.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
