What should we do about the drug war?

[Fixated]

[LeftofU]

1. Stop now and empty the prisons.....n\t

[Fixated]

2. ...

I never smile more than when I see "No more prisons" written on city sidewalks. I don't know why, it just makes me happy.

[terrya]

3. Declare victory and legalize everything.

Enough is enough. If people want to get access to drugs, they'll do it. Period.

The lessons of Prohibition are still pertinent today.

If we license and regulate drugs, then they're taken out of gangs. Gang activity will decrease as a result.

Plus, the government can tax drugs. A source of revenue. AND the taxpayers save billions of dollars on this utterly futile "War on Drugs".

Surely, our police have more important things to do than arrest people for marijuana possession.

[wegottem]

5. AMEN

Its too bad this can't get through to the sob sisters. Thats sob as in cry baby.

[arewethereyet]

8. Declare defeat and legaliize everything

Gangs and the rest of organized crime will be seperated from their source of income and wither, you gain a massive new tax base, you clear prisons for the violent offenders that need to be there forever and have the money back from enforcement that can be either eliminated from the budget and need for taxation or use it more productively.

Doesn't get any better than that ! Right ?

Only one problem. The USofA is the largest player in the international drug game.

Oops...

[RealityDose]

9. Tell it to a Republican

Some dumbazz said that he said the leaglization is bad, and that his tax money would go towards treatment - what a waste of money. Somebody needs to let him know that incarceration is a little more costly than treatment & healthcare.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi RealityDose!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DrWeird]

4. how are #1 and #5 exclusive?

I'm sick and tired of people suggesting that because I smoke and enjoy marijuana that I am stupid, forgetful, and am only against the drugwar for personal gain.

[Fixated]

7. ...

Well, as this poll's creator I can tell you they essentially mean the same thing. It was a joke. I smoke pot plenty.

[DrWeird]

10. Nah, not you, I always get the joke.

It's just there's always some joker that comes along in these threads spreading all the stereotypes about stoners he learned in DARE/Hitler Youth class. And of course the whole ending of the drug war campaign is played off as just a bunch of stupid stoners who want to get high.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. Nixon declared a war on drugs, we need to end it

Marijuana should be legal, regulated like alcohol. Drug users and especially drug addicts should not go to prison, which just adds to the problem. Cocaine and heroin are too addictive and too dangerous not to be tightly controlled - heroin addict are extremely ill and a danger to themselves and others, and have to be dealt with medically but probably involuntarily. Make no mistake they are a theat to society.

The ruthless drug gangs that sell heroin and cocaine are a real threat. Legalizing heroin and cocaine distribution would just advance the market from gangsterism to corporatism, which would confine the violence to places like Colombia and Afghanistan, instead of in our cities, but imagine heroin and cocaine being sold like cigarettes, within easy reach of addicts and at an affordable price with a billion dollar ad campaign. A distater just waiting to happen - I wonder about George Soros' long time financing of drug legalization sometimes.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[arewethereyet]

12. the only point I would make is this

legal status seems to have no bearing on the will of junkies to obtains narcotics. If they want help, give it to them. Most don't and choose to go on with their dreary lives as is. I really just want to pull the pinnings out from organized crime. Imagine all the little kids who won't have to reconcile the concept of working for a modest living honestly against making a princely living off the misery of others and ending up dead for their effort.

Its a no brainer to me.

[Terwilliger]

11. kick

[Abe Linkman]

13. Legalize Freedom

Open the prisons, issue pardons and reparations to all those who were locked up for something they ingested.

Dismantle the DEA and all Narcotic departments nationwide.

No more wealth transfers to the police/prison industrial complex.

Legalize ALL victimless crimes.

[arewethereyet]

15. so long as its actually a victimless crime

not all prostitutes are voluntary

[OneTwentyoNine]

14. Make Limbaugh the main spokesperson........n/t

....

[Fixated]

16. kick

n/t

[kentuck]

18. Surrender.

Pop the top on a cold Bud, roll up a joint, put on some good old blues, sit back in your favorite TV chair, turn on TV with sound down, get a bag of chips and some quacamole, and celebrate the end of a totally useless and destructive war from the beginning.