Vote Smart.... or die lol
So there's actually a topic she's not decided on. Go figure! lol I do not know how I feel about drug reform. I was reading up on alternative parties (there is more than Democrat and Republican, folks, much more. please look into more than 2 OR 3 parties. I know we all have agendas for this election, but it doesn't hurt to look and read up now if not for this election then at least for the next [presidential and otherwise]. here is a list of ALL the candidates for this presidential election. Oh and I think this is a link that every democrat mad about 2000's election [and trippin over this year's] should read) and..... Actually lemme not be lazy and organizize (yes, orgaNIzize) it.
-Under the Green Party, David Cobb and Pat LaMarche are calling for an end to the "War on Drugs." They want to decriminalize marijuana use and release all individuals currently in jail for marijuana possession. They support marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
-Under the Socialist Party Walt Brown and Mary Alice Herbert support and end to the "War on Drugs" as well. And also call for the decriminalization of marijuana and substance abuse.
-Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo (running independently) call for an end to the "War on Drugs" as well. Ralph states drugs should be legalized and subsequently taxed, regulated, etc Specifically marijuana, which he believes will reduce the use of it.
-Under the Libertarian party, Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna also advocate an end to the "War on Drugs" and are against drug prohibition in general.
-Kerry says education and treatment should be at the forefront of the "War on Drugs."
Honestly, I'm stumped. Alcohol and tobacco are both legal and both kill many people every year. Each year as taxes on tobacco made the price of cigarettes go up, my mother (and every other person I know that smokes) would declare that THAT was the year that She'd/they'd quit. And as you know, lung cancer took Her from me earlier this year. So how was legalization helping Her and the many others who died from something induced by smoking? And a small black market has been created where people on the street sell cigarettes for 1 or 2 bucks less than the stores. Will legalization of drugs really end the black market or just reduce the black market's profits a bit?
As for alcohol, people continue to drive drunk, kids still use fake IDs to get alcohol. I got drunk for the first time at age 15 (or 16). The regulation was not enough to prevent me from continuing to drink long before it was legal for me to do such.
Adversely though, I look at a nation like Holland that has legalized marijuana and hashish (and prostitution, which I believe should be legalized) and the fact that they have less crime and less drug related incidents of death. Yet the dynamics of their country compared to ours are so sharply different that I wonder if that's a fair comparison.
I definitely support the decriminalization of drug use. It's just illogical for you to be treated as a criminal based on your addiction to a substance. When people abuse prescription drugs, they don't do that. They get them help. Not to mention, this only promotes furthering the habit because drugs can be found behind bars. You're not even removing them from the problem. It is only with substance abuse treatment that the addiction will be kicked.
Poll The Issues
I still dunno how I feel about drug reform. How do y'all feel?
-Under the Green Party, David Cobb and Pat LaMarche are calling for an end to the "War on Drugs." They want to decriminalize marijuana use and release all individuals currently in jail for marijuana possession. They support marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
-Under the Socialist Party Walt Brown and Mary Alice Herbert support and end to the "War on Drugs" as well. And also call for the decriminalization of marijuana and substance abuse.
-Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo (running independently) call for an end to the "War on Drugs" as well. Ralph states drugs should be legalized and subsequently taxed, regulated, etc Specifically marijuana, which he believes will reduce the use of it.
-Under the Libertarian party, Michael Badnarik and Richard Campagna also advocate an end to the "War on Drugs" and are against drug prohibition in general.
-Kerry says education and treatment should be at the forefront of the "War on Drugs."
Honestly, I'm stumped. Alcohol and tobacco are both legal and both kill many people every year. Each year as taxes on tobacco made the price of cigarettes go up, my mother (and every other person I know that smokes) would declare that THAT was the year that She'd/they'd quit. And as you know, lung cancer took Her from me earlier this year. So how was legalization helping Her and the many others who died from something induced by smoking? And a small black market has been created where people on the street sell cigarettes for 1 or 2 bucks less than the stores. Will legalization of drugs really end the black market or just reduce the black market's profits a bit?
As for alcohol, people continue to drive drunk, kids still use fake IDs to get alcohol. I got drunk for the first time at age 15 (or 16). The regulation was not enough to prevent me from continuing to drink long before it was legal for me to do such.
Adversely though, I look at a nation like Holland that has legalized marijuana and hashish (and prostitution, which I believe should be legalized) and the fact that they have less crime and less drug related incidents of death. Yet the dynamics of their country compared to ours are so sharply different that I wonder if that's a fair comparison.
I definitely support the decriminalization of drug use. It's just illogical for you to be treated as a criminal based on your addiction to a substance. When people abuse prescription drugs, they don't do that. They get them help. Not to mention, this only promotes furthering the habit because drugs can be found behind bars. You're not even removing them from the problem. It is only with substance abuse treatment that the addiction will be kicked.
Poll The Issues
I still dunno how I feel about drug reform. How do y'all feel?