A new study is out by the JFA Institute, a Washington DC criminal justice think tank.
“The report states, “[V]iolence that surrounds drug trafficking in the United States is largely absent” in Western European countries that have liberalized their drug possession policies. The authors further note that the decriminalization of drugs, particularly marijuana, in regions that have enacted such reforms has not been associated with an increase in crime rates.
The report speculates that decriminalizing illicit drugs, along with enacting modest reforms in sentencing and parole, would save taxpayers an estimated $20 billion per year and reduce the prison population from 1.5 million to below 700,000.”
It is still crazy to me that it is a crime for someone to smoke marijuana. Marijuana is no worse for people than tobacco or alcohol and yet for some reason the U.S. Government would rather let pot fuel organized crime than tax it and allow it to be sold at the corner liquor store.
Some of this may be due to the fact that older generations of voters who never experimented with marijuana and powerful alcohol and tobacco lobbies oppose decriminalization — but I’ve got to believe that at some point as aging voters continue to die off and are replaced in the AARP with baby boomers that the voters in this country will eventually realize that we’d be better off decriminalizing pot. The stigma with marijuana use/experimentation is going away. First Bill Clinton smoked it but didn’t inhale. Now Obama smoked it and actually did inhale.
It’s even worse that many times, being busted with marijuana can get you more jail time than more serious crimes.
It just seems like there is some archaic stigma attached to it scares so many of the older generations.
The worst side effect of the demonization of pot is this: Once kids figure out the authority figures are lying about how dangerous pot is, they assume they’re lying about other drugs too.
By the time they understand they were more-or-less told the truth about the evils of coke, crystal and heroin they’re already addicts.
All I can say is, remember prohibition? Al Capone? The gangsters? All of that? Because the government banned alcohol. As soon as the 21st Amendment was passed and prohibition was repealed, all the gang violence that revolved around liquor started to die out, and the government found a new product they could tax to death.
The same thing would happen today if they’d legalise marijuana. I have no interest in the stuff myself (though I wouldn’t mind trying it) but if you want to use it, you should be able to.
I’d be cautious before applauding this report. According to Reuters, not normally considered a conservative news source, “[the report] was funded by the Rosenbaum Foundation and by financier and political activist George Soros’ Open Society Institute.”
This means simply that there was an agenda behind the report. The information becomes suspect – as suspect as a report against Global Warming funded by Big Oil.
Meanwhile, research on the medicinal properties of Marijuana goes forward around the world. Even today the internet is buzzing with the news that a compound in Marijuana has been found helpful to fight breast cancer. In time, the positive aspects of this plant will be harnessed and utilized safely without the dangerous side-effects of the current forms of usage. (Despite consensus here in the comments section, there are dangers to marijuana usage. I personally know people affected by the memory-loss problem from extended usage)
~Douglas
☆ The Splintered Mind – Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude
Biggest issue for me is in western countries where the gov. pays for the health care, they will need to start paying up for all the people who take up smoking weed and suffer healthwise and usage will def. rise if it is legal.
This could potentially cost tax payers more as well as having an overall less healthier society.
Why isn’t alcohol and tobacco illegal? It would be if they were “discovered” in recent decades, but tradition has gotten in the way. Tobacco is being more and more rejected by society, eventually I reckon it will be illegal because its negative effects are so visible – with alcohol its harder because its negative effects “wear off” to some extent so it isn’t seen as bad.
Interesting points, Hitesh. I find it humorously ironic that while the pro-marijuana movement is picking up steam the anti-smoking movement is steamrolling forward across the US. The issues for decriminalizing marijuana may be moot by the time the anti-smokers get finished.
Smoking as a vector of delivery is not really going to be supported going forward because of the health issues you menion. That’s why I feel that the future of medicinal usage of Marijuana lies within the pharmaceutical industry where they can extract the healing elements from marijuana.
As for recreational usage, I don’t really believe that older generations are holding that up. Newer generations are against marijuana’s health risks as well.
~Douglas
☆ The Splintered Mind – Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude
So wait a second, are you saying it’s OK to smoke marijuana. This is a drug, why legalize it?
I do not teach my children to emulate what Bill Clinton did/does. There are positive role models; he is not one.
Your argument would be more persuasive without citing Clinton.
Your argument would be more persuasive without citing Clinton.
Bob my point in citing Clinton was not that he should be considered a role model, but to point out that probably for the first time acknowledging marijuana use was not a barrier to being elected to the U.S.’s highest office.
This speaks to a cultural shift with voters regarding marijuana useage. Candidates are realizing that marijuana useage is not the deal killer that it used to be.
Everyone will suffer pain at some point in their lives. Grim as this may sound, some pain is necessary – it is a signal of our brain that something is wrong in our body, what we need in order to protect our health and well-being. Pain relief medications will stop your pain.
Celebrex medicine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs, which relieves pain and inflammation (swelling). It is used to treat pain, swelling and stiffness due to arthritis. This drug works by blocking the enzyme in your body that makes prostaglandins. Reducing prostaglandin helps to reduce pain and swelling.
Fioricet pain relief drug is a sedative and pain reliever. It is used to relieve pain from mild to moderate and tension headaches.Tell your doctor your medical history, in particular: severe liver disease, alcohol or drug dependence, emotional / mental conditions, diseases of the heart (arrhythmia, recent MI), stomach / intestine ulcers, any allergies.
Imitrex pain relief drug is used for treatment of migraine and headache with or without aura (for example, flashing lights, wavy lines, dark spots). It is also used to treat headaches cluster. Imitrex is a serotonin 5-HT agonist 1receptor ( “triptans”). It works by restricting the blood vessels in the brain, which helps to alleviate migraine headaches and cluster.
Maxalt pain relief drug is used for treatment of acute migraine headache with or without aura (flashing lights, wavy lines, dark spots) for adults. It should not be used to prevent migraine or cluster headache. Maxalt is a selective agonist of the serotonin receptor. It works narrowing of dilated blood vessels in the brain, relieving migraine headaches.
Ponstel pain relief medication is used for treatment of menstrual pain. It can be used for the short-term (not more than 7 days), the treatment of pain from mild to moderate. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Tramadol pain relief drug is used to relieve severe pain. It can also be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain. Tramadol drug is sometimes prescribed for other uses; Offices You can address your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tylenol medication is used to treat minor aches and pains due to headaches, muscle aches, backache, arthritis, the common cold, flu, sore teeth, menstrual cramps, and vaccinations, and to temporarily reduce fever.
Ultracet drug is combination medicines containing opioid analgesics (pedo – KOT-ik an al-zicks JEE), such as tramadol (TRA unemployed machine) and acetaminophen (one seat to a MIN-OH-fen), used to relieve pain. An opioid analgesics and acetaminophen used together can provide better pain relief than either drug used alone. In some cases, you can obtain relief with low doses of each drug.
Agree …. not to mention the benefits of hemp oil made from the bud of the cannabis plant. This cannot be bought by the public, but they can make it themselves. There’s a video out on how to make Hemp Oil. Visit my blog for more info.