1 in 32 American Adults in U.S. jails, on probation or parole

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It is. In some cases. If it involves the child of a Bush or if it involves one Rush Limbaugh. Otherwise, it's a crime. Rush said it is until it was him that would need to be "sent up the river". And Jeb Bush, I believe, found some excuse as to why his child (a daughter I seem to recall) needed help with her drug problem rather than jail. Not sure how many drug addicts are imprisoned here in sunny Florida. But it seems that it should be a lot less or one more.

10 days for having crack cocaine while in the very rehab program that kept her out of jail. We're all equal before the law. The Constitution says so. It just seems to me that some are more equal than others.

Unless of course you don't inhale, then you can be president!

Exactly!

[Ban Hammer 14,269]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

if you mean the netherlands instead of holland..........i lived there for about 4 years

my statement still stands.

[GaryC 7]

It is. In some cases. If it involves the child of a Bush or if it involves one Rush Limbaugh. Otherwise, it's a crime. Rush said it is until it was him that would need to be "sent up the river". And Jeb Bush, I believe, found some excuse as to why his child (a daughter I seem to recall) needed help with her drug problem rather than jail. Not sure how many drug addicts are imprisoned here in sunny Florida. But it seems that it should be a lot less or one more.

10 days for having crack cocaine while in the very rehab program that kept her out of jail. We're all equal before the law. The Constitution says so. It just seems to me that some are more equal than others.

Unless of course you don't inhale, then you can be president!

Exactly!

I generally do not agree or support my senator Obama here in Illinois. But I at least respect him for one thing. He was asked about his past drug use. He admitted to smoking pot. Then he was asked if he inhaled. He said "yes, that is the whole point!" It is refreshing to see an honest answer.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/24/news/dems.php

[almaty 19]

Obama is the man in my household..

[Peikko 1,575]

I have never understood the illegal drug thing either. To believe some people, you would think there are millions of people holding off taking these drugs because they are illegal now, and if made legal they would suddenly start taking them. How absurd is that?

Of course, some of these drugs are very harmful, with more direct/visible results of abuse than nicotine and alcohol so I don't think anyone is suggesting that they be sold at the corner shop like sweets...

...you do have to wonder though what all the people who make a living selling illegal drugs would do next though, no?

[GaryC 7]

I have never understood the illegal drug thing either. To believe some people, you would think there are millions of people holding off taking these drugs because they are illegal now, and if made legal they would suddenly start taking them. How absurd is that?

Of course, some of these drugs are very harmful, with more direct/visible results of abuse than nicotine and alcohol so I don't think anyone is suggesting that they be sold at the corner shop like sweets...

...you do have to wonder though what all the people who make a living selling illegal drugs would do next though, no?

The same thing the bootlegers did after prohibition, find something else illegal to do.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

if you mean the netherlands instead of holland..........i lived there for about 4 years

my statement still stands.

What is the drug related crime rate in Holland (forgive me, I'm German)? What's the prevalence of pushers, dealers and other drug traders in Holland? Are they worse off in terms of drug problems than we here in the USofA? Do you have any actual stats to back any such claim?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

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

War on Drugs Expenditure Clock....

For this year alone, the Federal Government has spent over $18 billion dollars.

Edited November 30, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Employers could still have drug testing if they wanted. That wouldn't change. The Netherlands has a lower per capita use of cannabis than the USA. How can that be when it's illegal in the US and decriminalized in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands also lower per capita number of heroin users -- in fact, the lowest in WEstern Europe. So much for it being a "gateway drug"

[Ban Hammer 14,269]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

if you mean the netherlands instead of holland..........i lived there for about 4 years

my statement still stands.

What is the drug related crime rate in Holland (forgive me, I'm German)? What's the prevalence of pushers, dealers and other drug traders in Holland? Are they worse off in terms of drug problems than we here in the USofA? Do you have any actual stats to back any such claim?

i didn't mention anythign about the drug related crime in holland. nor anything about the pushers, dealers, etc. you did, remember? why don't you cough up the stats for that?

[Heracles 417]

What is the drug related crime rate in Holland (forgive me, I'm German)? What's the prevalence of pushers, dealers and other drug traders in Holland? Are they worse off in terms of drug problems than we here in the USofA? Do you have any actual stats to back any such claim?

I did not realize Europe is connected to South America. You can't just look at one difference and assume the same outcome would occur here. Do police have more or less power in Holland? Can criminals hide under various amendments there, as they do here? Does Holland have a large group of people who are committed to gang banging and think it's cool rather than being productive members of society?

The issues are extremely complicated. How many European nations have the exact same amendments for criminals to hide under, as set out in the Bill of Rights?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What is the drug related crime rate in Holland (forgive me, I'm German)? What's the prevalence of pushers, dealers and other drug traders in Holland? Are they worse off in terms of drug problems than we here in the USofA? Do you have any actual stats to back any such claim?

I did not realize Europe is connected to South America. You can't just look at one difference and assume the same outcome would occur here. Do police have more or less power in Holland? Can criminals hide under various amendments there, as they do here? Does Holland have a large group of people who are committed to gang banging and think it's cool rather than being productive members of society?

The issues are extremely complicated. How many European nations have the exact same amendments for criminals to hide under, as set out in the Bill of Rights?

I am not aware of any Western European country with a more stringent criminal justice system than that of the US.

[aussiewench 9]

Does anyone know the statistics on how many USC can't vote because of a criminal history? That is what I would find even more interesting. Imagine the power of a government if the majority of its people ever lost the right to vote.

[pedroh 21]

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

OWNED

indeed.. i rarely saw stoned dutchmen.. cannabis is way more consumed by tourists than locals.. and no I never saw a stoned bus driver or policeman, or pilot.. thats a BS argument...

[Ban Hammer 14,269]

Does anyone know the statistics on how many USC can't vote because of a criminal history? That is what I would find even more interesting. Imagine the power of a government if the majority of its people ever lost the right to vote.

such can happen. upon a conviction for a felony crime, one can lose their right to:

- vote (depends on the state)

- serve on a federal jury

- right to hold federal office or federal employment

- inability to serve in the armed forces or receive benefits (such as retirement pay)

- certain offenses (robbery, bribery, extortion, and others) preclude one from serving in any labor organization

- here is one for you: drug offenders convicted after 1 sep 89 could be ineligible to receive federal benefits such as grants, licenses, contracts and other federal benefits (includes pell grants). anyone convicted (state or federal court) for possession, use, or distribution of drugs after 22 aug 96 is ineligible to receive food stamps or temporary housing. individuals convicted of manufacturing or producing meth on the premises of federally controlled housing may be evicted and barred from occupying such housing and from receiving federal low income housing assistance.

- anyone subject to a lifetime registration for a sex crime is ineligible for federally assisted housing.

- one could also lose their right to "bear arms" if convicted in any court of a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year......

link

yes, steven. let's decriminalize drug use. next time you fly, maybe the pilot will be high. or the dentist will be stoned when he's drilling your teeth. or the paramedics will be wigged out on lsd when they respond to your call about an injury to you or one of your kids...........

get the picture?

What? That's the most ridiculous argument I've seen in a long time. Alcohol is perfectly legal, no? Provided you're of legal age, you can buy it in many stores and have it at your house and use it at your convenience without fear of getting busted for buying, selling or consuming it. That doesn't mean that your pilot, dentist or paramedics are all drunk on the job, does it?

just wait and see what happens if it does become legal.

Take a trip to Holland and see for yourself.

OWNED

indeed.. i rarely saw stoned dutchmen.. cannabis is way more consumed by tourists than locals.. and no I never saw a stoned bus driver or policeman, or pilot.. thats a BS argument...

pedroh, i lived there for about 4 years. i saw a few