Mexico mass grave yields 38 bodies

It's not the drugs that are the problem, it's the money.

Take the money out of the equation and there's no incentive to fight over drug distribution routes.

Legalize the damn drugs, the consequences can't be as bad as the current situation. Prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. didn't work, either.

Use the money going into the (non-)enforcement of drug laws to provide immediate, free treatment for "substance abuse" - people have been getting high on something or other since the Stone Age, there's simply no sense in fighting it by going to war, or hope of success.

Provide secure facilities for people either to get clean or to shoot up until they die (their choice), and let young policemen live to bring up their children.

Amer, as a cop for all these years I would like to disagree with your idea to legalize drugs... but I can't. You raise a valid point about money being what empowers the drug traffickers and causes the violence. All the money spent on fighting the so-called "war on drugs" could be better spent on prevention and treatment of addicts. Prisons housing non-violent drug offenders could release them and free up a tremendous amount of jail space. Violent offenders would have plenty of space for lengthy prison terms and we would not have to parole them to make room for new inmates.

The only question I have is whether legalizing drugs would increase usage? If it is readily available will we have more addicts and then more crime? Either way, I think its worth a try but is far too progressive an idea for Washington at this point.

"The only question I have is whether legalizing drugs would increase usage? "

It might, and it's a concern. But with treatment easily accessible, it might - no guarantees - also decrease.

Alcohol still causes individual problems, even though it's legal, but we don't have stories like the one here about mass graves of tortured bodies being discovered.

As for crime, there will be less (if only because simply carrying them around won't be a crime); certainly there will be less property crime (to obtain money for drugs). Cops will still have to arrest people for DUI or behaving aggressively, but we're not talking about establishing heaven on earth, here, just behaving a little more rationally.

(BTW, you're in Europe - what's the crime rate like in the Netherlands?)

As far as the politicians go - yeah.

we're not talking about establishing heaven on earth, here, just behaving a little more rationally.

(BTW, you're in Europe - what's the crime rate like in the Netherlands?)

As far as the politicians go - yeah.
(Amer, 25 July 2010 21:53)

Yes, since you put it that way (not aiming for perfection but rather a little more rationally) I can agree.

I am from the US actually and worked in two major cities so I can say that the "war" on drugs has been a colossal failure. The Netherlands I would imagine has a much lower crime rate.

I read something also that was interesting: in case legalization did not work we could always shoot for decriminalization. It is more palatable to conservatives but has nearly the same effect as legalizing them.

It's not the drugs that are the problem, it's the money.

Take the money out of the equation and there's no incentive to fight over drug distribution routes.

Legalize the damn drugs, the consequences can't be as bad as the current situation. Prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. didn't work, either.

Use the money going into the (non-)enforcement of drug laws to provide immediate, free treatment for "substance abuse" - people have been getting high on something or other since the Stone Age, there's simply no sense in fighting it by going to war, or hope of success.

Provide secure facilities for people either to get clean or to shoot up until they die (their choice), and let young policemen live to bring up their children.

Amer, as a cop for all these years I would like to disagree with your idea to legalize drugs... but I can't. You raise a valid point about money being what empowers the drug traffickers and causes the violence. All the money spent on fighting the so-called "war on drugs" could be better spent on prevention and treatment of addicts. Prisons housing non-violent drug offenders could release them and free up a tremendous amount of jail space. Violent offenders would have plenty of space for lengthy prison terms and we would not have to parole them to make room for new inmates.

The only question I have is whether legalizing drugs would increase usage? If it is readily available will we have more addicts and then more crime? Either way, I think its worth a try but is far too progressive an idea for Washington at this point.

"The only question I have is whether legalizing drugs would increase usage? "

It might, and it's a concern. But with treatment easily accessible, it might - no guarantees - also decrease.

Alcohol still causes individual problems, even though it's legal, but we don't have stories like the one here about mass graves of tortured bodies being discovered.

As for crime, there will be less (if only because simply carrying them around won't be a crime); certainly there will be less property crime (to obtain money for drugs). Cops will still have to arrest people for DUI or behaving aggressively, but we're not talking about establishing heaven on earth, here, just behaving a little more rationally.

(BTW, you're in Europe - what's the crime rate like in the Netherlands?)

As far as the politicians go - yeah.

we're not talking about establishing heaven on earth, here, just behaving a little more rationally.

(BTW, you're in Europe - what's the crime rate like in the Netherlands?)

As far as the politicians go - yeah.
(Amer, 25 July 2010 21:53)

Yes, since you put it that way (not aiming for perfection but rather a little more rationally) I can agree.

I am from the US actually and worked in two major cities so I can say that the "war" on drugs has been a colossal failure. The Netherlands I would imagine has a much lower crime rate.

I read something also that was interesting: in case legalization did not work we could always shoot for decriminalization. It is more palatable to conservatives but has nearly the same effect as legalizing them.