Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU2003
If it gets treated as a medical issue instead of a criminal issue, it would work out better in the end.
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Truer words have never been said. But that's not been the strategy in the US for generations. We've been standing in water, trying to hold it back for so long few realize we're standing in the surf and fighting the tide. There are so many forces keeping "drugs" illegal it's near impossible to imagine changing course.
It's not that surprising really. Everyone wants short quick answers to even the most complex problems. If you take the stand drugs=bad and work backwards it all makes sense. Problem is the situation is far more complex. Does everyone who drinks turn into an alcoholic? Of course not, but some do. Still I'd argue by far most drinkers are social and not seriously harming anyone. I'd argue the same for several other substances.
Marijuana and other drugs were demonized starting in the 30's. We started out watching "Reefer Madness" not knowing the real madness would be spending billions of dollars trying to infringe upon the freedoms of adults. We've taken it so far that US citizens can't (or at least couldn't, may have changed don't know.) grow and use hemp, a completely benign yet very useful substance. I think all of the founding fathers used hemp.
Land of the free my ass.