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StumbleLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Legalizing drugs would put cartels out of business
Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Regarding Dan K. Thomasson’s Tuesday column, “Drug cartels’ carnage,” about the violence in Mexico:
To me, the “war on drugs” is futile. The United States of America, and the rest of the world, has not learned the Prohibition lesson. You can neither legislate nor enforce morality and/or teach people what’s good or what’s bad for them.
Drinking is now legal. Becoming an alcoholic is legal. If a drunk is caught behind the wheel, he or she pays the price. In most cases, drug addicts only hurt themselves. And like obese people who become diabetic due to gorging on junk food, they pay the price.
Like tobacco and alcohol, all drugs should be legalized and kept out of the hands of children.
Legalizing drugs would put drug cartels out of business and eliminate most national and global crimes.
Some of the billions of dollars spent on the war on drugs ought to be spent on rehab centers instead.
Yes, it would seem wise to stay out of Mexico for now, as Mr. Thomasson suggests, although it would be wiser to stay out of drug “law enforcement.”
Discussion: 7 comments so far…
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As with many severe problems, follow the money. If, somehow, we could eliminate the strong financial incentive the violence, the awful drug-related mass murders, wouldn't be happening.
The drug cartels, along with all their violence and mayhem are about to spill over into our country in a really big way.
What are we going to do about it? Here's an idea: arrest Sheriff Joe...that might help.
If this country was really concerned with the drug problem they would jail the users and let the sellers alone. Like they do with the alcohol abusers. When was the last time you can remember them throwing a bartender in jail. The hotel casinos in Las Vegas turn out a more dangerous creature on us. The Drunk driver. Ever see a hotel have to defend that?
In my humble opinion, legalizing select drugs is not a good idea.
The only thing I can say to validate this is...look at Amsterdam. That place is such a craphole, the Dutch want to re-think their laws about this thing they started.
And if it were legalized in the U.S., because of our freedom of laws, the U.S. would end up even worse than Amsterdam, even after enacting laws to restrict.
It is a proven fact that marijuana, although not physically addictive, can be somewhat psychologically addictive, and in certain instances, DOES lead to graduation to other even more harmfully destructive psychologically/physically addictive drugs. Although this is not a proven fact, this snowball effect behavior has been noticed to happen. So, it would be a step in the direction of destroying America.
I have noticed that the marijuana reformers all point at alcohol is the same. I guess it is. But one question needs to be asked. We already have not only alcohol, but cigarettes that are harmful to us. Why add another equation that is not good for our health?
Just so someone can smoke a doobie, you elect to destroy American society and relegate us down to resembling a third world country?
In John Lennon's song "working class hero"; he says "they dope you with religion , Sex , and TV and you think your so clever and classless and free". What would happen to us if they doped us with actual dope ?
So Colin you want to make policy based on "not proven facts" and humble opinions?
History question for you. What happened during Prohibition?
Further, what about medical marijuana? Have you checked out the hassle, the wait, and the cost of obtaining a medical marijuana permit in Nevada?
Marijuana should be legal, restricted and taxed, just like alcohol and tobacco.
Nevada, of all states, should treat marijuana the same as alcohol. Just think of the boost in tourism that would bring. :)
We already have what should be in theory one of the best "business friendly" environments in the country, yet we don't see a wave of incoming firms. So let's do what we do best: give the American public what they want but don't want to admit to.
Colin...Amsterdam is a crap hole??????????? I was there last summer on my way to Berlin. It looked just fine to me. You can ride a bike from one end of the city to the next and would be hard pressed to find a cigarette butt on the ground.The Dutch are having an organized crime problem similar to what we had in Vegas years ago.
What IS crap is people blogging about things they know nothing about and spending vast amounts of money to enforce laws few obey. Americans consume half the worlds illicit drugs to the tune of $150 billion dollars a year.
Enjoyed the above comments. I still stand by my opinion.
Sell drugs wherever the hell you want in Nevada and turn everyone here into junkies and addicts and just say to hell with it, yes, we can sell Mauia Wowee. When it don't work out, it will just give the wingnuts another thing to hate on Senator Reid about. Throw the blame on him. Just like you do with everything else.
Then you can smoke a doobie and have a couple shots of tequila, get blasted out of your skull before going to the voting booth and voting for the new darling of the Tea Party and savior of all of Nevada...Sharron Angle.
"Oh, wow, man.... I can see Yucca Mountain from here.... Check it out! Just squint your eyes and shade 'em with your hand. See it??!?!? Far out, man..... Tubular......"
Sheesh.
I'm pro-law enforcement. And I'm just not going to vote for nor encourage something that's going to make our police efforts more and more difficult. Nor something that can and possibly will destroy every fabric of society. Can't do something stupid like that. That's my opinion. So shoot me....
Colin,
here are so pro-law enforcement guys that want to end the drug war: http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
"Can't do something stupid like that. That's my opinion. So shoot me...." - ColinFromLasVegas
Don't worry, Metro will be happy to oblige whether you do something stupid or not.
Legalizing certain drugs doesn't turn everyone in to a junky anymore than ending prohibition turned everyone into an alcoholic.
If you factor in prescription drug abuse there are currently many more using drugs than cigarettes. Most still go to work everyday and live productive lives.
I believe per capita recreational drug use is higher in the US than in Holland. People love doing things illegal and on the sly.
Legalize pot and tax it heavily.
Think Iraq and Afghanistan were long wars? Compare them to the "War on Drugs" that's been going on for the last 40 years without ANY progress! What a farce.
How would you bust somebody for driving under the influence of a joint ?