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126 Comments
- mxxz, on 06/24/2009, -4/+78They can learn, but they won't. The United States does not see statistics, it sees media scare tactics.
- joaob, on 06/25/2009, -3/+66Here in Massachusetts we've taken baby step #1...Marijuana is now decriminalized. Hopefully the rest of the country will follow our lead.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -10/+42Learn from other countries? We don't learn from other countries.
I mean, take the health care debate for instance.
Every other industrialized country in the world has universal health care system... And here we are , with people losing their homes every day because of health care bills and half the country still believes that "Government is inefficient" and isn't up to the task, as if America is the only country in the world that can't do it.
We just don't pay attention to the rest of the world. - DirtyVicar, on 06/25/2009, -2/+28Getting rid of the drug war will definitely put the brakes on (1) a blossoming law enforcement equipment / corrections industry and (2) any lucrative relationship that might exist between certain US government officials and cartel heads. I'm just not buying the idea that anyone in power is seriously interested in saving dope smokers from themselves.
- buzznjackal, on 06/25/2009, -1/+27They don't have to go as far as Portugal, they can learn right here at home from our own history: Amendment XVIII and Amendment XXI
- Dustin00, on 06/25/2009, -1/+26Old repeat.
But legalize it for god's sake! Crikey! - Barackalypse, on 06/25/2009, -1/+23The more interesting question is why it took a Constitutional Amendment for the Feds to ban alcohol and yet they didn't need one to ban things like cocaine and heroin.
- yocouchdigga, on 06/25/2009, -1/+21I think it's safe to say, some of our dysfunctional ***** should be prescribed pot.
- Ymeg, on 06/25/2009, -1/+19Sagan was not a dysfunctional *****.
I know that's not a good argument, but neither is yours. - NikoKun, on 06/25/2009, -0/+16Logic fail. Most people that want Pot, already use it. So if they are a problem, it already exists. Legalizing pot doesn't create a whole new dysfunction.
- jaymzdean, on 06/25/2009, -0/+12But..but...but...I want to be the boss of you.
/s - inactive, on 06/25/2009, -0/+12So your logic is... if a country doesn't invade other countries and doesn't start wars... it's a bad country?
- yocouchdigga, on 06/25/2009, -1/+13needs to happen right now.
- NikoKun, on 06/25/2009, -0/+10http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrele ...
The drug czar's response to this..
Maybe this is how Prohibition/War-On-Drugs ends... lol, not with a bang, but a whimper. Since the US government could never admit it was wrong, and flat out legalize it... They'll just quietly shift policies, into virtual decriminalization. Even though legalization might solve the real problems better... =/ - NorthMass, on 06/25/2009, -1/+11By voting in Ron Paul Republicans and Kucinich Democrats instead of McCain Republicans and Obama Democrats.
- TexMexRex, on 06/25/2009, -0/+10Best information I've read on this to date.
- Jikul, on 06/25/2009, -1/+10You are lying. I live in Portugal, I know how it works. It's not like you walk in the streets and everyone is dealing or sniffing. You don't see ANY of those things.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -1/+9IMHO: Marijuana should be made completely legal.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -1/+9It's the media and corporate lobbyists and their billion dollar scare campaigns.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -0/+7So if it's not a great power, it's totally worthless as an example, in ANY social and political topic? Say, education - it's way much better in Portugal than in America. The average college in Portugal (or Europe in general) is the equivalent in quality to a big ivy league university in the US. Students are better prepared and completely kick the ass of American students in worldwide education tests. Plus, they pay less tuition than some high schools in America...
But since it's a small country, you assume it's all *****?
Nevermind that, as an European Union country, Portugal does have some world influence. - mah2cent, on 06/25/2009, -2/+9You might find the following very informative and one of the reasons for the US's stance on "drugs" of all kinds:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/pr/cocaine-study-supres ...
I am not advocating any particular drug policy; I don't use anything except a little wine/beer. But, being a Libertarian, I don't believe the government should have the right to dictate what its citizens should be able to drink, smoke, who they should be able to marry, have sex with, how and what to teach my children, etc. These are all personal preferences that the individual should be able to make on their own and do not infringe on anyone else's rights. In short, less government equals more personal rights. - vtfrosty, on 06/25/2009, -1/+8If you are american they will sniff you out in a heartbeat and identify you as a user just because you are from america. Same thing happened to me in central america. Ironically, its not as big a deal with the locals and they don't "push" onto each other as much.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -1/+8Sounds like good policy to me. Anything to ease up on the abominable Drug War!
- hyAxis, on 06/25/2009, -0/+7"Hey, look! A small country! Everything they do is wrong, don't pay attention."
Oh and by the way, since Portugal is so insignificant, then why does the USA beg us for the Lajes Field (look it up) every single time they want to go anywhere? - Lefts, on 06/25/2009, -0/+6I like states. If one is bad, I can move to a better one.
***** sweeet. - falafelkiosken, on 06/25/2009, -0/+6IMO the gov't should completely let the citizens do whatever they want with themselves as long as it didn't interfere with someone else's rights. Freedom with responsibility works a lot better than a nanny-state with just turn the citizens into victims. Sure some people can't handle the responsibility but it's the same as with alcohol abuse, or even reckless driving. A crime would still a crime but not because some triviality as smoking pot in your own home as long as you not try to do something irresponsible as trying to drive while intoxicated by alcohol or any other drug which may be a harm to others.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -4/+10I'm portuguese, and the sad reality in Portugal is different. People don't smoke a lot, and if they do, it's hash.
I can find amazing weed in California. Real weed. If decriminalization means to reduce the number of people who smoke, I don't want that! I want to be able to smoke BETTER weed, MORE often, without being arrested for it. And that means legalization.
Decriminalization reduces the use, and that's a bad thing. People should be free to smoke MORE, not guided to smoke less.
Why is Portugal so talked about here, and I don't see any article about the amazing success of LEGALIZATION in the Netherlands? Are Americans afraid of the Netherlands? Portugal is fine to imitate, but not Netherlands?
Netherlands is better off than Portugal in ANY statistic data you can find. Quality of life, happiness, society, education, crime, etc etc etc - MofS, on 08/13/2009, -4/+9"the vast majority of Canadians, 91 per cent, felt that Canada's health care system was better than the United States. "
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNew ... - Frankyfan3, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5Dugg for "Crikey!" :D
- tacoman359, on 06/25/2009, -0/+5That's what you would like to think. Its too bad people shouldn't have to "earn" healthcare for when they are dying and can't pay for the treatment.
- inactive, on 06/25/2009, -3/+8Yes, it is.
- yaroze, on 06/25/2009, -1/+6I think the president and congress need to reread the Constitution, reverse the majority of the Federal programs, obolish most if not all "Federal" Laws and return the power and authority back to the states (amendment 14) If the Founding fathers were here today they would be screaming Revolt again.
And as far as drugs go, the FDA needs to be dissolved and the matter needs to be determined by the STATES! - MrOsis, on 06/25/2009, -3/+8Yes...it is
- teamgwho, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4You either want to smoke pot or you don't and the law is unlikely to change you one way or the other because it's so easily available.
//Never tried pot
//unlikely I'll try it if its legal
//passionately believe it should be legal for those who do want to use it - lexman098, on 06/25/2009, -1/+5Ya it sucks that it takes all of 3 days and 44 cents to send a letter from coast to coast.
- DankBuddz, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4Isn't that what alcohol is for?
I mean, I know a ***** of dysfunctional alcoholics, but I really don't know any dysfunctional potheads. Honestly. - Ymeg, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4by decriminalization? Hell, we might even shoot for the whole thing, but that's comically unlikely.
- danvi, on 06/25/2009, -0/+4Good interview with interesting implications here in the U.S. Decriminalization=less use, makes perfect sense. Too bad we can't learn from this ourselves. The people who need help can get it and those who choose to continue to use can do so...
How can the government tell me i can't smoke a joint if I want to. For christ sake, between school and work, it's the perfect stress relief. AND it makes my ramen noodles and frozen pizzas taste better (poor college student here). - Lefts, on 06/25/2009, -1/+5Because the study itself said that heroin usage was reduced, although marijuana usage increased. Cocaine remained mostly the same.
Also, study even said that crime rates can change independently at times from drug usage, citing in example in the UK where crime rate went down as drug usage increased.
In addition, study also mentioned redistributed resources of enforcement authorities away from drug users to traffickers and other criminals.
The study itself says that the study is inconclusive to the long term effects of criminalization. Also, it's from 2007. - basex, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4"Portugal is a very poor country. It’s not Luxembourg or Monaco or something like that."
Portugal is considered a developed country everywhere. It has one of the the lowest GDP per capita of the Western countries, but the quality of life there is very good and it's one of the most globalized countries in the world. - TheNik, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4***** off.
- TheNik, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4Sounds like good hospitality to me!
- WMAchampMrSatan, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3it should be titled "how the U.S. won't learn from Portugal's drug decriminalization"
- BoneheadFarker, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3The first article about Canada is the result of private sector influences, as fury420 said. And as a Canadian I can say I'm ***** proud to pay into the health care system that covers everyone. Canadians aren't greedy. We actually like helping other people.
The second article is about rich Swedish parents too ***** impatient to wait 5 whole hours to hear about their kid's non-life threatening condition, and then goes on to say that Sweden has the second highest life expectancy in the world due to the health care system. That actually goes against your arguement.
Try to find better sources if you're going to ridicule something... - alappat1, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3don't get me wrong, I'm all for decriminalization... but how do you know it was just for the foreigners who seemed like potential marks?
- th3mattrix, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3I read the report. Cannabis lifetime usage went up from 12.5% to 17.3% and heroin rates went from 2.5% to 1.something%. Drug related deaths went down by a huge amount (nearly all to opiates, like heroin). Obviously, they weren't due to the uptick in cannabis usage.
The report ends with a hopeful note for decriminalization, although they say the country needs a good system to support the drug treatment programs.
Please don't twist some of the results of a study to suit whatever your point is. Look for ways to improve the world, not make it worse because the solution might not be suited to your specific moral outlook. - mah2cent, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4What garbage are you referring to, specifically? Or perhaps you are one of the wing-nuts everyone refers to. The site you are referring to is an Austrian-Libertarian site, which espouses personal liberty, less or no government and personal responsibility.
But I will not infringe on your right to have and express your opinion. And I will continue to express mine. - blackcloud333, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3I didn't anything in the article pointing out that weed was smoked more or less. It just said drugs in general. I don't think many people who smoke a lot of weed are looking for help. A guy dying from shooting up heroin may be more willing to seek help from government institutions if he feels he can trust them.
- falafelkiosken, on 06/25/2009, -0/+3if you read the article you'd know Portugal has big problems *before* the decriminalization, and these problems declined after it. If you think the US will be like Portugal by adopting a successful initiative by Portugal you really have some problem with your logic
- BrendanJB, on 06/25/2009, -1/+4It's a glitch in the matrix, it means they changed something...
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