"Virtually all of us take drugs"

[Go Vols]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025581977

The war on drugs is a cruel joke. The U.S. spends more than $50 billion a year on the "war on drugs" with the goal of creating a "drug-free society" -- yet there has never been a "drug-free society" in the history of civilization. Virtually all of us take drugs every single day. Caffeine, sugar, alcohol, marijuana, Prozac, Ritalin, opiates and nicotine are just some of the substances that Americans use on a regular basis.

Plus we imprison more per capita than any country on Earth due to this shit.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-newman/drug-users-policy_b_5870022.html#

[shenmue]

1. I don't think your morning coffee is quite the same as shooting up opiates

Come on, already.

[immoderate]

2. It was, a few centuries ago.

Coffee is still banned to a large part of the world, including Mormons and Muslims.

--imm

[Scootaloo]

3. I dunno where you get the idea that coffee is prohibited by Islam

The Islamic expansion is why we even HAVE coffee.

[immoderate]

4. Coffee was banned by imams in the early 1500s.

There was a ban from Mecca. And a later ban in Egypt. AFAIK, it's OK now.

--imm

[iscooterliberally]

5. The two drugs aren't the same to be sure, but I don't think that's really the point.

The point is that we should not be locking people up because of their choice of drug. Many people get addicted to opiates due to traumatic injury. Opiates really are about the only thing that can stop severe pain, but it's a crap shoot as to who gets addicted and who doesn't. I had a motorcycle wreck a few years ago and was in the hospital with multiple fractures for almost a week. I was pumped up with morphine, and then I went to percocet and vicodin. Eventually I got myself weened off of the stuff. There are times when the humidity gets bad and the pain sets back in. I would love to be able to walk into a pharmacy as an adult over 21, and be able to buy a few pain pills at these times. Unfortunately due to our country's insane drug laws, I can't do that. Most doctors don't want to prescribe them because of the DEA and our crazy laws. The DEA is a parasitic agency that provides no value to society at all. They have had decades to solve the problem, but have only made matters worse. Drugs should be taxed and regulated. There should be a black box type warning on the label just like alcohol and tobacco products. Our drug laws really have nothing to do with saving people from drug abuse anyway. That's the lie that was sold when this irresponsible and morally reprehensible policy was brought into existence. Our drug laws are about locking up all the people who are different from the powers that be. I was one of the fortunate people who did not get addicted. I live in Florida and was here during the pill mill days, and even looked into getting some extra pain pills. I found out that it would cost me about $300 for an $8 bottle of pills, and said forget it. My pain medicine of choice now is Jack Daniel's, which is arguably more dangerous than a couple of vicodins. Cannabis would be a really nice alternative. I wish I lived in Colorado or Washington where that drug is now legal. Our country is need of major reform. I think all the crazy police shootings, and the militarization of the police are connected to our drug laws. The fact that Canada is telling it's citizen's not to carry to much cash in the US is very telling. This policy has almost completely eroded our 4th amendment rights. The controlled substances act of 1970 should be repealed in its entirety in my opinion.