Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Libertarian Opinion on Marijuana Use in USA


Legalize Drugs and Criminalize Politicians

October 30, 2009 - 6:51pm
by Jim Iannuzo

Libertarians disagree with both President Obama and former President
Bush on virtually all aspects of drug prohibition. Liberals talk about
decriminalization which is nothing more than government control over the
distribution of drugs while conservatives believe in a simple minded
childlike prohibition scheme. It's time for a new approach

Let's put drug prohibition in perspective. The Federal Government
has no moral or constitutional authority to prohibit some drugs while
mandating others. Currently you can not choose which medications to
personally consume without sanction, while the government is willing to
forcible inject drugs (vaccines) into your body. An American with an
aggressive form of skin cancer may not have access to potentially life
saving drugs simply due to a lack of FDA approval; while in
Massachusetts, legislation allows state health agents to enter your home
without a warrant and forcible medicate you for any reason deemed
appropriate. The decision to take medicine must reside with the
individual. A government program that prohibits drugs or forces drugs
upon anyone is immoral.

The term drug is often used with a negative connotation probably due to
the stigma associated with 'War on Drugs' but in reality, drugs can be
both beneficial and toxic. At one time coffee (caffeine) was considered
a dangerous drug due to the resultant stimulating effect, today we call
it Starbucks. Excessive consumption of water leads to intoxication and
even death. Witness the case of Jennifer Strange who drank to much water
during a 2007 radio show contest and subsequently died. Should we
criminalize the over consumption of water? No of course not! Personal
responsibility must supplant government control with each of us assuming
the consequences of good and bad decisions.

The only time government has any moral basis to interfere with drugs is
when fraud or force are used against an individual. For example, a date
rape pill slipped into a woman's drink is an act of forced
medication that clearly warrants prosecution against the man regardless
if rape is part of the equation.

What about marijuana, cocaine, heroin and the endless host of drugs
deemed evil by the 1970 Controlled Substance Act? Surely we can't
legalize these types of drugs. The short answer is yes and here's
why legalization is the right answer.

FACT 1: Prior to the 1914 Harrison Opiate Control Act all of the above
mentioned drugs were available without regulation. This era marked one
of the most productive times in American history. Very few people took
cocaine or heroin. In fact when these drugs were completely legal, only
0.25% of Americans were regular users of opiate products. In 2004 after
spending nearly 1 trillion dollars for The War on Drugs, the number of
regular opiate users were greater than 3%. Legalizing drugs would
reallocate wasted taxpayer resources into productive areas.

FACT 2: Drug prohibition has resulted in violent criminal elements and
gangs. Just as the 18th Amendment (Alcohol Prohibition) turned a small
time thug named Al Capone into a violent criminal, drug prohibition
continues to be a ripe breeding ground for the Crips, Bloods, Bulldogs
and other violent gangs. Violent crime from alcohol trafficking
decreased dramatically after Alcohol became legal again due to the
passage of the 21st Amendment in 1933. Legalizing drugs would reduce
violent urban crime.

FACT 3: Selling drugs is a highly profitable business. Prohibition has
resulted in a professional cartel system that markets increasingly
addictive drugs to children to develop a large customer base. The
cartels use the same direct sales model many companies use to market
computers or cars. Legalizing drugs would eliminate the enormous drug
cartel profits.

FACT 4: A recent Zogby Poll asked 1000 Americans the following question.
If hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine were legalized would you be
likely to use them?" The results were that 99.4% of the respondents
said no, while only 0.6% said yes. This data is consistent with the use
rates prior to 1914 and much lower than hard drug use rates in 2009.
Legalizing drugs would reduce use rates.

FACT 5: Drugs are routinely found in our highest security prisons.
Increased penalties will not reduce addiction rates but would fill up
already overcrowded prisons with non violent offenders. 2009 is slated
to become a record year at 1.9 million drug related arrests with an
expenditure of 50 billion dollars. Legalizing drugs would decrease
prison costs and reduce the broken family syndrome that results from
incarceration.

FACT 6: The enormous health benefits resulting from increased research
on controlled substances, especially in the field of pain relief far
outweighs potential misuse. Legalizing drugs would open up new venues
for pharmaceutical research and development potentially leading to new
discoveries.

Drug prohibition has led to an increase in addiction, victimless
incarceration, lost jobs, broken families, inability to access life
saving drugs and most of all your freedom. It's time to just SAY NO
to the politicians that have stolen our freedom in their endless quest
for more control over our lives.

http://www.libertar iansolution. com/advocates/ 130/legalize- drugs-and- crim\
inalize-politicians

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