I think we need to end the Drug War like we ended the War on Poverty.

[Taverner]

Not that the first war should have been abandoned, but someone should be smart enough to recycle Reagan's quote.

Basically:

REPORTER: What do you think about the War on Drugs?

POLITICIAN: Well, we still have drugs, right? End of story.

We need to end the drug war

It is killing us, a huge huge huge budget money waster...and it gives unconstitutional powers to police - like them taking posession of your property if it was used for the drug trade (passed by a DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, I might add)

[nashville_brook]

1. amen. and rec #5

[walldude]

2. But if they did that then they wouldn't be "have to" dismantle

another "entitlement" program.

[bobbolink]

3. If the rest of you join in actually ending poverty, then I will join in this.

Deal?

[eShirl]

9. Sure you will.

[Bobbieo]

4. It is time to legalize and tax marijuana in the US.

Wire-service reports estimate that Mexico’s drug lords employ over 100,000 soldiers — approximately as many as the Mexican army — and that the cartels’ wealth, intimidation, and influence extend to the highest echelons of law enforcement and government. Where do the cartels get their unprecedented wealth and power? By trafficking in illicit drugs — primarily marijuana — over the border into the United States.

The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy … says that more than 60 percent of the profits reaped by Mexican drug lords are derived from the exportation and sale of cannabis to the American market. …

(By comparison, only about 28 percent of their profits are derived from the distribution of cocaine, and less than 1 percent comes from trafficking methamphetamine.) … Government officials estimate that approximately half the marijuana consumed in the United States originates from outside its borders, and they have identified Mexico as far and away America’s largest pot provider.

[Uncle Joe]

5. I hate the war analogy used for public policy but I consider the

"War on Drugs" as just switching sides against "The War on Poverty."

The latter; even if it wasn't perfect, was meant to lift up the poor and oppressed and the former intended; whether consciously or subconsciously to tear them down.

Thanks for the thread, Taverner.

[DCKit]

6. "...taking posession of your property if it was (allegedly) used for the drug trade..."

And they don't have to give it back, even if no charges are filed or you are found innocent at trial.

The seizure laws are very liberal. They're also unconstitutional.

[Fumesucker]

7. The drug war will never end..

The US Senate just *unanimously* passed a bill doubling the penalties for pot brownies.

Can you even imagine the Senate passing any other sort of bill with no dissenting votes at all in this atmosphere?

There is absolutely nothing whatsoever in politics today that has more bipartisan support than the drug war, Democrats and Republicans alike support it almost to a man, the two national level politicians who oppose it are routinely dismissed as crazy, Kookinich and Paultard.

ETA: The drug war is the ultimate in Hippie Punching, the right punches hippies because that's what they do, the left punches hippies to try and win over the right (which of course it will never do).

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. ...introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

and Charles Grassley (R-IA).

[anarch]

10. but what about the interests of the prison industry?

those people's livelihood and profit depends on the ability to lock people up for using drugs...what are we supposed to do, just stop locking people up? That would be so un-American.