The change in administrations really has the drug legalization cheerleaders out on the offensive. LEAP gets more press than most because of their law enforcement ties, but I get tired of hearing this nonsense.
If we legalize and regulate the marketplace, economic rules will work in our favor, making it possible to instill control. It is time to fund education, research and treatment instead of jails and prisons. We all want a better future for our children and ourselves. ~ Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
It’s just another article covering the litany of “known facts” including how organized crime ended with prohibition and alcohol abuse is treated today as a medical issue… yeah, right. As the man says though, legalization akin to the regulation of alcohol would make it possible to “instill control”- with over 100,000 deaths per year attributed to alcohol- now that’s control I wouldn’t want to brag about!
Click “Read more” to continue…
• 5% of all deaths from diseases of the circulatory system are attributed to alcohol.
• 15% of all deaths from diseases of the respiratory system are attributed to alcohol.
• 30% of all deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames are attributed to alcohol.
• 30% of all accidental drownings are attributed to alcohol.
• 30% of all suicides are attributed to alcohol.
• 40% of all deaths due to accidental falls are attributed to alcohol.
• 45% of all deaths in automobile accidents are attributed to alcohol.
• 60% of all homicides are attributed to alcohol.
Link
I will not trust any of these guys stressing “education, research, and treatment instead of jails” until they make this a reality for the already legal scourge alcohol. Yes I feel we could improve the way we fight drugs in this nation but until we can get a handle on our current situation, legalization is nothing but surrender.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
This is such an impactful way to present this argument — I’m going to post it in my links of the week next Friday. Thank you for this — it makes it so clear.
cognitive dissonance? perhaps you really do have a problem… a problem with mixing up the legalization of marijuana and the deaths caused by alcohol abuse. you sound like a cheerleader for people with their heads up their asses. is that a pom pom or yesterdays lunch?
First, you come into my house and use abusive language. Strike one. Next, you argue about marijuana legalization on a post that clearly links back and refers to a story on legalization of ALL drugs. Strike two. And finally, you use ad hominem argument instead of making your case. Strike three and you’re out.
Coming here and displaying a short attention span, too lazy to read through a short post, foul mouthed and rude… I don’t like to stereotype, but you are not exactly helping your cause here.
I’ll give you a chance to apologize in tonight’s blog post.
If all those problems with alcohol bother you then make it illegal. See how fast there’s a public outcry. The point of legalization is that it comes down to personal responsibility, which comes with everything drinking/smoking/drugs/eating/driving etc. What’s worse for a child, having a parent who smokes pot and is responsible, or a parent THAT ISN’T THERE because they are in jail for a bad law. There’s a man in california, charles lynch, who opened up a legal medical marijuana facility, got turned over to the DEA and now faces 100 yrs in jail. That’s 50 years short of bernie madoff who ruined MILLIONS of peoples lives, some people actually killed themselves over it. is that a fair law? More teens die every year from texting and driving than from marijuana. It’s a waste of our tax dollars in a time when we can’t afford to waste. I mean marijuana is so dangerous it actually has been shown in a medical study to DESTROY CANCER CELLS.
http://fe25.story.media.ac4.yahoo.com/news/us/story/afp/20090402/hl_afp/usspainsciencemarijuanamedicinedrugs
It must be really hard to tell kids they can’t succeed in life if they smoke pot. I mean, none of these people ever got anywhere
http://www.veryimportantpotheads.com/index.html
and what would this guy know, he never smoked pot, saw the benefits it had on his dying son and did research to make sure it’s safe. I hate all these harvard educated doctors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Grinspoon
There’s a lot of actual/factual information about the plant. It’s just hard to swallow when you’ve been lied to all these years.
If all those problems with alcohol bother you then make it illegal. See how fast there’s a public outcry.
No doubt, and your point is?
The point of legalization is that it comes down to personal responsibility, which comes with everything drinking/smoking/drugs/eating/driving etc.
So you believe that all things should be legal because we should just all trust each other to be responsible- that is the point of legalization? I assume then you wish to dismantle all arbitrary limits inluding age limits, FDA requirements, sanitary requirements, and driving regulations since that is the point you are trying to make.
What’s worse for a child, having a parent who smokes pot and is responsible, or a parent THAT ISN’T THERE because they are in jail for a bad law.
I CHOOSE to have the child raised in a safe, healthy, drug free environment.
There’s a man in california, charles lynch, who opened up a legal medical marijuana facility, got turned over to the DEA and now faces 100 yrs in jail. That’s 50 years short of bernie madoff who ruined MILLIONS of peoples lives, some people actually killed themselves over it. is that a fair law?
Nope, but it’s kind of like not paying your taxes- lesson is, unless your are a politician (in power) it just doesn’t make sense to defy or test even the grey area with the federal government.
More teens die every year from texting and driving than from marijuana. It’s a waste of our tax dollars in a time when we can’t afford to waste. I mean marijuana is so dangerous it actually has been shown in a medical study to DESTROY CANCER CELLS.
Radiation can cure cancer, try that in your bong.
It must be really hard to tell kids they can’t succeed in life if they smoke pot. I mean, none of these people ever got anywhere.
I didn’t say that, but Charles lynch might.
and what would this guy know, he never smoked pot, saw the benefits it had on his dying son and did research to make sure it’s safe. I hate all these harvard educated doctors
See radiation comment.
There’s a lot of actual/factual information about the plant. It’s just hard to swallow when you’ve been lied to all these years.
And yet I still grok the truth.
Don’t push your personal beliefs on the rest of us Drunky.
Some of us can actually handle our booze, and not be a giant baby. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us. Fuckin’ Hitler wannabe.
what does that make you other than the obviously confused, rude stoner that doesn’t have the intelligence to argue his case in a civilized manner?
Be careful or I will squash you under my jackboots!
In the words of Barry Goldwater…
“You can’t legislate morality”.
All those anti-murder laws really stop murder, eh?
Stop being a short sighted child.
how I am trying to push my morality on you. Now if I could pass on a little civility and courtesy- now that would be a good trick wouldn’t it!
“Nope, but it’s kind of like not paying your taxes- lesson is, unless your are a politician (in power) it just doesn’t make sense to defy or test even the grey area with the federal government.”
Really? you don’t question anything because the GOVT says so? that’s so sad…
“Radiation can cure cancer, try that in your bong.”
Show me one study that says radiation cures cancer, it may help slow the cells from spreading but doesn’t CURE it.
And about your “See radiation” comment, i did. That was the point of of the link to lester grinspoon, the harvard educated doctor who’s son was HELPED by the medical marijuana when the radiation was destroying him.
“So you believe that all things should be legal because we should just all trust each other to be responsible- that is the point of legalization? I assume then you wish to dismantle all arbitrary limits inluding age limits, FDA requirements, sanitary requirements, and driving regulations since that is the point you are trying to make.”
I’m not saying that. I’m saying people should be responsible for their actions! Should we ban cars because some people decide to race them on city streets? If someone gets fat from eating McDonalds is it McDonalds fault or the person who can’t stop eating it?
Same thing with weed, You can’t punish everyone for the actions of a few irresponsible people. I see more damage done from alcohol and cigarettes than any other drug. I also work in an industry where everyone smokes weed, i’ve smoked weed with all my bosses and guess what, i make a good living, haven’t hurt anyone and contribute to society. I make a good living and volunteer when i can. I don’t think all drugs should be legalized because some of them are very dangerous and destructive to society, but weed isn’t a drug, it’s a plant!
Seriously man, do some research. You’re so ill informed it’s not even funny.
I commend you for breaking your alcohol habit, it’s hard and i have family members that deal with it as well. I’m not trying to be a jerk, it’s just the facts aren’t on your side with the weed argument, it is with the alcohol though, but it all comes down to personal responsibility, would you ban sex because some people aren’t responsible enough to use a condom?
I just don’t understand what you’re so scared of with legalizing weed. Everyone who smokes weed can get it already, lets just make it legal, tax it and bring some revenue into our failing country.
I think you already know that that there is a very big difference between questioning and defying or breaking the law.
On cancer, ask a radiation oncologist about effective treatments for cancer and see how many times marijuana comes up- yes it’s semantics but if you want one study that shows “cure”- here you go.
You implicitly stated that the point of legalization was responsibility, now you say that isn’t really your point- fine. But let’s move on, I appreciate you actually taking the time to read my comments but you haven’t yet addressed the subject of my original blog.
Maybe like others you have just assumed that I think weed is evil, sinful, or for that matter in the same league as alcohol- don’t be so sure. And please knock off this conspiracy theory crap about me believing in the lies or being “uninformed”- leave that stuff for the protest signs. I hate to have to say this, but read the blog again – you have yet to comment on the topic. Check out another blog I posted in the recent past.
I’ve had a boatload of replies to these two blogs, most too nasty or incoherent to publish, referring to just marijuana which none of my posts have been JUST about marijuana. This strengthens my view that most people don’t see the difference between the issues- a slippery slope your supporters are reinforcing.
So once again, this is my stance on the legalization… on the legalization of illicit drugs:
Until our society learns how to cope with this most destructive and costly substance (alcohol) that is already legal, I think it is foolish to submit any plan that suggests we can improve the current situation by legalizing drugs.
If you intend to continue commenting-please address this and not just comment on your pet issue which in this case is really counterproductive to your cause.