Bradley Jardis has joined a small group of current and retired law enforcement/criminal justice officials of a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, or LEAP. LEAP was formed to advocate the legalization and regulation of drugs as an alternative to what they describe a “failed war on drugs”. Jardis, in a recent MSNBC article states the following:
Jardis believes drugs should be regulated by the government just like alcohol. “We treat alcoholism as a public health problem, but we treat drug addiction as a criminal problem, and that’s wrong,” he said.
While I too believe that our nation’s current methods need revamped especially when it comes to education and emphasis on treatment (LEAP promotes both), but the legalizing drugs would be like jumping out of the pan into the fire if you ask me. Take Officer Jardis’s statement on alcohol and its treatment as a “health problem”. I guess if you want to call alcohol, a prevailing factor in 40% of all violent crime, just a health issue you certainly can, but don’t tell that to the victims or the prison population!
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.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
So much to say on this issue. Let me say one thing though: if I had to walk by a man on the streets at night I would much rather he be high on pot than drunk. One rarely if ever hears of fighting and sexual assault resulting from excessive pot-smoking. Even in terms of road safety I would feel much better knowing that the unsafe drivers are on the road were high and not drunk.
I do not think we need all the law-enforcement we have, but I do believe we need some. Unfortunately too many members of society do not behave appropriately unless something is illegal. I often wish that banging doors and being otherwise disrespectful to one’s neighbors were illegal, for instance, because otherwise people seem to lack the natural compulsion to live harmoniously. So while I agree that we need some level of law enforcement, I also think we have gone WAY overboard in America.
Furthermore we have a system that discriminates against users (cocaine vs crack sentencing) and a prison population (the highest in the world) comprised largely of non-violent drug offenders: I do not wish prison time on these people. They need treatment not further trauma. Education and rehab, not an assault on one’s humanity. I often wonder how things would be different if my junkie father had been taken to a rehab and been healed through talk therapy and a natural environment etc and not put in jail. Maybe he would be alive today if he had been nurtured and cared for and not punished and mistreated.
And people in jail for possession of pot is ridiculous, however rare. I knew a guy in the South whose mother was in jail for seven years of his childhood for one joint–it really messed him up.
Massachusetts voters recently decriminalized the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and I think this was a smart vote, and keep in mind that many who voted were non-users who simply thought it absurd to tie up our police and courts with non-violent smokers.
I think legalization would even the playing field and allow heroin addicts and oxycotin addicts the same level of treatment. There is a crucial need for prison reform in America and it is shameful to me how many of our fellow citizens are in jail. I agree with Joe–the system is CLEARLY broken, and love for my brothers and sisters aside, no one is benefitting from what happens when they are released and our tax dollars are being poorly wasted.
I couldn’t agree more! And perfect way to frame the issue…
Incarcerating someone for possession of marijuana…I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem right. The current system is definitely broke, and I will not call drug and alcohol abuse victimless activities, since there are many many victims, but jailing someone for using? Perhaps truly regulating and treating those addicted would work? I think it is apparent that keeping drugs illegal isn’t working, and we tried Prohibition. No solutions from me, only more questions.
especially for under one ounce. Of course most of the time people go to jail for “pot”- it is really for outstanding warrants, running from the law, weapons charges, other drugs, DUI, or multiple offenses and history. Yes I know it can happen, but being incarcerated solely for a small amount of pot is the exception, not the rule.
I would agree that going to jail for pot seems harsh if and when it happens, but most of the time it happens the person is going to jail because of their lifestyle in general, not just the pot.