Comments on: LEAPing out of the pan and into the fire http://discoveringalcoholic.com/alcohol-related-crime/leaping-out-of-the-pan-and-into-the-fire The Discovering Alcoholic is a top rated recovery blog covering alcoholism, substance abuse, treatment and recovery issues. Fri, 11 May 2012 03:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jasmine http://discoveringalcoholic.com/alcohol-related-crime/leaping-out-of-the-pan-and-into-the-fire#comment-1393 Jasmine Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://discoveringalcoholic.com/?p=2072#comment-1393 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. 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.

]]> By: lisaf-breakingthecycles http://discoveringalcoholic.com/alcohol-related-crime/leaping-out-of-the-pan-and-into-the-fire#comment-1500 lisaf-breakingthecycles Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://discoveringalcoholic.com/?p=2072#comment-1500 I couldn't agree more! And perfect way to frame the issue... I couldn’t agree more! And perfect way to frame the issue…

]]> By: Joe.. http://discoveringalcoholic.com/alcohol-related-crime/leaping-out-of-the-pan-and-into-the-fire#comment-1501 Joe.. Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://discoveringalcoholic.com/?p=2072#comment-1501 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. 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.

]]> By: The Discovering Alcoholic http://discoveringalcoholic.com/alcohol-related-crime/leaping-out-of-the-pan-and-into-the-fire#comment-1502 The Discovering Alcoholic Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://discoveringalcoholic.com/?p=2072#comment-1502 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. 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.

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