The new FBI Uniform Crime Report is out and it shows that 755,000 people were arrested last year on Marijuana charges, with 9 out of 10 of them being arrested solely for possession (over the past decade, the total is 6.5 million arrests). And here's a stat that no one ever talks about. The United States rate of imprisonment is four times higher than any other civilized nation. The next closest is England, but the US still locks up four times as many citizens per capita as they do. Think there's a connection between those two things? I do. The costs of pursuing the failed "war on drugs" costs taxpayers in the hundreds of billions of dollars every year, with about 45% of that focused solely on pot. You wanna cut the size of government? That's a good place to start.
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Decriminalizing marihuana would also be a step in the right direction. We spend a great deal of money in the country trying to protect people from themselves.
Yet another reason why I voted for Kerry. At least I don't fear that he will send the police to kick down my door because some Bible-thumper doesn't like the manner in which I live.
Why cut money from the laudable war on drugs when we can cut money from housing for poor people or health care for the elderly?
We must protect Americans from ths scurge of marijuana. Left unconstrained, orgies of candy bar consumption and open mindness threaten the very fabric of the nation. Personally, I blame terrorists for the rise in marijuana usage. A vote John Kerry is a vote for stoners to continue putting the nation at risk.
Why do you love illegal drugs so much Ed? They stupify our children and kill small rodents.
Oh. I see your point.
"Yeah I've had bad experiences on drugs...I've had bad relationships to, and I ain't giving up poontang"-Bill Hicks
I can't believe the UK is second, I mean everyone there smokes and the cops don't ever do anything even if they catch you... not that I ever got caught two/three times or anything.
Still, if it was legal, I would have made myself a lot dumber in my old age from it, so in a way, I am glad it isn't, though I don't think it should be the target of the fake drug war either, but either way it does lead to ridiculously long run-on sentences of little sensical value.
I don't ever remember marijuana causing any problems for people. Alcohol is MUCH worse as a drug (not that I have anything against it ;) ) yet there's more concern for tobacco! Legalize the weed. If it's really costing hundreds of billions of dollars to lock all these people up for something so miniscule then it's really not worth it.