Legalizing Drugs (Cocaine, Marijuana, etc)

[chrisrenrut]

. . .Tough love doesn't work. . .

That is an over-generalization. It doesn't work in some cases, it does in others. You can quibble about the percentages.

[pellegrino]

That is an over-generalization. It doesn't work in some cases, it does in others. You can quibble about the percentages.

It probably depends on how good those administering it are at loving vs being tough. I imagine in relationships where the addict has a certainty of the person's love through a lot of different experiences then it could be effective. Generally, I've always seen it as an oxymoron.

[frank ryan]

Interesting article with a blurb on decriminalization in Portugal.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6506936

harm reduction over tough love is absolutely the way to go. I like what Portugal has done.

[USUC]

harm reduction over tough love is absolutely the way to go. I like what Portugal has done.

It would be interesting to see how much money it would require to flip from the war on drugs to what Portugal did. If its cheaper, would Republicans back this with the enticement of less spending? The war on drugs is damaging to the US but even more so for the countries that are the target of the war on drugs.

[pellegrino]

It would be interesting to see how much money it would require to flip from the war on drugs to what Portugal did. If its cheaper, would Republicans back this with the enticement of less spending? The war on drugs is damaging to the US but even more so for the countries that are the target of the war on drugs.

No, the Republicans are far too invested in Christian morality as the basis of their politics and drugs are viewed as immoral. Their ethos demands that the immoral remain illegal in every situation. So long as Republicans claim religious morality, they will fight against legalization.

[cowboy]

No, the Republicans are far too invested in Christian morality as the basis of their politics and drugs are viewed as immoral. Their ethos demands that the immoral remain illegal in every situation. So long as Republicans claim religious morality, they will fight against legalization.

I don't think it is necessarily a religion thing. A lot of Christians are somewhat libertarian in their bent, as demonstrated by Ron Paul's popularity, and don't care about drug legalization. I'm opposed to our drug laws from a purely economic perspective. We're spending billions of dollars to put otherwise decent people in jail and create a profit center for organized crime.

[pellegrino]

I don't think it is necessarily a religion thing. A lot of Christians are somewhat libertarian in their bent, as demonstrated by Ron Paul's popularity, and don't care about drug legalization. I'm opposed to our drug laws from a purely economic perspective. We're spending billions of dollars to put otherwise decent people in jail and create a profit center for organized crime.

I agree that there are many Christians who have libertarian tendencies, but those who don't care about drug legalization, or even support it aren't power brokers within the party and they aren't trying to become such. The old mentality is still very present.

[Copelius]

So the majority of the Utah populace don't want the prison moved, and the legislature is going to move it. The majority of Utahns also want medical marijuana so the Senate votes it down. I am glad they know what is good for me.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33766250&nid=757&title=utah-senate-narrowly-defeats-medical-marijuana-bill&fm=home_page&s_cid=topstory

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

So the majority of the Utah populace don't want the prison moved, and the legislature is going to move it. The majority of Utahns also want medical marijuana so the Senate votes it down. I am glad they know what is good for me.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33766250&nid...s_cid=topstory

But people voted for them so that's what the people want. #voteordie

[Eddie]

So the majority of the Utah populace don't want the prison moved, and the legislature is going to move it. The majority of Utahns also want medical marijuana so the Senate votes it down. I am glad they know what is good for me.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33766250&nid...s_cid=topstory

My senator asked me to complete a short survey about medical marijuana for him. Of course, some of the questions made me feel like one of those bulls who has a nose ring so someone can drag them around where they want to go.

First question was OK - do you support medical marijuana, yes, ,no, or undecided.

One of the other questions was more along the lines of: Do you think Utah should ram through a medical marijuana bill in the last week of the legislative session without any thought and without consideration of potential consequences or study to determine how it should be implemented; do you think Utah should study out the issue carefully over the next few months and propose well thought out legislation next year; undecided.

Hmmm...what could the best answer be?

I have to admit - I'm kind of curious as to the experience of medical marijuana in practice. I generally support it. But have questions about implementation. Like - can anyone grow their own with a prescription? What are the prescription limits as far as possession? And what exactly constitutes a medical reason for use? Offsetting chemo side effects? Pain management? What if I want to use it for an anti-anxiety medication?

Quite frankly, people don't have the means to grow oxycodone in their basement. So when a prescription is issued, you generally get the sense that they'll be using it themselves. But if one has a prescription for marijuana and is growing their own, it's like they've got a widow's jug of oil with enough for everyone.

If you're going to legalize marijuana, I kind of think you've got to jump in all or nothing. Or you're stuck regulating it with official state liquor...er...marijuana stores.

[Eddie]

But people voted for them so that's what the people want. #voteordie

Well...not ALL the people voted for them. Some people decided that there wasn't enough return of investment for the time it would take to vote...

[frank ryan]

My senator asked me to complete a short survey about medical marijuana for him. Of course, some of the questions made me feel like one of those bulls who has a nose ring so someone can drag them around where they want to go.

First question was OK - do you support medical marijuana, yes, ,no, or undecided.

One of the other questions was more along the lines of: Do you think Utah should ram through a medical marijuana bill in the last week of the legislative session without any thought and without consideration of potential consequences or study to determine how it should be implemented; do you think Utah should study out the issue carefully over the next few months and propose well thought out legislation next year; undecided.

Hmmm...what could the best answer be?

I have to admit - I'm kind of curious as to the experience of medical marijuana in practice. I generally support it. But have questions about implementation. Like - can anyone grow their own with a prescription? What are the prescription limits as far as possession? And what exactly constitutes a medical reason for use? Offsetting chemo side effects? Pain management? What if I want to use it for an anti-anxiety medication?

Quite frankly, people don't have the means to grow oxycodone in their basement. So when a prescription is issued, you generally get the sense that they'll be using it themselves. But if one has a prescription for marijuana and is growing their own, it's like they've got a widow's jug of oil with enough for everyone.

If you're going to legalize marijuana, I kind of think you've got to jump in all or nothing. Or you're stuck regulating it with official state liquor...er...marijuana stores.

there are plenty of medial marijuana examples to look at though. It wouldn't be new thing if Utah followed suit.

[Pelado]

there are plenty of medial marijuana examples to look at though. It wouldn't be new thing if Utah followed suit.

So you just want to rush into it like Eddie?

...Utah should ram through a medical marijuana bill in the last week of the legislative session without any thought and without consideration of potential consequences or study to determine how it should be implemented...

[Eddie]

there are plenty of medial marijuana examples to look at though. It wouldn't be new thing if Utah followed suit.

I'll be surprised if Utah doesn't have something next year. You are right that there are plenty of examples to look at. Which ones are good and which ones are bad? How are the they same and different? What are the intended and unintended consequences of each? I'm not sure it's a bad idea to look at each, speak to those states who have implemented it about their experiences with it - good and bad - and then put together something with the most good and the least bad.

[Non Sequitur]

So you just want to rush into it like Eddie?

That we're even debating this is stupid. My mind was made up when I was going through chemo and couldn't find a drug that would cut my nausea and my oncologist told me that marijuana might be able to help. Given the cocktail of other drugs I was taking at the time, it was idiotic that marijuana was unavailable to me.