Nomad
Master Black Belt
Interesting article:
A few of the relevant sections:
I happen to agree with many of these sentiments; what we've been doing hasn't been working, and is a problem we could throw endless amounts of money at (meanwhile taking it away from areas that need it desperately, like our failing school system) without seeing any major effects. Our prisons are filled to bursting with loads of people convicted of minor drug-related crimes while violent criminals and sex-offenders get reduced sentences in many cases to balance the books.
The approaches in Portugal, the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent, Canada in decriminalizing simple possession and instead considering it a health issue seem to be having a positive effect overall, and certainly bear a closer look.
A few of the relevant sections:
The review clearly demonstrates that the astronomical profits created by drug prohibition drive organized crime and its related violence. Several studies included in the report suggested that law enforcement's removal of key players from the drug trade, such as Christopher Coke, only creates power vacuums that lead to violent and deadly competition. Many victims are not involved in the drug trade, as today's civilian deaths in Mexico, the U.S. and Kingston's slums illustrate.
From a scientific perspective, we must accept that law enforcement will never meaningfully reduce the flow of drugs. Economists know that the drug seizures we see over and over again as part of police photo ops have the perverse effect of making it that much more profitable for someone else to sell drugs. The laws of supply and demand have simply overwhelmed police efforts. With young people reporting that obtaining illicit drugs is easier than getting alcohol or tobacco, the situation could not get much worse.
I happen to agree with many of these sentiments; what we've been doing hasn't been working, and is a problem we could throw endless amounts of money at (meanwhile taking it away from areas that need it desperately, like our failing school system) without seeing any major effects. Our prisons are filled to bursting with loads of people convicted of minor drug-related crimes while violent criminals and sex-offenders get reduced sentences in many cases to balance the books.
The approaches in Portugal, the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent, Canada in decriminalizing simple possession and instead considering it a health issue seem to be having a positive effect overall, and certainly bear a closer look.