Decriminalizing pot & imposing stiffer sentences for violent "gun" crimes

[zonkers]

would be a singificant step toward a more civilized society.

Logistically, it would not be a problem -- all the newly vacant "prison beds" from the sudden absence of marijuana offenders could now be filled by the violent offenders.

I wish we had some forward thinking lawmakers.

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. I really wish I could just go buy a little pot when I feel like it.

How is that any different than going to buy a bottle of wine?

[zonkers]

2. I met a lawyer who registered hundreds of names for weed products

for tobacco clients. Panana Red, Acapulco gold, etc. This was years ago. Point being, many think the legalization of marijuana is surely coming.

[John Gauger]

3. Pot is less dangerous than alcohol

That's how it's different.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Decriminalize drugs and there will be a huge reduction

in violent crimes and property crimes. You wouldn't have to increase any penalties at all. Drug related violent crimes and property crimes would disappear virtually overnight as addicts would actually be able to afford their addiction and turf wars by drug merchants would be eliminated. Our lords and masters do not want a peaceful society as they cannot control us without fear. The war on drugs was just a precursor to the war on terror. The goal is the same: fear induced obedience.

[marmar]

5. Everytime I go to Amsterdam, I'm more impressed by Dutch pragmatism...

I'd much rather breathe Amsterdam skunk smoke than have a .45 pointed at my forehead. And drug addiction and violent crime rates are much lower there than in the United States, Britain and France - countries with much more restrictive laws.

[High Plains]

6. What is it about "illegal" that you don't understand?

Sorry, I've been reading the immigration threads again. I get pretty sick of their appeals to the law. Sometimes the law is an ass, as with immigration, as with marijuana.

Wow, maybe if we actually enforced the marijuana laws we could change them. Do we really want 20 million people in jail for smoking dope?

[Jed Dilligan]

7. Closer to 50 million I think nt

[High Plains]

8. I think it's about 20 million who "smoked within the last month"

Still, the point remains. Any law that makes criminals out of 20 million US citizens who aren't hurting anybody is seriously fucked up.

[zonkers]

10. I am confused by your post, sorry. But I would like to add that after

googling around, I have found he number of marijuana arrests is around three-quarters of a million annually, largely for simple possession.

And from a 2005 Normyl study....

* The enforcement of state and local marijuana laws annually costs US taxpayers an estimated $7.6 billion, approximately $10,400 per arrest. Of this total, annual police costs are $3.7 billion, judicial/legal costs are $853 million, and correctional costs are $3.1 billion. In both California and New York, state fiscal costs dedicated to marijuana law enforcement annually total over $1 billion.

[focusfan]

9. Making something illegal just makes people more determined

to do it and keeps prices higher.What do you think would happen to the price of pot if they just turned it loose?I know it would be hard to give it away,same as anything with more supply than demand.