In October, the FBI reported that 755,186 people
were arrested in 2003 on marijuana charges. This is a record number of arrests,
of which a full 88% involved simple possession without additional sale or
manufacturing charges. In contrast, there were only 597,026 arrests for
all violent crimes combined.
Chemical dependance is an affliction, not a crime. You can't commit a crime against yourself.
America's "War on Drugs" has resulted in the "Land of the Free" having the highest rate of imprisonment in the world. Higher than Russia, higher than China, higher than Saudi Arabia. Higher than every other country in the world.
You can have a free society or you can have a nanny state, but you can't have both. Politicians can have all the legal and social theories they like, but if my neighbor is minding their own business then my business ends at their doorstep. And if it isn't my business then it isn't my government's business either. Period. That having been said, let me add that if you're causing detriment to someone too young to know better I would give a thought to throwing the switch on you myself. But though it's a difficult line to draw, people have to assume responsability for themselves at some point.
Another skirmish in the drug war-
"Threats come next. The lawmen tell Siler they will jail his wife and have his children taken away from him. The transcript details more beating sounds, more moaning from Siler, who repeatedly asks to talk to Webber. "You ain't talking to nobody," Green responds. "You're gonna sign this (expletive) paper."
Siler screams. More blows are heard. The lawmen continue to order Siler to sign. He responds with moans and more screams. But there would be no reprieve. "Eugene, it's just beginning, buddy," Webber says. Siler is going to die, the officers tell him ...
Siler is next threatened with electrocution. Webber tells him that they could take a battery charger, hook some wires to it and attach it to Siler's testicles. The federal informants allege that the lawmen later rigged up such a device and used clamps to attach it to Siler's body ..."
And if you think this is an exaggeration, listen to the recording.
How could the drugs that are now illegal in our country have been legal for most of our country's history, how could America's founders have abdicated their responsibility for punishing "crimes" which modern politicians now claim warrant years of imprisonment and in some cases even death? Were the founders irresponsible men, or of dubious moral character? Are modern politicians significantly better? Indeed, it's widely known George Washington grew hemp. Lots of it. Maybe enough to get him life in prison now.
The truth is that federal drug prohibition is unconstitutional on its face.
The government has no legitimate authority to pursue any such sweeping social
program, and in fact there once was a time when respect for the law was
such that federal drug prohibition required a Constitutional amendment authorizing
it. That amendment, which provided for a federal ban on alcohol, was rescinded
after 13 disastrous years. Unfortunately, no such remedy is possible for
the current drug war, since it was never Constitutionally authorized to
begin with.
I personally came within some distance of becoming a victim of the drug
war following the conclusion of a traffic stop shortly after moving to Greenville,
when I was "asked for permission" to search my vehicle. Not realizing I
was in a Constitution free zone, I declined. During the course of my subsequent
imprisonment I was at one point in some fear for my life when one of my
fellow prisoners, a tall individual involved in a knife attack, began shrieking
his intention to kill everyone of my particular race, of which I happened
to be the only representative in the cell at the time. All this was, needless
to say, a wide and unexpected departure from my original plan that morning
to have coffee in town. I was eventually freed that evening and the tickets
subsequently dismissed. The record of my arrest, which state law specifies
be destroyed, remains on file. My pursuit of redress in federal court proved
useless. It seems the law holds little real significance for many government
employees. And the drug war is in large measure their blank check.
Here's the truth about how we got into the "war on drugs"-
There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the
US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their
Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana
causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers,
and any others. -Harry J. Anslinger (right), head of the US Bureau
of Narcotics, testifying before the US Senate in 1937
Your tax dollars at work.
And here's a good article
on the drug war.
addendum:
(1/18/08) Taken from the online comments section of the Greenville
News opinion page, if we're going to have a war on drugs then let's
put this guy in charge-
GlennTheCynic Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:49 pm
Mr. Catoe's letter illustrates what is wrong with our political system:
We allow advocates like Laura Hudson seats at the table based on their resentments
against a particular group, be they addicts or some other minority. Society
no longer tolarates discrimination based on race or gender, so those dark
urges within a certain type of person are directed towards people who are
born a certain way. The best science available has proven that addicts are
born, rather than self-directed. But advocates like Hudson would skillfully
direct the anger of the citizenry towards them, rather than steer the resourses
of society towards positive solutions.
I am living proof that substance abuse treatment does work. I come from an upper-middle-class background and was a child prodigy. But I recall a feeling of total emptiness as a child that wasn't filled until I found drugs at 13. Until then, my non-addict parents tried to direct my energies towards sports and religion. Both bored me to death. But the drugs filled that hole, and through them I found a number of like-minded peers. I used hard drugs on a daily basis for 25 years, including 11 in prison (which only served to make me angrier, and a more efficient criminal). I drank excessively, shot methamphetimine and heroin, and eventually became an under-the-bridge crackhead. I robbed, stole, dealt drugs, and ran guns. If someone got in my way, I moved them out of my way by any means available. I didn't allow intoxication to stop me from driving, nor did I stop driving when my license was suspended. I had only contempt for the law-abiding citizenry. Society's structures and institutions seemed to work just fine for them, but not for me, and I resented that fact.
In 1997, I became tired of it all for several reasons. None of those reasons included a respect for the law. But I wanted a life and became willing to try something different. I checked myself into the AddLife Addictions Treatment Center at Marshal Pickens Hospital. By then, drugs and alcohol were such a big part of my life that giving them up seemed akin to giving up food. I had tried to quit, but the drugs were like this itrrestible magnet. I'd grit my teeth and stop using for a few days, but the cravings always got the better of me.
The staff at AddLife was made up entirely of recovering addicts and alcoholics. They taught me that there was life after drugs. They used a positive reinforcement approach, rather than "tough love" or religion. They also introduced me to a 12-Step fellowship and program of recovery from addiction, and suggested I join this program as a way of life. I followed these suggestions and my life has become better than my wildest dreams or hopes.
The hospital board closed the residential componant of its addictions treatment program around 1999, although its success rate was better than average for treatment centers.
For those who think I'm the exception, I suggest you visit the Embasy Suites Hotel on Verdae Blvd. this Saturday evening. The Upper South Carolina Area of Narcotics Anonymous is holding its annual convention there, this weekend, The main guest speaker (Saturday night, @ approx. 7:30) holds the record of "clean time" in Narcotics Anonymous: approx. 50 years. His story is inspiring, but not unique. Although some convention events are restricted to registered guests, the speaker meetings are open to the public. I think you'll be amazed at the hundreds, maybe thousands, of recovering addicts who have found a new way to live and have become productive members of society. If you'd like to come, but are shy about experiencing new things, send me an e-mail at bfspck@aol.com and I'll arrange to meet you in the lobby (I'll have my Blackberry and will check it regularly).
Although many events are open to the public, Narcotics Anonymous asks that everyone attending respect the privacy of the recovering addicts there by not revealing to others that they are members of NA. And also, please understand that nobody is an "official spokesperson" for NA. The service structure is purposely set up so that there are no "leaders" as most understand the term. NA also accepts no outside funding and has no affiliation with religious, governmental, or other outside entities, nor does NA have any opinion on outside issues such as religion or politics. We're simply a fellowship of recovering addicts, trying to find a better way of life, in a spiritual (not religious) program of total abstinance from all drugs (INCLUDING alcohol).
I found NA via the addictions treatment center, NOT the jail or the penitentiary. But too many people see incarceration and punishment as the only way to respond to addiction. If you are one of those (or not), I challenge you to come and put a face to those who you would punish, dismiss, reject, or otherwise disinclude from society as a whole.
And if you are a loved one has a problem with drugs, including alcohol, I urge you to attend the convention and see for yourself that there's a better way of life, yours for the asking.
addendum2:
(1/31/08) Rolling Stone, How America Lost the War on Drugs-
"All told, the United States has spent an estimated $500 billion to fight drugs - with very little to show for it. Cocaine is now as cheap as it was when Escobar died and more heavily used. Methamphetamine, barely a presence in 1993, is now used by 1.5 million Americans and may be more addictive than crack. We have nearly 500,000 people behind bars for drug crimes - a twelvefold increase since 1980 - with no discernible effect on the drug traffic."
addendum3:
(2/25/08) Here's an overview of how the drug war doesn't apply to the politicians waging it- Prison Sentences of the Politically Connected.
