Libertarian Perspective: Drugs in America | Toledo Free Press - Kenneth Sharp:
April 25, 2013 - "Some cops say legalize drugs? Yes, many do and I will explain some of the reasons why.
"In America, we have strong moral feelings about drugs that can cloud reason, especially when coupled with a lack of understanding of history. It isn’t that those who clamor for tough laws and prison sentences are without empathy; on the contrary, most believe those affected will receive the help they need. And it isn’t that these good people are intentionally ignoring history; they simply aren’t taught it....
"There are few Americans alive today born before the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act went into effect in 1914. There are probably fewer Americans of any age that are aware of it or what it has meant to society.... After this act, doctors were arrested for supplying the necessary drugs to treat addicts and ameliorate their issues. Doctors could no longer treat these people as patients.... The addict was forced to find his supply on the black market. This is prohibition. Prohibition leads to crime and immense wealth for the profiteers. The underlying issues do not disappear with prohibition, and the profiteers see their market increase. In order to survive, addicts turn to crime, including theft."
"As the crimes associated with drugs increase, along with profits, the image of the minority as prime user and criminal is reinforced. Prohibitions have always targeted minority groups to secure authority of the powerful elite classes. Opium was used to target the Chinese in America, even as the U.S. government and commercial interests worked to open markets to it in China. Propaganda described marijuana and cocaine as the gateway for black men to corrupt white women, especially with the advent of jazz music. There were powerful corporate and government interests invested in outlawing hemp for their own gain.
"Americans have not received the benefits they hoped for with drug prohibition. Instead, we have ever escalating and more violent crimes. We are less safe and so are our police and safety forces. The profits have increased yearly despite economic recessions. Usage has increased year after year.
"But other countries, like Portugal and Switzerland, have tried different approaches, like decriminalization and legalization. These approaches have succeeded in every category we have hoped for and failed to achieve. They have less use of all drugs, less crime, less spread of disease, less cost to society and fewer lost lives and broken families."
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2013/04/25/libertarian-perspective-drugs-in-america/
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April 25, 2013 - "Some cops say legalize drugs? Yes, many do and I will explain some of the reasons why.
"In America, we have strong moral feelings about drugs that can cloud reason, especially when coupled with a lack of understanding of history. It isn’t that those who clamor for tough laws and prison sentences are without empathy; on the contrary, most believe those affected will receive the help they need. And it isn’t that these good people are intentionally ignoring history; they simply aren’t taught it....
"There are few Americans alive today born before the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act went into effect in 1914. There are probably fewer Americans of any age that are aware of it or what it has meant to society.... After this act, doctors were arrested for supplying the necessary drugs to treat addicts and ameliorate their issues. Doctors could no longer treat these people as patients.... The addict was forced to find his supply on the black market. This is prohibition. Prohibition leads to crime and immense wealth for the profiteers. The underlying issues do not disappear with prohibition, and the profiteers see their market increase. In order to survive, addicts turn to crime, including theft."
"As the crimes associated with drugs increase, along with profits, the image of the minority as prime user and criminal is reinforced. Prohibitions have always targeted minority groups to secure authority of the powerful elite classes. Opium was used to target the Chinese in America, even as the U.S. government and commercial interests worked to open markets to it in China. Propaganda described marijuana and cocaine as the gateway for black men to corrupt white women, especially with the advent of jazz music. There were powerful corporate and government interests invested in outlawing hemp for their own gain.
"Americans have not received the benefits they hoped for with drug prohibition. Instead, we have ever escalating and more violent crimes. We are less safe and so are our police and safety forces. The profits have increased yearly despite economic recessions. Usage has increased year after year.
"But other countries, like Portugal and Switzerland, have tried different approaches, like decriminalization and legalization. These approaches have succeeded in every category we have hoped for and failed to achieve. They have less use of all drugs, less crime, less spread of disease, less cost to society and fewer lost lives and broken families."
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2013/04/25/libertarian-perspective-drugs-in-america/
'via Blog this'
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