I’m writing about Bill Richardson’s not-so-thoughtful column: “Targeting addicts the more effective way to reduce crime in our cities” (July 12). Even though caffeine is an addictive drug and potentially lethal in very high doses, we have absolutely no crime associated with it. Why? It’s legal. Nicotine is a very addictive substance that is very deadly, yet we have almost no crime associated with it. Why? It’s legal.
A couple of weeks ago, I watched one of the Lock Up series on MSNBC and they were doing a prison cell search in a California prison. They found among other things, a package of cigarettes. They mentioned that in California prisons cigarettes sell for $400 to $600 a pack. Why? Because inside California prisons cigarettes are illegal. By the way, inside California prisons cigarettes are controlled by prison gangs.
If meth addicts could buy a hit of meth for pennies per dose at any pharmacy would they need to rob or steal to pay for their habit? No.
Hard drug use is stupid. Stupidity should not be a crime that sends people to jail or prison. Our jails and prisons should be reserved for people who intentionally harm others against their will. Not gardeners. Not people who use, buy or sell to willing buyers unapproved substances.
Kirk Muse
Mesa
mwd2525 posted at 10:31 am on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
'Why not have "kiddie-porn" booths in the Malls'.Because kiddie porn hurts children genius,where as drug use hurts no one but the user. 'get a "buzz" while the Old Lady is buying back-to-school clothes'....we have that already....they are called bars. I guess leon didnt read the article,it was about prosecuting users as opposed to dealers,not illegals or shoplifters. Frankly if I am on a jury I would like to be able to send a child molester to jail for life and throw away the key, instead of a year because we need to make room in jail for the guy that wants to smoke dope.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:59 am on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
Kirk,
Your logic doesn't work. The user does hurt other people against their will. What about the children, spouse, brother, sister, mom or dad of a user. They all become victims of drug use. You say that jail should be only for the sellers, processors and distributors. How many users do the selling and distribution?
Cubs1908 posted at 12:59 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
chatmandu002 - By your logic we should jail alcoholics and gamblers. How would that make sense?
Engaged Voter posted at 1:43 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
So wait, chatmandu002 wants to make adultery illegal?
The adulterer does hurt other people against their will. What about the children, spouse, brother, sister, mom or dad of an adulterer. They all become victims of adultery.
See how that works? ;)
(I'd personally rather see adulterers in jail than cancer patients caught smoking a joint)
fae4now posted at 9:45 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
Well now, if I'm invested in the private, FOR PROFIT, prison system that so many Arizona lawmakers support (because of course nothing run by the government can operate efficiently) I would be in favor of throwing everyone in jail.
Adulterers? You bet! Smokers, drinkers, gamblers? I'll make room for 'em!
Weeds in your lawn? Jaywalkers? Tail light burned out? Yes, yes, YES!
Every space we can fill in a private prison is money in my pocket. Ca-Ching!
Cerulean posted at 4:28 pm on Sat, Jul 21, 2012.
Your point is well made, Kirk. However until these drugs are legalized and sale for pennies, what do you do about the addicts who are dangerous? Locking them up is not a bad idea. Some addicts commit crimes but not all do. Lock-up those that do. Sometimes - it’s the only way an addict can clean up, dry out, whatever the vernacular for stop using is.
sockratties posted at 5:24 pm on Sun, Jul 22, 2012.
I think it's the governor who benefits from privatizing the prisons. At least according to the special interests that support her.
The reason marijuana (hemp) is illegal is because of a 1930s campaign against it by wealthy Mellon, Hearst and DuPont family interests. Hemp was thought to be a better source of fiber for paper (Hearst had huge timber holdings) and at that time, rope vs. Nylon (DuPont held the patent). Mellon was at that time Secretary of the Treasury and the wealthiest man in America. He had considerable investment in DuPont Chemicals; a serious conflict of interest. To be certain hemp would not compete with timber for wood pulp or Nylon for rope fiber false claims were made regarding addiction, violence and over dosage. Cannabis was added to the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act and passed although it was objected to by the American Medical Association because the bill had been prepared in secret. We live with that decision today. Other than pot being illegal there seems to be no real justification for the crime because there is no real justification for the law.
We should decriminalize use of marijuana and de-felonize hard drug use. Dealers and distributors of hard drugs should do hard time. Programs need to be in place for those who want to get clean (perhaps a 3 strike system because becoming un-addicted is up to the addict). MJ should be handled something like alcohol where it is regulated and taxed. There are a lot of good people in jail because they made the mistake of using marijuana. At worst such a crime should only be a misdemeanor.
Arizona Willie posted at 2:24 pm on Mon, Jul 23, 2012.
The liquor industry is what keeps marijuana illegal now.
The booze companies pay millions in bribes ... err ... " campaign contributions " to politicians at all levels of government to keep marijuana illegal.
They know that if you could stop at the local convenience store on your way home from work and pick up a legal joint and take it home and have a smoke with the old lady after dinner and have a good time and wake up with no hangover --- you wouldn't buy their booze.
The only possible way to get marijuana legal would be to make it so only the tobacco companies could raise and sell it and then you could pit the tobacco companies against the liquor companies. But, as it is, there is no big money behind legal marijuana. As long as no company can make big profits it will never be legalized.
It is against the interest of the liquor companies and the pharmaceutical companies that want to sell you some pills. Oxycodone and it's relatives are the biggest seller the drug companies have. You can probably buy some oxycodone on the street easier than marijuana.