[Vision2020] Failed Drug Policies from Nixon to Bush

[Matt Decker]

Tom,

      Like mentioned before, I am not opposed to legalizing all drugs, but have not heard a good argument for it. I do feel that rehabilitation helps, but fear our society is not responsible enough nor ready for a full legalization. 

"As I had mentioned earlier, I support legalization and regulation of MOST 
> drugs, NOT all drugs." 

Which ones are you against, and why?

One more thing. From past experience, it is not necessarily the drug itself that causes the overall harm. Although some can cause more of an immediate impact to the physical aspect, but more rather, what the drug does to your mental state. How quickly you become dependent on the drug. How it starts to rule your life. NOTHING else matters but the fix itself.

I won't disagree that any drug legal or not, that is over consumed, could lead to dependence. If this happens the best way to fix it is through help, IF that person is ready. Forcing someone to do it can lead to failure.

MD

  


> To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com; philosopher.joe at gmail.com; vision2020 at moscow.com; donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com; garrettmc at verizon.net
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Failed Drug Policies from Nixon to Bush
> Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 01:52:11 +0000
> 
> As I had mentioned earlier, I support legalization and regulation of MOST 
> drugs, NOT all drugs.
> 
> Looking back upon my twenty years in the service I feel confident in 
> saying that I have seen a considerably wider range of, and more numerous 
> instances of, effects of drugs (both legal and illegal) than Donovan 
> Arnold or Matt Decker.
> 
> I have seen soldiers so "loaded" on cocaine that they appeared 
> artificially lucid enough to maintain three conversations simultaneously, 
> yet not know what time or what day it was, until they passed out.
> 
> I have seen soldiers suffer alcoholic withdrawals so severe (way beyond 
> the "shakes" and the "bends") that they would do absolutely anything for a 
> taste, including physically assault whoever they were talking to.
> 
> Then there are the codeine junkies.  Now there is an experience for you.
> 
> The Army managed to weed out most of the heavy drug users (heroin and 
> others).
> 
> Where the Army went wrong, in my opinion, is they did one of two things 
> with these addicts.  They either court-martialed them (ultimately 
> discharging them with either dishonorable or bad conduct discharges) or 
> (more expediently) processed them for a general discharge and dumped them 
> onto the civilian streets.
> 
> Incarceration does nothing to correct the problem.  
> 
> What these souls need is true rehabilitation and therapy.  It works.  Look 
> at what the Good Hope Institute has accomplished.  But this option costs 
> money, time, and effort.  People are too DAMNED ready and eager to simply 
> label these souls and toss them aside.
> 
> Those cocaine and heroin addicts I mentioned earlier purchased their fixes 
> illegally.  The "fixes" have always been and will always be there.  It's 
> just a matter of paying the price.  Addicts will steal and kill to get a 
> fix.
> 
> The surest way to control this behavior is to legalize and regulate it.  
> By "legalize" I do NOT mean selling it out of a McDonalds drive-thru.
> 
> Well . . . that's my two cents.
> 
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
> 
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
> 
> 
> 
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