The War on Drugs Just won't Die Off

Attorney General Sessions is weighing in on bringing back harsh sentences to low-level drug offenders.

I fail to see how this would improve things, but if this administration taught me anything so far, is that going backwards is the key to moving forwards.

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Surprise surprise, a Trump crony wants to implement something that will harm the very people that put him in office.

Opiate use is currently a huge epidemic among both the poor and the middle class in the US, especially in the flyover states, and this kind of reform would punish these people severely.

Non-violent drug offenders need help, not punishment (well, maybe a little punishment); need to turn them into productive tax-paying members of society instead of taxing-leeching prisoners.

Thankfully, "Marijuana is 'not a factor' in the Trump administration's drug war, say DHS chief"

I'm all for locking hard-drug degenerates up. Maybe rehabilitate them from prison, rather than our streets.

About time.

I fully support spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in taxpayer money to lock someone up for daring to put the wrong kind of substance in their body.

/Sarcasm

Less prison time and more time trying to rehabilitate them. But I guess that means less profit for private driven prisons so it won't happen.

That would be a terrible deicision on his part. I understand there is an epidemic of narcotic and oxycodone abuse, but persecuting the addicted is pointless and self defeating.

@Jacanuk said:

@xdude85 said:

Attorney General Sessions is weighing in on bringing back harsh sentences to low-level drug offenders.

I fail to see how this would improve things, but if this administration taught me anything so far, is that going backwards is the key to moving forwards.

Full Story Here

About time.

"I want government out of my damn life!" "Except if its gays, drugs(the ones tabacco/alcohol/prison lobby want), and vaginas!....because reasons"

Ugh politicians obviously developing policy based off of either lobbying or religion....and the idiots who get brainwashed by them simply because were they grew up or their parents. Screw logic right.

It's not like the last war on drugs was an absolute cluster **** of a disaster...

Legislation needs to get passed to stop employers from discriminating drug users. It's scientifically proven people can be born addicted.

Can they discriminate against alcoholics? Whatever applies to that should apply to any other drug. Alcohol is actually pretty bad.

@zaryia: Exactly it should apply to all drugs since alcohol isn't on the drug test employers shouldn't test for anything. Millions of alcoholics make up the workforce.

Is what I suggest much different than what the Norwegian system has set up? Criminals go to prison, but it's focused on rehabilitation. That's what I would suggest for these people. Dangerous drug addicts aren't just going to magically turn themselves in. There will need to be laws to bring these people in and force them to go through rehabilitation, but that would also involve them not leaving, which is basically prison.

I don't necessarily agree with Norway's prison system. It's a bit too lenient and too expensive. I'd be happier with something that seems a little less like a resort.

@xdude85:

More like, going backwards is the key to going backwards. And in doing so will spark the same problems in the past.

I'm waiting for state's rights activists to defend states with legal marijuana.

No wait, I'm sorry. That only applies to denying equal rights to gays, right? Nevermind.

Good. To the stockades with them.

Not really. But it will cost in the beginning and measure the benefit isn't easy. Wait some 10-20 years to compare the rates of people returning to crime and those who got an actual job after prison with the system there is today.

The leaving part when it comes to rehabilitation is rather late I believe. Late in the program. Some still have a mandatory visit to police station or rehab senter once or twice a day for quite some time afterwards. In those cases leaving the country is forbidden I think.

In California, with recent legislation lowering penalties/decriminalizing crimes, there's been a substantialincrease in property and violent crimes. Stay classy, California.

You know anyone that was "rehabilitated" upon release from prison? Ever?

So correlation equals causation?

Waits anxiously to hear the good ol' ice cream sales and summer parallel.

Simplicity.

Because if it's complicated and nuanced, it's hard for those to comprehend.

Cite a study showing a link between the two, otherwise this is pure trash.

Legalization really doesn't cause any negative impacts overall: https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/dose-reality-effect-state-marijuana-legalizations

@zaryia: Law Enforcement hasn't really cared about marijuana in CA for many years unless you're involved in big grows or dealing.

I'm talking about AB109, prop 47, and prop 57. Since the passing of these laws, calls for service have shot up, violent crime is up, and property crime way up pretty much across the board in every major city in California.

Look at this way in regards to how stupid this state is... before prop 47, possession of a stolen gun was a felony. Afterwards, it's a misd that's citable. Think about that for a minute, giving someone who was in possession of a stolen gun (so long as it's worth less than $950) a notice to appear.