On the need for a lawyer

[Stifle Tower]

To be honest I do not like the distrust of the police that is being shown by society. I am however fully aware that there are numerous reasons for this. From false stories to dirty cops to bad laws.

I am an honest law-abiding citizen who used to have a ton of respect for the police. I was out training with a guy and he ended up doing something stupid. Much to my surprise, he was also using a fake id. I had no idea...he was an employee of the company and I was in the passenger side as a trainee. I was handcuffed, searched, finally let go, but I was in a completely unfamiliar city, in an "iffy" residential area. They arrested him and impounded his car, leaving me without a ride. I was told to just to start walking. Cop wouldn't tell me which direction I could find a taxi stand or major business that would have been open (like a fast food place or motel...anything). I am now much more critical of police officers. I know some are very good. Unfortunately many are very, very bad, egotistical jerks like this one was.

 

[Boondocksaint27]

One Brow: sources on countries decriminalizing successfully please. I have "heard" that too. I have also "heard" how that has been tried and failed. Decriminalizing won't stop the crimes committed under the influence of hard narcotics. Robberies and thefts won't go away either. You'll still have individuals stealing and robbing to get money to buy the drug legally. The crime won't change. Just the motive, in my opinion.

Edit: profitable? Do you know how many millions are spent on drug court/drug diversion and social programs centered on recovery? You can't just magically say treatment and counseling to a person and expect them to recover. Programs are in place for those who want them but usually an addict has to hit their bottom before they want to change.

 

[Stoked]

I am an honest law-abiding citizen who used to have a ton of respect for the police. I was out training with a guy and he ended up doing something stupid. Much to my surprise, he was also using a fake id. I had no idea...he was an employee of the company and I was in the passenger side as a trainee. I was handcuffed, searched, finally let go, but I was in a completely unfamiliar city, in an "iffy" residential area. They arrested him and impounded his car, leaving me without a ride. I was told to just to start walking. Cop wouldn't tell me which direction I could find a taxi stand or major business that would have been open (like a fast food place or motel...anything). I am now much more critical of police officers. I know some are very good. Unfortunately many are very, very bad, egotistical jerks like this one was.

I fully allow and agree that the police themselves create a large part of their image problem. The officers you had sound like creeps.

 

[Gameface]

In terms of my post I'm speaking about "hard" drugs like heroin, meth, cocaine/crack, and scrips, not marijuana...so what's the solution? Addicts don't just hurt themselves. They hurt their children, parents, close friends, and others. I don't mean hurt in the sense of emotional pain from a loved one using, though there is that too, I mean physical and sexual violence, theft, fraud, etc. Murders are committed on and over dope. Sexual assaults are committed while high on dope. Most thefts and robberies are committed to buy dope. Legalizing it won't make these things go away. Not to mention the monumental costs associated with what it would do to the health care system.

Just my opinion, but a lot of criminals (not regular people who made a mistake, but criminals) chose to be criminals. Legalizing hard dope won't make them just go away. They will just find a new hustle. Example: legalizing booze didn't destroy the mafia. Cartels wouldn't just cease to exist. They would just find a new drug or move on to a more violent means of making illegal money.

So you're saying SOME people who use drugs also do other illegal things? Arrest them for the other illegal things they're doing.

 

[One Brow]

One Brow: sources on countries decriminalizing successfully please. I have "heard" that too. I have also "heard" how that has been tried and failed. Decriminalizing won't stop the crimes committed under the influence of hard narcotics. Robberies and thefts won't go away either. You'll still have individuals stealing and robbing to get money to buy the drug legally. The crime won't change. Just the motive, in my opinion.

https://www.spiegel.de/internationa...tion-in-portugal-12-years-later-a-891060.html
https://www.cato.org/publications/w...essons-creating-fair-successful-drug-policies

I'm curious where you have heard that decriminalization does not work. If the goal is to stop drug use completely, I agree it won't work, but neither has criminalization.

If the goal is to reduce drug use, improve public safety, and save money, decriminalization does all three.

Edit: profitable? Do you know how many millions are spent on drug court/drug diversion and social programs centered on recovery? You can't just magically say treatment and counseling to a person and expect them to recover. Programs are in place for those who want them but usually an addict has to hit their bottom before they want to change.

I believe that, when I said "profitable", I was referring to the alternative sources of income for organized crime that you mentioned. If they were as profitable as the current sources, organized criminals would already be undertaking them.