Drug laws relaxes across country

that Oregon one is INSANE

Oregon is one batshit crazy state these days.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Oregon will be the first one crying to the Feds for help when everyone is an addict

Drug abuse is a health problem that can lead to crime. Let's treat it and not always prosecute it.

What's wrong with Oregon's laws? They're decriminalizing possession - not the sale. We don't need more people clogging up the courts and prison.

Decriminalize drugs will go a long way in making a better society. We have an entire industry set up to investigate, punish and house offenders with absolutely NO IMPROVEMENT.

When white people do illegal drugs, they are the first to become legalized. No one will lock up white people en masse

[quote] Oregon will be the first one crying to the Feds for help when everyone is an addict

One of the most successful countries with regards to drugs is Portugal, which completely made them legal.

Sure, there are hard core addicts--but at least the country has prioritized treating than rather than jailing them

The War on Drugs was a colossal failure.

r9 - actually, it made a lot of people very rich. And it created a lot of jobs for uneducated white men to harass, arrest and imprison minorities.

[quote]One of the most successful countries with regards to drugs is Portugal, which completely made them legal.

They are totally different cultures. Portuguese are traditionalists. The relaxing of laws in 2001 was brought about by the shocking rates of HIV transmission in the jails. Portugal is still extremely tough on crime with the longest prison sentences in Europe.

[quote]What's wrong with Oregon's laws? They're decriminalizing possession - not the sale. We don't need more people clogging up the courts and prison.

Good luck to them, as long as there is a willingness to invest in programs, health and housing infrastructure for the homeless addicts that will be making their way up to Oregon.

Drugs aren't legalized. Small amounts (possession) is punishable by a fine and the offer of drug treatment.

Better investing in treatment than more prisons.

[quote] Drug abuse is a health problem that can lead to crime. Let's treat it and not always prosecute it.

You can do both. Unfortunately it's very difficult to treat it unless you prosecute it. Most addicts don't seek help unless they have some incentive. Many jurisdictions across the country have court drug programs that will dismiss or reduce charges if they agree to enter a program. Some courts have their own programs. My jurisdiction has both drug court and mental health courts.

R13 It's still sending a message that all their problems will be tolerated. For an addict living from hit to hit, anything that makes their life easier will seem attractive.

"Drug laws relaxes across country"

Such poor grammar, one wonders if you're on...DRUGS?

But we're arresting a lot more for possession. This table shows that arrests for drug sales or manufacturing have remained consistent since the late 80s.

However, the amount of arrests for possession have almost tripled. How can there be the same amount of drug dealer arrests and drug manufacturing arrests, but a dramatic increase in possession arrests?

SOMETHING changed.

Yea, R18, that's weird. In DC, for instance, our simple possession arrests are way down. I checked that chart's definition and they aren't including possession with intent to distribute (PWID) which catches up many personal users because of the paraphernalia often found on people.

Thanks for the link.

It could turn out to be a great thing, or it could backfire big time. Cannabis is one thing but opioids kill, and meth fuels all kinds of antisocial and sick behavior.

Just say no.

Does that mean I can get my Pamprin again?

And like all the crooked cops would not be the ones turning their hands at manufacturing and dealing.

R1

Thinking that it's helpful in any way to further destroy the lives of addicted people with criminal punishments is insane. Oregon is being a bastion of sanity by rejecting the cruel, ignorant, racist, and vindictive 'war on drugs'.

Party time!

Give ’em dirty needles and let ’em die.

Libertarians destroy everything they touch: in this case, Oregon

More about Portugal's efforts.

Corporate 'legalized' drugs in the terms of opiods have been, by far, the most destructive in our country in the past 25 years.

Stop outlawing drug addiction. It's not a crime - it's an addiction. Portugal has it right.

But - there are too many banks making money off of this. And there are too many law-enforcement jobs tied to this. Profit from other's misery is as old as time - and that's why there is such a resistance to change.

Keep the masses drugged and docile!

Heroin Chic will make a big comeback.

[quote] Stop outlawing drug addiction. It's not a crime - it's an addiction.

You are correct. Drug addiction is not a crime. It is the possession , transfer and/or sale etc of it that is the crime. No one is criminalized because of their addiction.

R32 - possessing what you are addicted to is criminalizing your addiction. You can't separate addiction and possession, otherwise you're not addicted to it.

How can you be addicted to something if you never have it?

Rick Steves (the PBS travel guy) favors decriminalization.

[quote] You can't separate addiction and possession, otherwise you're not addicted to it. How can you be addicted to something if you never have it?

Yes you can. In law, they are two separate things. They can't prosecute you for being an addict. They can only prosecute you if you have the illegal substance in your possession (actual possession or constructive possession, i.e., you were witnessed putting your cache under the porch) and they prove it is the substance. Just saying you have had it in your possession in the past can't be prosecuted.

OP must be salivating to tear into Oregon. The outcome was achieved through democracy. But, of course, the voters must be fucked up because OP doesn't like the law that passed. Sounds like a republican thing. Will there be a coup, OP? Should we all build bunkers?

[quote] On election night, voters just said no to America’s war on drugs. In both red and blue states, voters rejected a racist, punitive and ineffective system for dealing with substance use and addiction. The long march toward recognizing drug use as a matter of public health, mental health and human rights and freedom just took a big leap forward.

Oregon DOES go for booze and dope!

How are they planning to have safe disposal of all those needles?