This blog is way left of center...
Sad. Just sad. Why people don't see a problem with the prison situation without factoring in the economic impact is truly pathetic. A pox on humanity.
Plus in these economic times it is good to consider how much revenue could be raised by a tax on cannabis.
As a mother with a 21 yo old son who is now in treatment for heroin addiction, and who had to struggle to get that treatment privately because the state no longer can pay for it, I whole heartedly embrace the concept of treatment over jail time.
I am so glad my son got into treatment, but there is a $1000.00 dollar co-pay. We can eventually make arrangements and perhaps help him with that if needed, but what about people who absolutely can not? Wouldn't the money spent hunting down pot smokers and putting them in jail be better used towards treatment?
And no, I still do not believe cannabis is a true gate-way drug. My son apparently started out on prescription pain killers and moved over to heroin. He did smoke pot as well, though, but I believe that the fact that you have to buy pot illegally from a "dealer" is what opens up access to harder drugs. If it was legally accessible from a legit source, that just may dry up some of the access to heroin.
Not to take over and be brutally honest about what my family is going through right now, but dammit, I am so tired of being ashamed and phony. And this hits close to home.
I suspect there is a great profit motive to the whole jail industry, up to a certain point where it becomes unsustainable.
In my part of Appalachia, Brittanicals, prisons are "local industries" that supply jobs--so yes, I agree, on the profit motive. It's a sorry situation. Why can't we shift to creating more jobs in caring for people instead of in locking people up?
There are also prisons on some locales that are run, not by the state, but prison corporations. More lovely free-market bullshit.
I was under the impression that most prisons were owned and operated by private corporations under contract to the state.
Brittanicals, I hope all works out well for your son and your family. I've struggled with drug dependency and it is very unkind to everyone who loves those afflicted.
I still smoke pot fairly regularly, up to twice a week. On a Friday night when I wish to relax (and ease the pain of my arthritis) I'll have a smoke instead of having a drink. The fact that I can buy marijuana legally definitely makes it much safer and easier to avoid harder drugs. The clinic I go for buying pot caters to only approved patients. The workers are professional, clean and honest to their customers/patients. I wouldn't even consider buying dope on the black market anymore. Legalize it!
Yep, Eric. I truly believe that keeping pot illegal is what is opening up the gateway to hard drugs, because of the source. I wonder if cannabis use rates in teens would decrease if it was legal, and your hippie organic mommy grew it in her greenhouse. A lot less cachet, I guess.
I am so sorry that you struggle with the arthritis. Thanks to all the good wishes from anyone here, didn't want to hijack, but this issue is near to my heart right now. I am tired of hearing how "lucky" it is that my genius of a 21 yo boy was able to get the medical treatment he needs to treat a serious disease. That should be a given. And maybe if they weren't chasing the pot all the time, there would be more money for important things like that.
I'm SO glad he's getting treatment vs. prison time!
Brittanicals, I wish you and your son the very best and I know what heroin can do, and how addictive it is. I did try heroin once by nasal administration. Cannabis is what helped me quit everything else, including even tobacco. If it's a gateway at all, it is more of a terminus.
Thanks, Mike.
Unfortunately, most of the NA programs that I have heard of seem to preach zero tolerance. I wish there was more of a push towards harm reduction.
I don't have much use for 12-step programs, personally, but if it helps some people then I don't have any problem with that. My girlfriend who helped me quit was a pothead, and former heroin user herself who had detoxed. Harm reduction has always been my priority, and in the long run it's the only thing that works.
Abstinence?
The thing I like about pot is, with me at least, you know when you've had enough, and to continue past that point is like wasting pot.
Now alcohol, on the other hand... I know when I've had enough and sometimes that's just the beginning of the festivities. Too bad I don't remember the REALLY "fun" part afterwards.
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