Posted on Apr 19, 2016
SSG Ed Mikus
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Drug enforcement and use has been a problem for centuries. Is it time to shift gears and become more permissive with these habits?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/world/global-debate-over-war-on-drugs-heads-to-un-general-assembly.html?_r=0
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Responses: 28
SGT Jerrold Pesz
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We need to either legalize drugs or institute the death penalty for ALL drug offenses. Anything in between is simply wasting time and money. We spend billions per year of the so-called "war on drugs" and all that we have done is waste money, promote organized crime and fill our jails with non-violent offenders. We learned nothing from prohibition.
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MAJ Rene De La Rosa
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With the marijuana issue in Colorado and Washington state, there are a number of countries that are hesitant to deal with us due to the laizze faire leadership that we have provided (a hands off approach with the followers making the rules and following them). This is akin to allowing the fox in the chicken coop. There should a continuation of drug interdiction with more severe penalties for trafficking.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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No, I do not support drug use. Drug use is not the answer to anyone's problems.
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PO3 Electrician's Mate
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just let states decide ... that is my stand ...
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SSG Platoon Sergeant
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The problem that I have with that, and the entire concept of "states' rights" is it takes away from our American-ism, in my opinion. You're not a citizen of the state you live in; you're a resident, while you're a citizen of the United States. The fact that an American can be treated differently according to the laws of each state - gun rights and gay marriage come to mind - is a little unsettling in my opinion.
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MAJ Intelligence Officer
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I think the question is oddly worded. Do I support the personal use of drugs that are legal? Yes. Do I support the legalization of drugs? Depends heavily on the drug. In general, with all but the most harmful drugs, I support decriminalization (the lessening or removal of criminal penalties, but still allows significant limits to be placed), and even on those few I still support fair sentencing standards. But, for decriminalization to work, we need a culture shift in how we think of substance abuse and addiction, followed by a significant growth in the mental and physical health sectors to accommodate the treatment of those who need it.
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SSG Ed Mikus
SSG Ed Mikus
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MAJ (Join to see) as always, your thoughts are deep and thorough. When will you be back on post? we need to do lunch.
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MAJ Intelligence Officer
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SSG Ed Mikus,
Tomorrow, actually. I have two desk-side meetings, but should be done by 11 at the latest. Shall we grab a bite after that?
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SFC William Farrell
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No, no, no!
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Capt Richard I P.
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Yep.
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Capt Richard I P.
Capt Richard I P.
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A more eloquent and experienced man than I arguing for it:https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/why-i-m-calling-to-end-the-war-on-drugs
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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Smart people do not use drugs. So let's say we make it legal. Do you want someone high on drugs providing you with any goods or services? I do not. Name companies that will hire people that are drug users. There will be few if any, because these will be employees that you can not depend on. With the liability issue, companies will not hire drug users. These folks will need to resort to crime to get the money to buy the drugs. We are sentencing these folks to an eventual death sentence.
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SSG Ed Mikus
SSG Ed Mikus
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Sgt (Join to see) how is that different from today?
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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SSG Ed Mikus - If it is legal, it might encourage some people to try it that might otherwise not do so. I do not want to write off one portion of our society as beyond saving.
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SFC Marcus Belt
SFC Marcus Belt
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Sgt (Join to see) - It's not legal now, but almost anyone can get whatever drug they want whenever they want it. And prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in rural and suburban communities.

So as it stands currently, people who don't want to use don't use, and people who do, do, and the only ones who really lose are the body politic who has to continue to finance the "War on Drugs" with no tangible results.

And of course, the privately run prison system benefits because they have a constant supply of essentially slave labor to fill low-end manufacturing and unskilled labor jobs that could and should be done by free citizens...these corporations who have no interest in drug treatment or prison rehabilitation because prisoners are their cheap labor.

We have a system in which drug users lose, taxpayers lose (as always!), anyone who wants drugs can still get them, and the people who run our prisons have no interest in rehabilitating prisoners---helping them to become self-sustaining--which must be one of the goals of a prison system in a free republic.

Oh, and let's not forget that the prohibition on drugs increases the profits of the narco-terrorist groups that supply the drugs.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
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I don't support drug use because I think it ruins lives. But I think people should be free to ruin their lives if they want to, so we should not be wasting tax payer dollars to prosecute and house people in prison for it.
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CDR Jon Corrigan
CDR Jon Corrigan
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I agree that those so inclined should be free to ruin their lives if they so choose. Then don't tax me more to support the five kids they had. If they're homeless, don't tax me so they can spend the cold winter in a motel. I also have no desire to pay for their mental health treatment, full-time counselors, multiple stints in rehab, food stamps or anything else. If they drive while high and wipe out an innocent family, don't blame me if they disappear.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
Cpl Mark McMiller
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CDR Jon Corrigan - That pretty much sums up the way I think too.
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Alan K.
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Maybe marijuana for pain so people don't have to take that crap oxycontin.....But that's about it. It should be treated as a prescription drug I guess.
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