Drug Friendly Netherlands to Close 8 Prisons...Not Enough Crime

[quantumleap]

In my (always..heh) humble opinion, the California Correctional Officers Assocation is the most powerful union in the USA outside of the Major League Baseball Players Assocation and the NBA players union.

California has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the entire free world

This is from wikipedia so take it for what it's worth:

"The CCPOA is deeply involved in a variety of political activities. Most spending is done through political action committees. Although its membership is relatively small, representing only about one tenth the membership of the California Teachers Association, CCPOA political activity routinely exceeds that of all other labor unions in California. The union spends heavily on influencing political campaigns, and on lobbying legislators and other government officials. CCPOA also hires public relations firms and political polling firms."

 

[barman]

Oh, that jives with all I've read and heard over the past 10+ years from my colleagues in California who are active in reforming failed public drug policies.

The CCPOA even campaigned heavily against sensible medical marijuana laws.

 

[SayHeyKid]

Of course the netherlands is closing prisons. The drug war is around for one reason only, to lock up and enslave innocent people. It's all about geting you in the system.


In 1972 when Richard Nixon started the war on drugs the federal budget allocation was $101M. Going into fiscal year 2001 the federal budget allocation was $20B. Yet there were more drugs in the country in 2001, they were better quality, and they were less expensive then they were in 1972.

What is wrong with that picture? The folks who run the planet in this hypercompetitive world don't get in these positions of power because they're idiots. The drug war is an amazing success. They outlaw the drugs and jack up the prices, ship in the drugs through the CIA (they've been caught dozens of times), then throw you in their private prisons 10 years for using their filth.

 

[Willie99]

hehehe

not enough poor inner city neighborhoods & illegal immigrants either

 

[Willie99]

what do you think would happen to their crime rate if we were to send the the residents of New Orleans, Detroit and 20 million illegals?

 

[barman]

To that rhetorical question, we'd note first that the Netherlands could not support such an influx of people due to its size.

But on a thumbnail basis, the majority of crime in the cities you cite is founded in the shit local economies in combination with the policy of Prohibition which inspires so many residents to get involved in the illicit drug trade.

I'm thinking that Holland pretty much likes it the way they have it now with their main immigration challenges being Muslims from the Middle East - though as far as I know the bulk of those immigrate legally per Dutch laws.

 

[mamatried]

Let us not forget the group, other than the drug dealers and the prison industry, that benefits the most from our Prohibition policy.....

THE TRIAL LAWYERS!

 

[guitarjosh]

Are all drugs legal in the Netherlands or just weed?

 

[barman]

Are all drugs legal in the Netherlands or just weed?

Actually, marijuana is illegal to possess or to distribute in the Netherlands, thus allowing them to comply with some UN-related agreements made in the 1970s.

However, beginning in 1975, the Dutch government agreed to tolerate commercial distribution of up to 5 grams per transaction provided it was from a licensed dealer - nearly all of who operate out of coffee shops.

Personal possession is also tolerated within reasonable limits...I'm unaware of anyone being arrested for possession of an ounce or less. I have about a half dozen cyber colleagues in the Netherlands who work in reforming European drug policies.

 

[quantumleap]

Actually, marijuana is illegal to possess or to distribute in the Netherlands, thus allowing them to comply with some UN-related agreements made in the 1970s.

However, beginning in 1975, the Dutch government agreed to tolerate commercial distribution of up to 5 grams per transaction provided it was from a licensed dealer - nearly all of who operate out of coffee shops.

Personal possession is also tolerated within reasonable limits...I'm unaware of anyone being arrested for possession of an ounce or less. I have about a half dozen cyber colleagues in the Netherlands who work in reforming European drug policies.

They also have a different approach to those who are arrested. They prefer treatment over incarceration.