I tend to agree with Barman (ugh) and Mr. Milton Friedman on the subject. However its not "top" on my list of important societal changes and I certainly wouldn't waste any time on activism.
I also believe that certain drugs do bring forth chemical imbalances people already possess and as a whole would probably be detrimental to most of society who cannot cope and/or have addictive personaes. This is especially true when young people do drugs. Their minds aren't ready for it. As a whole the prohibition is good IF it worked. But it doesn't, kids still get drugs
I also believe that certain drugs do bring forth chemical imbalances people already possess and as a whole would probably be detrimental to most of society who cannot cope and/or have addictive personaes. This is especially true when young people do drugs. Their minds aren't ready for it. As a whole the prohibition is good IF it worked. But it doesn't, kids still get drugs
Considering we have over 20 million people living in this country illegally, I'm not surprised we're 'losing' the drug war. As soon as we figure out how to solve one problem, we'll solve the other -- two birds with one stone. It's the lack of political will more than anything. In any case, the only path to real change is if the next Mohamed Atta brings a suitcase nuke through the southern border.
If that last comment sounds like an excerpt from a future PNAC document, so be it.
If that last comment sounds like an excerpt from a future PNAC document, so be it.
Your observations within this Thread have been quite sensible.
The original question posed back on Page 1 was "is marijuana Prohibition a good idea?" (paraphrased)
To which I'll add the tag of, "...within the United States of America?"
Sure, Prohibition could "work" - if we were to agree on tossing out the United States Constitution and also the prevailing attitudes of American adults who are quite certainly the world's most hungry consumers of drugs.
Correctomundo.
In the next 24 hours, over 95% of American adults will consume one or more drugs. Of that group, over 2/3 will be some form of psychotropic or potentially addictive drug - alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or opiods.
Thus our society has quite sensibly decided to allow 99.9% (a literal, not a euphemistic percentage) of drugs to be legal and subject to a combination of federal, state and local regulations pertaining to production and commercial distribution.
But for an as yet unexplained reason, a short list of about a dozen drugs are deemed worthy of leaving 100% unregulated and in full control of street producers and dealers.
The business descendants of Al Capone give a standing ovation to the "Joe Contrarians" and other Prohibitionists who make their lucrative enterprises possible.
Singapore drug law
The Misuse of Drugs Act is a national drug control law classifying substances into three categories, Classes A, B, and C. Section 44 provides that "The Minister may, by an order published in the Gazette" add, remove, or transfer drugs among the classes. The statute's penal provisions are draconian by most nations' standards, providing for long terms of imprisonment, caning, and capital punishment. The law creates a presumption of trafficking for certain threshold amounts, e.g. 30 grams of cannabis. It also creates a presumption that a person possesses drugs if he possesses the keys to a premises containing the drugs, and that "Any person found in or escaping from any place or premises which is proved or presumed to be used for the purpose of smoking or administering a controlled drug shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have been smoking or administering a controlled drug in that place or premises." Thus, it is dangerous to even be in the company of drug users. The law also allows officers to search premises and individuals, without a search warrant, if he "reasonably suspects that there is to be found a controlled drug or article liable to seizure". Moreover, Section 31 allows officers to demand urinalysis of suspected drug offenders.
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DP, I would say anyone that doesnt believe this type of law doesnt alter behavior, they are lying to themselves.
30 grams of pot? I thought it was even less than that.
I knew they were tough about drugs, but man, they really dont have a sense of any tolerance.
:smoking:
The Misuse of Drugs Act is a national drug control law classifying substances into three categories, Classes A, B, and C. Section 44 provides that "The Minister may, by an order published in the Gazette" add, remove, or transfer drugs among the classes. The statute's penal provisions are draconian by most nations' standards, providing for long terms of imprisonment, caning, and capital punishment. The law creates a presumption of trafficking for certain threshold amounts, e.g. 30 grams of cannabis. It also creates a presumption that a person possesses drugs if he possesses the keys to a premises containing the drugs, and that "Any person found in or escaping from any place or premises which is proved or presumed to be used for the purpose of smoking or administering a controlled drug shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have been smoking or administering a controlled drug in that place or premises." Thus, it is dangerous to even be in the company of drug users. The law also allows officers to search premises and individuals, without a search warrant, if he "reasonably suspects that there is to be found a controlled drug or article liable to seizure". Moreover, Section 31 allows officers to demand urinalysis of suspected drug offenders.
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DP, I would say anyone that doesnt believe this type of law doesnt alter behavior, they are lying to themselves.
30 grams of pot? I thought it was even less than that.
I knew they were tough about drugs, but man, they really dont have a sense of any tolerance.
:smoking:
I do recall being handed this before entering the country.
The Singapore embarkation card contains a warning to visitors about the death penalty for drug trafficking. Warning signs can be found at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and other border entries. Singapore Airlines also announces similar warnings to air passengers during flights to the country.
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Section 17 of the Misuse of Drugs Act lists the amount of controlled drugs beyond which, the person who carries them shall be presumed to possess them for the purpose of drug trafficking unless proven otherwise:
* Opium: 100 grammes
* Morphine: 3 grammes
* Diamorphine (Heroin): 2 grammes
* Cannabis: 15 grammes
* Cannabis mixture: 30 grammes
* Cannabis resin: 10 grammes
* Cocaine: 3 grammes
* Methamphetamine: 25 grammes
* 10 grammes of any or any combination of the following:
o N, α-dimethyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDMA)
o α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDA)
o N-ethyl-α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDEA)
It should be noted that, unless authorized by the government, the possession, consumption, manufacturing, import, export, or trafficking of these and other controlled drugs in any amount are illegal.
edit: 3 grams of coke? lol
I can see now after they open that high-rise casino there, some idiots trying to be cute and not realizing they are no longer in Kansas ending up with a ropes around their necks.
The Singapore embarkation card contains a warning to visitors about the death penalty for drug trafficking. Warning signs can be found at the Johor-Singapore Causeway and other border entries. Singapore Airlines also announces similar warnings to air passengers during flights to the country.
---------------
Section 17 of the Misuse of Drugs Act lists the amount of controlled drugs beyond which, the person who carries them shall be presumed to possess them for the purpose of drug trafficking unless proven otherwise:
* Opium: 100 grammes
* Morphine: 3 grammes
* Diamorphine (Heroin): 2 grammes
* Cannabis: 15 grammes
* Cannabis mixture: 30 grammes
* Cannabis resin: 10 grammes
* Cocaine: 3 grammes
* Methamphetamine: 25 grammes
* 10 grammes of any or any combination of the following:
o N, α-dimethyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDMA)
o α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDA)
o N-ethyl-α-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine (MDEA)
It should be noted that, unless authorized by the government, the possession, consumption, manufacturing, import, export, or trafficking of these and other controlled drugs in any amount are illegal.
edit: 3 grams of coke? lol
I can see now after they open that high-rise casino there, some idiots trying to be cute and not realizing they are no longer in Kansas ending up with a ropes around their necks.
WOOF....At least half my posts within this thread were In Your Honor because I know you've been Jonesing for the past 90 days to read "JoeC" diligently defending 21st century Prohibition.
No doubt that if the Singapore style policies were enacted, both the use and the distribution of drugs within the USA would be greatly inhibited.
Trouble is, likely one of the biggest groups of consumers for the psychotropic drugs alcohol and tobacco are America's law enforcement professionals. And it just goes downhill from there.
While many cops (notably the pigs at the DEA) have their mitts, snouts or other body parts tied to the illegal drug trade, they're still the minority players.
The vast majority of illicit drug trafficking takes place out of sight of any member of law enforcement - thus another indictment against the absurdity of promoting 21st century Prohibition.
eek, since the night cap cafe stop wasnt made earlier, im now going to walk down the street and support my local community and patronize my local, smoke-free, watering hole.
raise a glass to the legal drug alcohol.
and in the name of the now again 48 hour banned MARK L, be damned all you sinners using other drugs.
if folks choose to participate in quasi-illegal smoking cigarettes and/or totally illegal wacky tobacky cigarettes, you will do so outside and at your own risk of punishment.
:toast:
raise a glass to the legal drug alcohol.
and in the name of the now again 48 hour banned MARK L, be damned all you sinners using other drugs.
if folks choose to participate in quasi-illegal smoking cigarettes and/or totally illegal wacky tobacky cigarettes, you will do so outside and at your own risk of punishment.
:toast:
