do you think we should focus on slowing down the supply or demand of illegal drugs to help the US drug problem
456730
Cut the supply and the user is more inclined to quit using.
447853
Yes,the goverment already grows it and destributr it to terminally ill patients,and they can tax it to bring this country out of the defisant.Besides,how many people u c die from pot related accidents,none their only doing 10 miles an hour u cant kill no one @10 miles a hour.Besides canada has a man named,Mark Emery,named the (Prince of pot)he has brung the country of canada some much in come by selling pot seeds that they have no debt.Plus the U.S.A whouldnt have as many drug related crimes,and if it whould help with sick people to ease the pain then i`m all for it.with the pain Busch&our Gov.put the american people through we need something to help us cope.
1115121
A better and more economical way is just to put armed US troops on the border. This would also help to curtail the drug problem as well
769865
Absolutly.  Making it illegal wastes tax dollars and ruins people's lives who have not engaged in any sort of violent crime.  Instead, they have done something very similar to drinking or smoking cigarettes, and because they have, they now face jail time, huge fines and criminal records.  It should, at the very least, be decriminalized, as the punishment would be rehab or something.  But absolutly, legalization will put drug dealers out of business (similar to the way the end of prohibition ended the mobster culture).  It would bring in more revenue, it could be regulated (and kid can tell you its easier to get pot than beer, as they don't have to show their ID to dealers), and it would free up our police to search out and get violent criminals more effectivly.
330477
I am not going to do it graphically, but to easily think of this, think about the war on drugs.  To go after the supply side, you go out an darrest dealers, catch their deliveries, burn their fields, etc.  To stop the demand side, you set up surveilance around a dealer, and then arrest everyone who buys something from him (when they are far enough away that he cant see them being cuffed).  Its really pretty simple.
672571
Think about this:\n\nLegalizing drugs - cuts down on criminals.  no need for drug dealers, smugglers; people who purchase drugs can pay taxes on them, country gets payment for people's drug habits.
794404
Legalize or at least decriminalize drugs. The examples of other countries who have decriminalized drug use indicates that crime and violence decreases and that alcohol use decreases also.\nThe real reason drugs are illegal is money....and it will never be legalized in the US as long as organized crime keeps greasing the hands of politicians to keep it illegal.
225910
well, there has been a drug war going on now for a long time and the problem continues to increase. The whole problem is not going to be resolved to that level. We have a drug culture now, that goes far beyond illegal drugs, - the massive amount of prescription drugs adults and adolescents are consuming is also a huge problem and industry thrives of addiction's like this.  The fix,is the human mind. Until humans are satisfied, being alive and enjoying what life has to offer, all on it's own - the problem will exist. I think the population is forced to live stressed out because of the amount of effort you have to put out to survive, when your starting from a dis-advantage point of your life entry. If your serious about this, you must attain a position in government, so you can join the fight, but keep in mind - the politician has their hands in it - just like a massive portion of the population. \n The cops and the courts pay the bill's off it, and I dont think they really want a sollution, just too keep it at manageable levels.
927683
Yes it would probably solve part of the problem.  Because legally constituted businesses could take control of the drug trade then the mafias behind the drug traffic would have a hard time subsisting.
714730
I do not totally agree with you, but I do feel something has to be done. The death penalty maybe a bit harsh, but tougher penalties should be applied to users and dealers alike.\n\nDrugs are the root of 75% of our crime. Your users can not afford their habit and resort in stealing, robbing, and prostitution to pay for more drugs. \n\nYour dealers use violence to protect their investment. A lot of our gangs are heavily into drug trafficking and also use violence to control their drug turf.\n\nThe way the Laws are set up today punishes the dealer more than the user, but if there was no one demanding the drug, then there would be no need for the dealers. That's why the users need the same penalty as the dealer.\n\nIn Texas today, a first time offender caught with less than 2 oz of Marijuana is only breaking a class B Misdemeanor. That's one step above a speeding ticket and usually results in little to no jail time. \n\nNow imagine if the penalty were a Second Degree Felony. That's just below premeditated murder, and comes with not jail time, but hard Prison time for several years. \n\nIf that first time offender knew the risk he was taking in getting caught, I do not believe he would have made the wrong decision.
945226
Yes, but even that won't work.  Demand for their services is too great.  I suspect the government will be as effective stopping illegal immigration as they are stopping drug smuggling.
276242
This answer is mostly a matter of opinion as I don't have a job anywhere close to the DEA or any other law enforcement agency.  But it is based on years of Life Experience and the desire to be well informed.  Mostly, the reason drug trafficking has not been stopped in it's tracks is because of the money.  So many jobs would be eliminated and so many "donations and contributions" would be lost, that lawmakers aren't to willing to toughen the laws required to stop drug trafficking.  This unwillingness on behalf of our lawmakers makes it easier to bring drugs into the states.  Yes, the grunts out in the field are trying their hardest, but their hands are tied by the lawmakers.  Imagine if you will, a hot stove top burner.  You touch it and you learn to not touch it again.  Now if the burner is just warm, you're more likely to touch it again.  Traffickers are caught everyday but the penalties are so cool, that they just go back out and do it again.  Lawmaker know this, so they keep the penalties lenient.  So, yes.  Trafficking is allowed due to the Contributions it generates.
490745
There cannot be a victory for the U.S. "War on Drugs" until there is intelligent and comprehensive changes to the laws.  But more than that a change of attitudes moving drug use to a medical issue rather than leaving it a legal issue.  Now we criminalize drug use, filling up jails with addicts.  Social costs are extremely high.  If we instituted needle exchange programs, prescriptions for drugs including heroin to addicts who must register, and provided counseling and other support services to users on a multiagency level, then we would see crime organizations go bankrupt because customer base for illegal drugs would diminish, users could pursue a more normal existance, public health costs would go down, and it would steer users away from prison and crime.  check out the "Merceyside Model".
443356
There should be no illegal drudge.  There are all kinds of medical uses for every drug created but in the US we have illegal drugs that your Dr. cannot prescribe for you even if it would save your life.  Heroin is used routinely to treat severe cancer related pain in other countries.  LSD was developed to treat alcoholism, marijuana has several uses. Cocaine also has several uses.  I think the hype surrounding illegal drugs is just a propaganda thing of the politicians to have a platform to get our votes.  There are just as many abuses of legal drugs as there is of illegal drugs.  And what about alcohol & tobacco?  They are legal & are the worst of them all.  Anyway,  my point is, if they were legal there would be no war on drugs.  We'd save all kinds of tax money.  Do away with DEA,ATF, RENU & a lot of idiot stupid laws.  I don't even & never have done drugs but if everything were legal, then tax the h--- out of the recreational drugs & set up rehabs etc. for the druggies.
525258
yes, certainly , the issue is already answer by you , i have plan the programme to work in Africa also , following the Bbc report of drugs in Africa, also i plan to make it strict for only the addict confirm by the doctors, is obvious that it will reduce the crime in the society , very certain , since no need to steal to get money for the drug , the reason drug addict steal is to get the money to buy the drug, and yo know during the stealing it can lead to robeery if his having chance to use weapon
1000592
no. You are causing more problems by selling drugs, and the people you sell them to, will need your charity too. You need to do something healthy, cure a problem rather than cause one.
371527
Legalizing would actually in a sense deter alot of the drug problems facing society today.  If the government legalized and regulated drugs, then it would drive out a lot of the black market competition.  Drugs wouldnt be cut with dangerous fillers, a huge revenue would be opened up to the gov., and also the amount given to users would be regulated much like any other prescription. The gov. has spent a ludicrious amount of money fighting the drug war and drug abuse is still rampant. If the government actually regulated it, all of the drug traffiking problems would go away. However society has been taught that this scenario could never work. Yet look at Amsterdam which legalized many drugs much the same way as I described above. And they have some very very low crime rates. Over there drug use, prostitution, and drug sales is all regulated by the gov.