I am taking a hint from Irishman and starting here a question that I posted elsewhere:
A recent thread after a Classic, seems to corroborate what I have long suspected: The so-called war against drugs is something the US government is engaged in (and engaging whole countries in) but the US people is not.
Illegal drugs (not just marihuana but also cocaine, and probable some others.), I gather, are appreciated by the US citizens since they buy them in neverending quantities, at --I guess-- everincreasing prices.
Isn’t it time the US (both government and people) decide whether to like (and stop fighting) or hate (and stop buying) drugs, so Colombia and other drug producing countries can live happily ever after.
Is the Government acting against the people’s will on this?
Quick question, what percentage of the US population smokes pot? Or does illegal drugs? You have to give that information before you can say that the WoD doesn’t have the support of the people.
Given that there are few serious national canidates who support full drug legalization, and those who do not are usually re-elected, I must disgree with Deepfield’s idea.
But a person who does not use any illegal drugs can be againt the war on drugs, simply because it’s a costly failure. Or because he’s against laws vs. actions that harm only the person doing them.
OTOH, a pot user might be in favor of legalizing pot but continuing the war vs. the various other illegal drugs. For that matter, a user of illegal drugs may be in favor of continuing the war, even vs. his drug(s) of choice (“a superior person like me can handle it, but we’d better keep it illegal to protect the ordinary people”).
I know, Hazel, but the OP is based on the argument that the evidence for the people not approving of the WoD is their consumption of illegal drugs. In order to make this argument, one must prove that these consumers constitute a majority.
I am not saying that the majority, or even a big portion, of the US population does drugs. What I am saying is that I get the feeling that using drugs is not seen by many Americans as a crime: college (even high scholl) students, movie stars, singers, do drugs, presumably not alone but amongst their friends who either do drugs as well or at least tolerate their habit.
What I am saying is that the US Government sees drug dealing as one of the greatest threats to civilization (meaning the US), but the US people does not. Or do they?
I don’t know. Why don’t you come up with some actual evidence to support your argument. Claiming that the American people don’t consider it a crime requires this thing called a cite - a poll, a study, something.
Here in CA, we certainly support a lower level of “war on drugs”, since we made small possesion of marijuana a “ticket”, and decriminalized “medical use”. However, it seems in the South & Midwest, they still view drugs as something sent by Satan himself.
I have seen polls, and it seems that Americans in general support the war on drugs. However, depending on how you word the questions, such exceptions as decriminizing possession for own use of marijuan & “medical use” of same may have the support of a bare majority.
Still- it does seem like coming out & simply supporting legalization is still instant political death in most areas of the USA.
That’s nice, but irrelevent to the discussion at hand as the WoD is not a new policy being carried out by the current administration but a continuation of previous policy. Plus, you don’t provide any evidence that the American people disapprove of the WoD.
According to this NORML article, 70 million Americans have tried marijuana at some point in their lives. Most of them are of voting age, so that could be, what, maybe a third? The same article says that an ACLU survey determined that 34% of voters have smoked pot at some point. Marijuana comprises about 3/4 of all American illegal drug abuse, according to SAMHSA.
I think it’s safe to say that one-third of all American voters have at least dabbled in illegal drugs. Coincidentally, I recall that about one-third of all American voters actually turn out in off-elections like the one we just had.
Judging by the results of the past election, we must be talking about the exact same voters, because it’s obvious that the American people are on crack.
Ok. After a two-minute (make it ten-) search I have come up with:
[ul][li]More than half of high school students in the US graduate having tried an illegal drug.[/li][li]89% [of senior high-school students] reported that they think it would be ‘very easy’ or ‘fairly easy’ for them to get [marijuana][/li][li]On the question: Which is easiest for someone your age to buy: cigarettes, beer or marijuana?" 33% responded cigarettes, 10% said beer, 33% said marijuana[/li][li]The US […] had one of the lowest proportions of students seeing marijuana use as carrying a risk of harm to the user, and one of the lowest proportions saying that they personally disapprove of marijuana use.[/li][/ul]
As I said in my first post, it was just a feeling I had, as per the samples of US life I get down here (not being there myself). It was…
Ok. After a two-minute (make it ten-) search I have come up with (emphasis is mine):
[ul][li]More than half of high school students in the US graduate having tried an illegal drug.[/li][li]89% [of senior high-school students] reported that they think it would be ‘very easy’ or ‘fairly easy’ for them to get [marihuana][/li][li]On the question: Which is easiest for someone your age to buy: cigarettes, beer or marihuana?" 33% responded cigarettes, 10% said beer, 33% said marihuana.[/li][li]The US […] had one of the lowest proportions [compared to European countries] of students seeing marijuana use as carrying a risk of harm to the user, and one of the lowest proportions saying that they personally disapprove of marijuana use.[/li][/ul]Of course, the pressure has eased the most on marijuana than on the other drugs, but that may be because now the US are a top producer, instead of an importer…
As I said in my first post, it was just a feeling I had, as per the samples of US life I get down here (not being there myself). It was…
1.It doesn’t matter if 100% of americans have “tried” a drug in their youth- what matters if the now -adult voters support the WoD. In fact, it could be argued that some dudes TRY drugs, then decide that drugs should definately be illigal.
2 & 3. Again- does this matter in this context how “easy it is to GET drugs”? The question is- “does the American public support the WoD”? Availability does not direct relate to support of current drug laws.
Like I said- so what if “STUDENTS” don’t personally disaprove of marijauna use? What matters is the VOTERS.
In fact- the American public could be 100% on drugs right now- but still 100% oppose the legalization of drugs. Mnay drug users wish they had never started.
I’d like to think so but I don’t believe this is the case. The vast majority of people I’ve come into contact with believe that drugs should be illegal, period. Marijuana has a bit more support for legalization then cocain, heroin, or crystal meth but for the most part Americans seem to support the WOD. After all, someone’s got the think of the children.