# Why are U.S. drug laws so Ass-backwards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002 "2003-09-21T17:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/1 "2003-09-21T17:23:37Z")
If I get caught with a small amount of pot or even some blow, it’s a minor arrest. Once for having almost 10 grams of weed all I got was a ticket. If I get caught several times with small amounts of dope the punishment might be more severe, but the key is, I have to get caught a couple of times for the punishment to go up. And even then, people are offered treatment programs, education courses, etc… A user has to be caught several times before he faces any real consequences. As long as the amount is "small/personal use amount. There is punishment, but for consumers of smoke it’s not that harsh (at least the first few times). But if I’m caught with a large amount, or actually caught selling the stuff…then I’m the scum of the Earth, right? The bane of society, soccer moms worst nightmare. Lock me up and throw away the key. Execute drug dealers…blah,blah,blah.Yadda,yadda,yadda. Why exactly is there such a difference in the consequences for consumers of drugs as compared to sellers of it? I got caught with 1 9gram bag and got a ticket for for $290. I was allowed to take a 5 days drug awareness course in place of the fine. It’s a non-criminal offense. But if I had had 20 9 gram bags on me, they would have called me a dealer and wanted to put me away forever and a day. I believe herb should be legal, so it’s not like I want users to really get nailed or anything like that. I’m just interested in why they already aren’t. What I don’t get is, why is the “war on drugs” :rolleyes: fought mostly against suppliers, and kid gloves on consumers? To me it just further proves the “war on drugs” is a government scam. What they’re doing doesn’t discourage anyone from using dope. Dealers/growers should be more scared than smokers.There will always be a significant number of the populace who get high. So why don’t they just legalize it and get off everyones backs? ---
**Author:** ![Verminous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Verminous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Verminous)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/2 "2003-09-21T17:29:02Z")
They figure that attacking the source rather than the users is the best way to go about it. Sort of like the RIAA going after the file sharers rather than the downloaders. After all, how can the users get their weed when less & less people are dealing it here? That’s their logic. ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/3 "2003-09-21T18:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Verminous \* > \*\*.After all, how can the users get their weed when less & less people are dealing it here? That’s their logic. \*\* But that thinking is, per the title of this thread, Ass-backwards. As long as there are users there will be dealers. When I got caught had the penalty been 5 years at hard labor rather than a ticket & small fine, I can assure you I’d be scared shitless to do it again. (:smack: I can’t believe I just made a suggestion on how to fight the war on Americans with drugs) Everytime some government agency wants an increase in their budget they often cite “to help fight drugs”. But they don’t _really_ want drugs to go away, do they? Think of the money involved. Think of all the law enforcement type jobs lost. The “war on drugs” is a scam, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/4 "2003-09-21T19:13:13Z")
_applause_ Well done, old chap. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/5 "2003-09-22T01:13:24Z")
Because you and all other consumers of controlled substances have the moral fiber and moral backbone of a box of stale saltines while those in power are made of much sterner stuff… ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/6 "2003-09-22T07:23:46Z")
Well it’s so ass backwards b/c of the way we view the drug problem. Users = victims that need treatment and help vs Dealers = criminals that are spreading a disease. whether that’s the right or the wrong way to go about it is a matter of personal opinion I guess. It’s not exactly a black or white issue. ---
**Author:** ![INSANE1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@INSANE1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/INSANE1)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/7 "2003-09-22T07:35:12Z")
Because the dealers are getting tax free dollars. ---
**Author:** ![MmmDonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@MmmDonut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MmmDonut)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/8 "2003-09-22T14:59:06Z")
It’s obviously a scam… a very profitable scam. They have a vested interest in keeping drugs illegal. It’s a huge money-maker for all involved… the dealers, the cops, the COs. It’s all a big meaningless game that has its origins in prevalent racism that still exists today; just look at the racial disparity in drug arrests and convictions. The average person is ignorant in regards to drugs, so it’s very simple for the government to perpetuate this “War”. The fact that it doesn’t jibe with the ideals the government is supposed to adhere to is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/9 "2003-09-22T15:40:52Z")
Having a small amount of weed isn’t always a minor arrest. That depends on the jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/10 "2003-09-22T16:22:37Z")
Maybe all of you should lay off the drugs because you sound crazy and paranoid. -“Think of all the law enforcement type jobs lost. The “war on drugs” is a scam, isn’t it?” Yeah. Because we don’t have enough work for cops to do so we have to invent crimes. -Would more people do drugs if we legalized them? Probably not. It seems like anyone who really wants to do drugs can get ahold of them. -Why are drugs illegal? Because we as a society generally view junkies, crackbabies, gang wars and lazy dirty hippies who don’t work and follow Phish around the country as a bad thing. -But isn’t it my right to screw up my body? Yeah, I guess so. Problem is that the rest of society has to bear the burden of taking care of all the people who are unable to work because they screwed themselves up so badly. -Would legalizing drugs reduce crime? Don’t know. But if drugs were legalized, it would put a lot of drug dealers out of business. Drugs would be sold by guys with marketing degrees and MBAs who work for Merck or Phizor, not by Tony the junk dealer. So how would al those Bloods and Crips finance their gangs? -Are the drug companies conspiring to keep drugs illegal? I can’t imagine why. If they were legal, it would open up lucrative new industries for recreational drugs. -Are all drugs or drugusers equal? No. The yuppie with his 2 martini lunches, the suburban kid smoking the occasional joint in his dorm and the crackhead living in a box are not the same thing. They are, however diferent colors on the same spectrum. Just some of my $0.02. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/11 "2003-09-22T16:36:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MmmDonut \* > \*\*It’s obviously a scam… a very profitable scam. They have a vested interest in keeping drugs illegal. It’s a huge money-maker for all involved… the dealers, the cops, the COs. It’s all a big meaningless game that has its origins in prevalent racism that still exists today; just look at the racial disparity in drug arrests and convictions. The average person is ignorant in regards to drugs, so it’s very simple for the government to perpetuate this “War”. The fact that it doesn’t jibe with the ideals the government is supposed to adhere to is irrelevant. \*\* Ummmm, sure. It couldn’t be because time and time again a majority of Americans feel that drugs should be illegal. That couldn’t be it at all. It must be a massive conspiracy to feed more money into law enforcement all to stop you from killing even more brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![MmmDonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@MmmDonut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MmmDonut)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/12 "2003-09-22T16:53:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\*Maybe all of you should lay off the drugs because you sound crazy and paranoid. > > \*\* Of course, since a rational person couldn’t possibly see the flaw in the drug war ideology. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -“Think of all the law enforcement type jobs lost. The “war on drugs” is a scam, isn’t it?” > > Yeah. Because we don’t have enough work for cops to do so we have to invent crimes. > \*\* Yes, that seems to be the case. I’m glad you agree. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -Would more people do drugs if we legalized them? > > Probably not. It seems like anyone who really wants to do drugs can get ahold of them. \*\* Which means the WoD has done nothing and is therefore a waste of money. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -Why are drugs illegal? > Because we as a society generally view junkies, crackbabies, gang wars and lazy dirty hippies who don’t work and follow Phish around the country as a bad thing. \*\* More things the WoD has done nothing to prevent. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -But isn’t it my right to screw up my body? > Yeah, I guess so. Problem is that the rest of society has to bear the burden of taking care of all the people who are unable to work because they screwed themselves up so badly. \*\* Uh huh. Thank god we have the WoD, which has done so much to prevent the harm of drugs. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -Would legalizing drugs reduce crime? > Don’t know. But if drugs were legalized, it would put a lot of drug dealers out of business. Drugs would be sold by guys with marketing degrees and MBAs who work for Merck or Phizor, not by Tony the junk dealer. So how would al those Bloods and Crips finance their gangs? \*\* Excellent argument in favor of ending the WoD. > [@](#): > > \*\* > -Are all drugs or drugusers equal? > No. The yuppie with his 2 martini lunches, the suburban kid smoking the occasional joint in his dorm and the crackhead living in a box are not the same thing. They are, however diferent colors on the same spectrum. \*\* Rich people do the same amount of drugs as poor people. They just suffer less. ---
**Author:** ![MmmDonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@MmmDonut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MmmDonut)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/13 "2003-09-22T16:58:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamlet \* > \*\*Ummmm, sure. It couldn’t be because time and time again a majority of Americans feel that drugs should be illegal. That couldn’t be it at all. It must be a massive conspiracy to feed more money into law enforcement all to stop you from killing even more brain cells. \*\* I didn’t say anything about a conspiracy. It’s job security. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/14 "2003-09-22T17:04:12Z")
Because while drug users are doing the ones messing up their own bodies, the drug dealers are the ones profiting from other people messing up their own bodies. Think about it. The drug dealers have a vested financial interest in making sure that there are as many junkies as possible. Society, as a whole, doesn’t look to fondly upon people that benefit financially from social decay. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/15 "2003-09-22T18:11:04Z")
Society seems to be remarkably fond of professional atheletes, actually. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/16 "2003-09-22T18:38:10Z")
> [@](#): > > -Why are drugs illegal? > Because we as a society generally view junkies, crackbabies, gang wars and lazy dirty hippies who don’t work and follow Phish around the country as a bad thing. Yes, because a person that smokes a little weed now and then couldn’t POSSIBLY be productive in any way, shape or form. :rolleyes: Drugs are illegal because of the Ignorance displayed above… because Joe “Outdated Ideals” Average has bought the _Reefer Madness_ bullshit about minor drugs turning good kids into Nazi rapist killers, and so they make up horrible things that drugs supposedly do… and if you ever ask them for evidence, they just scream, “WELL, MAYBE IF YOU DIDN’T TAKE SO MANY DRUGS, YOU’D SEE IT!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/17 "2003-09-22T19:16:19Z")
Many of you are drifting from my question. My point is, if the authorities _ **REALLY** _ wanted to fight drugs, they’d make use/possession just as serious of a crime as dealing. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darkhold \* > \*\*Well it’s so ass backwards b/c of the way we view the drug problem. > > Users = victims that need treatment and help > > vs > > Dealers = criminals that are spreading a disease. > \*\* Exactly what I mean. The fact that users are treated (usually) with kidgloves leads me to believe that they don’t really intend of truely fighting it. If you were at a party and someone pulled out a single joint, and everyone knew the penalty for possessing even a single joint was many, many years in prison and thousands upon thousands of dollars in fines, loss of all your property, etc., would as many people be willing to partake as they are now? Right now the theory is "less drug dealers = less users. I say bullshit. I say Less users=less dealers.But seeing they’re not doing it right, why not just give up doing it at all? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/18 "2003-09-22T19:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Verminous \* > \*\*After all, how can the users get their weed when less & less people are dealing it here? That’s their logic. \*\* Do they honestly think that there is a finite number of dealers? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/19 "2003-09-22T20:01:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MmmDonut \* > **Of course, since a rational person couldn’t possibly see the flaw in the drug war ideology.** I think he’s referring to the whole police conspiracy to save their jobs thing. Which is most definitely a bunch of paranoid, conspiracy claptrap. > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originaly posted by msmith537_ > > Yeah. Because we don’t have enough work for cops to do so we have to invent crimes. > > Yes, that seems to be the case. I’m glad you agree. Is that sarcasm or are you serious that the War on Drugs is just an excuse for cops to keep their jobs? There would be no end to the more productive uses that police officers could be put to rather than deal with pot dealers. And I’m sure most of them would just as soon not have to deal with it. I agree with the rest of your post. ---
**Author:** ![Sad\_Waters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Sad\_Waters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sad_Waters)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002/20 "2003-09-22T20:09:39Z")
It won’t ever stop. It’s all about mind control. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-drug-laws-so-ass-backwards/203002.md?page=2)