Why are our drug laws such a joke?

Question

I called the police on some hippies smoking drugs in a van by the park. So the police showed up and arrested the scum. The very next day, I see the same hippies again, walking around scott free!

Later I find out, the judge gave them a suspended sentence! They didn't even have to serve any time. What the heck is the problem? Are our laws too lax, or our prisons too overcrowded? If so then we need to strengthen the laws, increase the penalties, and build more prisons.

Answer 1

because America has very very liberal laws and drug dealers don't fear your laws. for example we hang rapists and child molesters, drug dealers and think nothing of it. your country feeds them, puts them in lavish jails with TV, pool tables, dental care, health care, hot cooked meals, they get to write letters, no forced labour, they get coffee and cigarettes. that's liberal, and the reason why your crime rate is out of control.

Answer 2

Maybe if law enforcement and the court system wasn't so bogged down wasting their time responding to morons who call them freaking out about 'some hippies smoking a joint' or whatever, they could focus on the real problems.

Not to mention, making a bunch of laws, increasing the penalties, and building more prisons isn't going to solve the problem.

Until we start treating drug addiction as an illness, rather than a crime - we aren't even going to make a dent in the problem.

Filling the prisons with first time, non-violent marijuana offenders (which is what we are currently doing) isn't going to solve the problem.

As long as our borders and ports remain WIDE OPEN, we aren't going to make a dent in the supply.

The 'war on drugs' just keeps the prices high - which means that the dealers have unlimited resources to pay off officials, etc.

Wake up.

Answer 3

Even though the Drug Czar says different. Legally you can't be addicted to cannabis. Police officers know what drugs pose dangers and which ones don't. Prison overcrowding causes violent offenders to be released in favor of holding onto non-violent drug offenders with mandatory sentences. The drug laws are such a joke because the reason for their existence is such a joke.

Check out the definitions section of The Controlled Substances Act for confirmation of cannabis addiction statement.

http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t21t25+379+1++%28%29%20%20AND%20%28%2821%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND%20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%28802%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20

Answer 4

The hippies are smoking in the van because they have nowhere else to smoke.
Why don't you invite them into your house like a good christian , maybe offer them some of your Tax paid socially acceptable drugs like Alcohol and coffee maybe a few cigarettes.
Then you can pop down to your local drug store and get tranquilisers to chill you out.
People with small brains like you should be locked away in a little box.
If you want to moan about something moan about the atrocities your country has caused , the destruction and pain.
Go and ask the hippies there opinion.

Answer 5

I disgree with you. Theres more serious crimes out there that deserve jail. I think a bunch of drug users should get community service (which i'm sure they are on suspended sentence.) Putting them in a cell won't do anything but waste space and money, they get out and go back to their habit. If they want to abuse drugs they will end up hurting themselves, which is an unfortunate lesson. But its still better to punish the real crimes out there being committed first.
I've never touched drugs myself, but I also don't have a any opinions about those using them lightly; pot, hallucigens. Its not the brightest thing, but who the heck is it hurting?...the only concern is the heavy drugs that end up with someone in a hospital or worse. I hate thinking of someone getting violent over a drug. I think we should worry about the safety of people before we worry about a simple case of getting high.

Answer 6

I do not have the same perception as you. And I am a criminal defense attorney. And highly Conservative.

My perception on the drug laws being such a "joke," is that they are replacing good old common sense. Morals. Good judgment.

I don't refrain from smoking pot because it is illegal. I refrain b/c it is bad for my brain development.

I would be okay with a medicinal exception, however, but limited to those with proof of AIDS or cancer. Many of these people could grow their own mj but cannot afford the medicine to handle their pain and nausea.

Answer 7

You explain to me the logic of having alcohol legal and marijuana illegal. Those hippies aren't harming you, they're just smokin up (which I'm not saying is great either, but its sure not harming anyone).

If you think your drug laws are lax, you got another thing comin. You know how many places in this world have decriminalized pot?

Besides its none of your business if other people smoke dope anyways. IF you've ever had a sip of alcohol its simply a double standard.

Alcohol kills thousands of people every year, how much does weed kill? Think about that.

Answer 8

many times, legality lags in the back of social legitimacy... which potential cancelling out rules and producing new ones is a reaction, usually, to a shift in social help for one or the different place. If officers do no longer know the legitimacy of rules with regards to gun regulations, this is annoying to have the guidelines enacted: given which you do desire a hardship-loose volume of social help for that shift to take place legally. With that pronounced, whether this is political and does have impacts, attempt to no longer enforce federal rules as a criminal authentic... the whole activity relax on the basis that rules enact by utilising legislatures could be enforced. you're no longer basically undermining democracy, you're additionally sending the message that your activity isn't justified. in addition to, and different than for that, you pretty probability sanctions in reaction on your habit. As for rules with regards to marriage, they're enforced. Legally, you may rejoice your appreciation for every physique, at any time... besides the indisputable fact that, you may basically enter right into a criminal settlement with one in each and every of them and that individual could neither be a make certain, nor one individual of the comparable intercourse and the two one in each and every of you're able to be a minimum of of a undeniable age. Marriage is a criminal settlement, my chum. you're married, even without going to a Church or believing in God, in case you signed the papers. From then, you may cheat on your spouse or husband, have little ones with many human beings etc: it is not proper... because of the fact marriage is a settlement.

Answer 9

people should not be in jail for getting high.

we don't need to strengthen drug laws or increase penalties.
we need more rehab in and out of prisons so we stop having repeat offenders
we need to fight violent offences.

one state bonded a child molester because there was no room in lock up. most of the people in lock up were drug offenders. he is now a fugitive.
I wonder how many people are comfortable with a child molester not being locked up and someone using recreational drugs being imprisoned?

I can understand drugs being decriminalized- if you are caught with them, they are confiscated and you are let go.
but many drugs out there only hurt the people who use them- and that's no one's business.
laws should be about protecting people and their property from others

those 'hippies' weren't bothering you, were they?

Answer 10

Yes that's what we should do. Build prisons and put kids who smoke marijuana away. Did these guys do anything to harm your or your property? Did they do anything outside of smoking a weed in the presence of your holier than thou self? I understand that it is illegal to smoke pot. I also understand that these people are not criminals in the sense of murder rape or even drunk driving for that matter.

They should not got to jail for days/weeks/months for smoking a weed that is only illegal becuase some asshole in the 1920s decided it should be. But alas, you will not listen to any argument outside of the one you agree with so my answer to this question no matter how well stated will fall upon deaf ears. I only hope that someday you will wake up to realize there are lifestyles that may not conform to your sensibilities, and have the decency to realize these people are not criminals, they just prefer a different way of relaxation than you. Good luck with waking up and realizing the world is a bigger place than you and your opinions.

Answer 11

Simple possession is a misdemeanor in the majority of jurisdictions and usually involves just a small fine and the costs of court. That is the law and the joke is, you evidently do not know what the laws concerning marijuana are.