New Year in Baltimore, same old violence continues...

[Marshan Man]

I personally think legalization would increase the number of drug users, just my opinion.

Did the repeal of prohibition increase the number of drinkers? I honestly don't know... but I'm curious...

[pepper]

Did the repeal of prohibition increase the number of drinkers? I honestly don't know... but I'm curious...

Among folks that obey the law, it had to cause an increase, I would think.

I have a feeling that theres lots of folks that might not be put off by the idea of smoking a joint, but never do it because they don't want to get busted or because they simply don't identify as law breakers.

It's a good question...

[bmore_ken]

Just my opinion as well, but I'd bet my house that the majority of people who don't use drugs aren't going to run to the heroine store the day it's legalized. I would guess that people who want to use drugs are already doing so. Again strictly my opinion

[Marshan Man]

I agree with both of you. People who did at some point or who would like to smoke trees would most likely do so, but I can't see your average person running out to go score some heroin, coke meth etc...

We also have to take into account employer policy. I'd think that would play a big role too. Some employers may continue to prohibit drug use or at least certain types of drug use...

[bmore_ken]

Either way if it cut down on the violence, wouldn't that be worth a small increase in users?

[pepper]

Just my opinion as well, but I'd bet my house that the majority of people who don't use drugs aren't going to run to the heroine store the day it's legalized. I would guess that people who want to use drugs are already doing so. Again strictly my opinion

I'm only thinking of pot, because I doubt theres the political will/benefit to legalizing hard drugs.

I agree that few folks who otherwise wouldn't consider it, would try heroin or crack. Marijuana though, is touted by the medical profession as some sort of helpful drug, which is the only way it's made it this far.

[pepper]

Either way if it cut down on the violence, wouldn't that be worth a small increase in users?

No way of knowing, until some large city goes there. Small increase, large increase, who knows? Thats a serious gamble.

Like I said before, I'd rather some other US city try it so we could see how it works there. It's a fail in Amsterdam, and they are seriously backpedaling on legalization, but thats a very different situation.

[Lawman 27]

Now, you speak for the residents of BC. Please give me example how the police are abused by city residents day in and day out. Everything you said is just BS. Lawman, just quoted the police are low grade. Lawman, maybe right. You don't have a clue.

MD,

Baltimore City HAD THE BEST OF THE BEST OFTHE BEST*...

The Police are becoming low grade for two primary reasons:

Because the City (residents and political types) do all they can to trash good Officers. The result: The good Officers FLEE leaving the rest behind.
Beause the City seems to hire only the worst of the worst. (Example: Dedicated Marines back from Iraq can't get hired (cause they are, you know, soldiers)).



*The MiB were nothing compared to us.
_____________________________________

As for how the Police are abused:

We HAD (past tense) the best, most dedicated, Sex Crimes detective on the East Coast. He was even invited to speak as an expert before the General Assembly. Guess what? The City decided that it would be more politically correct to have a new Detective replace him. (The new detective couldn't spell "Sex Crime," but that didn't matter to a City like yours). The good detective left the City for a better job and the City got to enjoy its politically correct department.

A goof on a dirtbike tried to RUN DOWN an Officer one day. Using SAFE practices we caught the POS. GUESS WHAT? HE HAD A .357 on him!!! GUESS WHAT ELSE? An old man came out of his house SCREAMING at us cause he knew we weren't allowed to go after dirtbikers. No one said thanks for taking a gun off the street, no one thanked us for anything...Instead we were trashed (as usual) for cleaning up the City.

I got a call for an armed male and found a kid with a RIFLE. Instead of shooting him (which would have been justified), I made the mistake of tackling him to the ground. GUESS WHAT? His mom came to the station to make an excessive force complaint against me for tackling the kid. (If I had shot him, I would have been cleared...By being a thoughtful Officer I got a complaint).

Baltimore has no clue what Policing is.

[BlandFood]

What are police supposed to do about thugs shooting thugs?

Cheer as long as no innocents get hurt?

[bmore_ken]

No way of knowing, until some large city goes there. Small increase, large increase, who knows? Thats a serious gamble.

Like I said before, I'd rather some other US city try it so we could see how it works there. It's a fail in Amsterdam, and they are seriously backpedaling on legalization, but thats a very different situation.

It works well in Portugal

[pepper]

It works well in Portugal

"works well" is subjective. The costs and burdens have simply shifted from enforcement to healthcare.

“There are significant savings related to the burden on the judicial system, the prison system and the police,” notes Professor Jose Pedro from the Department of Economic Studies at the Bank of Portugal. “On the other hand, the health system now has multi-disciplinary teams of doctors, psychologists, judges and social workers, which is also expensive. But there’s no doubt in my mind that this system is very successful, though expensive.”

Small amounts of drugs are still illegal there, but instead of arrests and jail those caught are referred to the healthcare system, and consider, it's a country with a population of about 10 million, while our population is over 300 million.

It's an interesting argument, but I'm wary of making comparisons to a country with a population that just barely exceeds NY city, and thinking that would work here.

Not saying it wouldn't, but the model doesn't really apply due to the massive difference.

Still, theres aspects there to consider...

[Bloomin Onion]

What are police supposed to do about thugs shooting thugs?

Maybe now Kenny boy here realizes that all those liberal, Democrat, Omalley and Obama taxpayer funded social programs directed at the city won't help. He is actually blaming the thugs for their own behavior. A new year, a new Ken???

[bmore_ken]

Maybe now Kenny boy here realizes that all those liberal, Democrat, Omalley and Obama taxpayer funded social programs directed at the city won't help. He is actually blaming the thugs for their own behavior. A new year, a new Ken???

As usual I have no idea what you're talking about. Neither do you. Unlike partisan idiots like you, I don't blame politicians when people do wrong. I blame those people. I was born and raised in the city and I've never robbed, shot, or stabbed anyone. I've never done a drug in my life. Well technically Maker's Mark qualifies, but no illegal drugs, nor have I ever dealt any. Unlike you partisan bozos I believe in personal responsibility.

[jessup270]

Treating drug addiction is so complicated.

When criminals go to jail, they instantly stop their addition to tobacco, as there is no tobacco in jail.

No treatment programs, no classes to attend, no patches to wear, they just stop.

Same principle should apply to drug addicts in jail, however, for some reason illegals drugs still seem to find their way into some jails/prisons.

My point is that some people in society with all kinds of addictions, may not be worth the money to treat them because many, if not most have no desire to treat their addiction.

Maybe making all drugs legal is a way to go. Even if it means no excessive taxpayer money will be spent for addiction counseling.

Whatever happens, happens.

We have been waging the war on drugs for decades and have spent BILLIONS of dollars with little or nothing to show for it.

When it comes taxpayer money, I have no problem with teaching kids at a very young age, the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

[Lawman 27]

Maybe making all drugs legal is a way to go. Even if it means no excessive taxpayer money will be spent for addiction counseling.

First, please stop saying "war on drugs." You make it sound like the politicians are actually doing something about the drug problem and they aren't.

Second, YES I agree about legal drugs!!! Legalize drugs and let everyone have as much as they want. But (and here's the rub), DO NOT pay for addiction counseling, and DO NOT pay for medical rehab. If people want to destroy themselves, just let the users find their own ways to get better.

[bmore_ken]

First, please stop saying "war on drugs." You make it sound like the politicians are actually doing something about the drug problem and they aren't.

Second, YES I agree about legal drugs!!! Legalize drugs and let everyone have as much as they want. But (and here's the rub), DO NOT pay for addiction counseling, and DO NOT pay for medical rehab. If people want to destroy themselves, just let the users find their own ways to get better.

Now that's a plan I can get behind

[musicmd]

Now that's a plan I can get behind

Ken, I co-sign.