Posted on 03/01/2006 7:37:05 PM PST by winston2
WAR ON DRUGS A JOKE TO EX-COP
In Norm Stamper's world, the "drug store" is a place that is much different from what generally comes to mind.
The 28-year police veteran of the San Diego police department and former Seattle police chief wants to see all street drugs legalized, firmly regulated and sold just like we sell alcohol today.
And his "shopping list" includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, even crystal methamphetamine.
"The more dangerous the drug, the more addictive and the greater the potential for health risks, the greater the justification for regulation," he said last week in a phone interview from his San Juan Island home.
Instead of making drugs more accessible, Stamper believes regulation would make availability far more difficult, especially for children and teens, who can get their hands on street drugs easier than they can on a six-pack of beer.
Drug regulation policies would make communities healthier and the jobs of police officers safer by removing the criminally-controlled black market, he says. The grow-ops, the meth labs, the gunfights between rival dealers would be gone if the profit motive disappeared.
"Drug traffickers would be out of business the day the ink dries on legislation on regulation," said Stamper.
The veteran cop developed his views by seeing what he calls the "futility of prohibition."
Stamper doesn't see much sense in imprisoning hundreds of thousands of non-violent people in U.S. jails, while perpetuating a system custom-made for traffickers and crime.
He makes it clear however, that he has no sympathy for drug dealers and he doesn't promote drug use. He does believe adults have the right to use drugs, but if their behaviour becomes irresponsible, they should be accountable, just as in cases involving alcohol.
Stamper, who has a doctorate in behavioural psychology, is a speaker for LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, LEAP an international group of current and former cops, judges, wardens and others who think the "war on drugs," is a colossal failure.
Stamper will be at the Abbotsford campus of the Fraser Valley University College tonight [5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.], debating the issue of prohibition with UCFV criminology professor Dr. Darryl Plecas, and Abbotsford police chief Ian Mackenzie, who also teaches at UCFV.
Plecas was one of the authors of an extensive report commissioned by the RCMP on the marijuana industry in British Columbia.
Following that logic we should reinstitute prohibition. We could probably ban tobacco at the same time.
Doesn't surprise me much. I've long felt that the solution to heroin is a pound of the pure stuff on every downtown street corner and put the coroner on overtime...
You show two problems with your thinking.
"I don't understand where people come up with the fantasy that drug addicts will stop committing crimes to feed their addictions if drugs are legal."
First is that you misunderstand the argument. It is not that criminals will stop being criminals, but that with legalization comes access and with access per the law of supply and demand the price falls. As the prices fall the need to be a criminal to pay for the drugs diminishes.
People still do stupid things for a six pack of beer, but not nearly as often.
"I'll support total legalization of all drugs when gun laws disappear. That way the average citizen can help dump chlorine into the gene pool."
This shows you don't know the profile of the average illegal drug user. They are average people without addictions who are occasional users that never hurt anyone while getting toasted.
The Hollywood image of the gun toting drug crazed freak is just that, Hollywood.
Time to educate yourself on this issue.
I am pleased you feel strongly enough about a freedom that you consider worth fighting for. I think the medicine you mention would fall under the heading of necessity for your health.
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I know the people who like cocaine must find something positive about their substance, but I've seen only bad results from cocaine and it's powerful offspring - crack. I think it's necessary to work to reduce the use of these substances.
BTTT
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An extension of this point is what I call the wedge effect. Our society is divided too much. We need to try and establish better relationships and social contracts with the many frayed strands of our population.
At the moment all sources are illegal, with the exception of MJ in some states.
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I think better public awareness of the nitty gritty of the dangerous substances would do more good than the banishment to possibly worse peers approach we now have. I'm actually more interested in regaining lost freedoms than I am in incarcerating multitudes of people.
Booze is not a highly regulated substance. Neither is tobacco. Neither alcohol, nor tobacco are as highly addictive as most of the street drugs obtainable on the black market.
Heavy regulation implies prescriptions and monitoring. There will be a large number of users who would want to avoid such monitoring, and for whom the black market in such drugs will continue to service.
If anything, the street price will driven down because of the legalized competition. A lower street price on the black market might entice more off-the-books users to try the drugs and become addicted.
Education will only do so much. Keeping the substances illegal, and pursuing the dealers and distribution channels will keep prices high, which will reduce access.
There is no ideal solution to the drug problem. I can see a slew of problems with legalization in the atmosphere we have today. If our society were more sane, legalization would pose few social problems. That, however, is not the case.
I figured this Norm Stamper was dipping into the PD evidence holding room once too often.
I thought it meant "low energy assistence program". Dopey cops.
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That in it's self is a bit of a problem that is not recognized enough generally (imo) because the high commodity price sets up a natural born multilevel marketing system. Like you say - there is no perfect solution.
Acronyms can be fun, can't they. I know several myself, but.........
Drug Warriors, EN GARDE!
Crack is a by-product of the WOD. If there weren't a Drug War crack would be non-existent.
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A most through analysis that covers the bases for a wide spectrum of opinions.
I think it necessary to keep our citizens safe and yet allow the liberty of having a choice about that "forbidden fruit". That beats being lied to about the fruit. Your points worth reading through again. Thanks for the post.
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