Earlier quoted context omitted.
[flagged]
Why does fentanyl kill? Because people buy it and don't understand the strength. Regulation would take care of that. So what's your argument here?
That is not why fentanyl kills.
Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
111–120 of 351 posts
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#112One moral risk we play is does legalizing our recreational drug (eg alcohol/cannibis) increase the harm done to addicts[0]? While I maintain that there's a logical inconsistency to having legal alcohol and illegal cannabis, I'm on the fence if the consistency should be that both are somehow controlled/illegal (though absolutely not criminal). Another thought on the subject is how many small charges were simply becaus…
What about sugar? Processed meat and fat? Carcinogenics in general? What is the extent of the control we are willing to relinquish to the government in order to control substance abuse? And how about shifting the discussion from prohibition and control of use to the democatization of healthcare access for people to heal from addiction, if we are so interested in the welfare of addicts at this point?
I’d like governments to continue to regulate how corporations can use and productize addictive and damaging substances. Heroin in big macs would, i’m sure, sell well.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#113Symbolic half-measure having little to no actual impact. They should just legalize marijuana federally, that would be real change with tangible consequences. This is shallow campaigning for reelection, in lieu of actual legalization.
Nobody should ever fix anything unless they can fix everything !
> Nobody should ever fix anything unless they can fix everything!
Oh please. "Fix everything" in this context would be legalizing all drugs federally.
This fixes nothing except perhaps shifting some public perception in the minds of voters that don't look past the headlines.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
As the proclamation says, the District of Columbia's local laws are technically federal laws. So it wipes out the convictions of a good number of people in one of our major cities. I can't quite tell if this applies to military convictions. That would be the other area where the Federal government takes the time to prosecute something as minor as mere possession or use. Another interesting question: does this actuall…
As a fake lawyer, I would also love to know if this applies to military convictions. What other places outside of DC does federal law apply to? (without the need for it to be interstate or some other such clause that is normally required for federal statutes to apply) Can the president pardon crimes on reservations?
I am also a fake lawyer.
Even in legal states, you can get a simple possession charge on federal land [0].
[0] https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/olympic/news-events/?cid=STEL...
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#115This will have virtually zero effect. The president only has the power to pardon people convicted or accused of violating federal law and prosecuted in federal court. The problem is that nearly all people arrested for simple possession of marijuana aren't charged under federal law nor prosecuted in federal court. They are charged under state law that similarly outlaws marijuana possession and prosecuted in state cour…
As the proclamation says, the District of Columbia's local laws are technically federal laws. So it wipes out the convictions of a good number of people in one of our major cities. I can't quite tell if this applies to military convictions. That would be the other area where the Federal government takes the time to prosecute something as minor as mere possession or use. Another interesting question: does this actuall…
> the District of Columbia's local laws are technically federal laws.
Cannabis has been legal in DC for 8 years. See Initiative 71.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
How else was the government to continue to systemically hold down minorities in this country post-Civil Rights Act, while simultaneously enriching the Military Industrial Complex by flooding local law enforcement with military equipment paid for by US taxpayers?
You act as if they couldn't have gone about this 10,000 different ways. This worked because it's what the people wanted - in response to the 70s - not because some evil scheming overlord.
It's pretty clear what certain people wanted in response to the 70s stemming from the rise of minority groups like the Black Panthers or the American Indian Movement trying to use their newly-enacted rights to fight oppression. Even the NRA was pro gun control when the Black Panthers were using the 2A for open-carrying to protect black Americans.
If it was truly about marijuana use, then when usage rates for white and black Americans are effectively the same, black people would not be 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for possession than white people.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#117I don't use cannabis. If it were to go away tomorrow, my life wouldn't change one bit. I am absolutely thrilled with this blanket pardon. Rephrasing the statement slightly, like: > I am pardoning additional individuals who may continue to experience the unnecessary collateral consequences of a conviction for simple possession of beer, attempted simple possession of beer, or use of beer. and it sounds utterly obvious,…
100%. The War on Drugs was always in contradiction of the spirit of the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition. It needs to be formally acknowledged as such, and further as fundamentally unconstitutional, but these kinds of victories take time. At least that so-called "War" is destroying fewer lives now.
Measured by annual average alcohol consumption in the US before and after prohibition, the 21st amendment was a huge success.
I think temporary society-scale prohibition when drug use becomes a widespread societal ill is good policy. Afterward, individual mandatory punishment/rehab for those who abuse drugs/alcohol and harm themselves and others should be the norm.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#118Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
[flagged]
Why does fentanyl kill? Because people buy it and don't understand the strength. Regulation would take care of that. So what's your argument here?
Lack of understanding isn't the issue. Most fentanyl deaths are accidental poisoning. Mexican drug cartels are manufacturing counterfeit prescription drugs like Xanax and Oxycodone but substituting fentanyl for the active ingredient because it's cheaper. They have bad quality control and sometimes put in a fatal dose.
Re: Granting pardon for the offense of simple possession of or use of marijuana
#120I live in an area where private consumption is de facto legal.
A neighbor of mine would smoke weed constantly.
A young woman would come to his apartment every month or so. He would open the door, invite her in, and she would refuse. They would talk at the door for about five minutes while marijuana smoke drifted into the hall. Then she’d leave.
One day I asked she was his daughter, she said laughed and said, “No, I’m his parole officer!”
So it’s pretty legal for indoors purposes.
But - it’s not de facto legal in public. This is a big issue in public parks. Nobody wants their kids to share a park with potheads.
Same applies for alcohol and tobacco.
I’m fine with legalizing pot under the same conditions as alcohol - in your residence, buying from authorized dealers, high taxes, review boards, etc.
But just look at the high number of alcohol related crimes. Not just drunk driving, but public intoxication too.
Don’t expect legality pot to make the illegal uses go away. People will stop buy from illegal dealers, which will continue to be prosecuted (they don’t pay taxes).
It won’t do much good or harm.