[Cincinnatus]

Sacamuelas,

I'll try to address your questions.

"What is the "outside of the box" thinking concerning current Rx drugs dispensed by licensed practitioners out of legal pharmacies? Should these be legalized to sell in 7-11's or should the current illegal drugs be controlled as Rx drugs?"

I don't know what anyone else is suggesting in regard to these issues. Don't know what the "outside the box" thinking would be, only my own ideas. I'm not advocating drug use, nor am I advocating the legalization of, currently illegal, drugs. I'm for decriminalizing drug use and possession, and that is a real and legitimate difference, not mere semantics.

"If the current illegal drugs are legalized, then why should the government provide the court system personnel (civil or criminal) and bureaucracy to administer counseling/enforcement/institute fines/etc that you indicated the need for in your earlier posts ?"

I'm not sure that I understand this question. What I am proposing is a civil system to discourage irresponsible recreational drug use, that would largely (granted to what degree is uncertain) pay for itself and would treat such use as prinarily a medical problem. In so doing it would free up law enforcement resources, take less court time and resources, relieve prison overcrowding, save an enormous amount of money, deprive enemies of this nation of a revenue source and support network, and allow some of these resources to be deployed other places where they are needed.

"Should people on drugs be allowed to access our government social service programs such as welfare, food stamps, loans, subsidized housing, etc?"

How would the system know that they're "on drugs"? If this is a civil issue, how would it come up? If it goes beyond the civil system, i.e., they continue to use, continue to get caught are unwilling/ unable to get clean and it becomes a criminal matter, my first thought is to handle it as it is now handled, though I don't really know how it's currently dealt with.

"Can employers in your ideal world refuse to hire druggies?"

Sure, but how do they know they're "druggies"? Employers should be free to hire as they deem fit. If they think someone is unable to a job, for whatever reason, or is going to be a disruption in the work place, employers should be free to continue to look at other applicants.

"based on your idea of drug users, it is obvious to me that you need better SA on exactly who it is in the prisons creating all the overcrowding, and where they come from, how they got there, and what they were doing to actually land their butts in prison."

The Economist reports that approximately one third of those in prison in this country are there for marijuana possession. Are they wrong? Under Ashcroft the DoJ prosecuted Ed Norton (may have the name wrong) for growing medical marijuana, IIRC, for the City of Oakland, and Tommy Chong, of Cheech and Chong, for selling pot pipes.

"I would be careful about calling out the QP's on this site concerning your little trolling attempt with your example of the retired SF soldier smoking dope. "

I don't really think the charge of trolling is justified. While there have been occasions, in this thread and no doubt elsewhere, where I may have made an intemperate or ill considered remark, or perhaps something I thought was, and intended to be, humorous was not taken that way, in general I believe I have been respectful and I certainly am sincere.


Doc,

Probably should have replied to you first. No disrespect intended.

First, kudos for your work with the mentally ill. I care for my mother who has alzheimer's, her dementia is not too far along, I have help from my father and my sister, and I'm motivated by my love for her and it is still a frustrating and demanding experience. I commend you for doing a difficult and I expect largely thankless job.

I agree that "self medication" for the mentally ill is usually a bad idea. Frankly, I think most self medication is a bad idea. My issue is with the government making this a crime. The desire to relieve suffering is natural, acting upon it shouldn't be criminal.

I don't have to be for drug use, to be against the drug laws.