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Prohibition doesn't work, this has been made oh so violently clear several hundred times throughout history, yet politicians and law enforcement officials continue to ignore it.

The only thing prohibition does is give criminal organizations a fool-proof way to make money. Look at the Mafia during the alcohol prohibition for example, they had become a massive organization that were even able to build their own city (Las Vegas) and control pretty much every major business in america.

Then alcohol was legalized and suddenly Al Capone and his ilk vanished. The Mafia still exists, they're still dangerous, but nowhere near as much as they once were.

This situation is currently being mirrored almost exactly with the Cartels in Mexico.

It is indeed a waste of time, for instance, it wastes more resources fighting the drug war than it does keeping illegal immigration from happening. Not to mention the fact that if drugs were still legal, the 4 billion dollar black market would be MUCH smaller.

At 10/16/11 08:58 AM, homor wrote: This situation is currently being mirrored almost exactly with the Cartels in Mexico.

Poverty, not drugs, created the Cartels in Mexico. Want something to blame for Los Zetas? Blame NAFTA.

At 10/16/11 11:43 AM, Camarohusky wrote:

At 10/16/11 08:58 AM, homor wrote: This situation is currently being mirrored almost exactly with the Cartels in Mexico.

Poverty, not drugs, created the Cartels in Mexico.

poverty didn't make them powerful.

the only difference between the Mafia from the 20s and the Cartels of today is that the cartels don't have a celebrity bad ass. if they did maybe people would be able to see the connection.

At 10/16/11 01:17 PM, Iron-Hampster wrote: the only difference between the Mafia from the 20s and the Cartels of today is that the cartels don't have a celebrity bad ass. if they did maybe people would be able to see the connection.

were bootleggers ever as influential as the cartels are?

Woo hoooo

At 10/16/11 11:43 AM, Camarohusky wrote: Poverty, not drugs, created the Cartels in Mexico. Want something to blame for Los Zetas? Blame NAFTA.

Poverty convinced them to start the gangs, but cocaine sales is what made them a significant threat.

But fuck NAFTA anyway.

no, prohibition is to blame for the cartels

At 10/17/11 09:19 AM, SadisticMonkey wrote: no, prohibition is to blame for the cartels

;;;
I don't believe that is the only reason. Remember these are business men. Sure the business they're involved in is illegal , but its still business & so you make sure assets are protected , that you can produce your product, get it to market. So a group is needed, because it is doing an illegal business, Governemtn likes to call it a gang, or criminal organization. But he US has agencies who are involved in the drug trade, gun running, all kinds of illegal activities...does that make the US Government agencies, cartels ? gangsters ?

All the same problems of any business, with the added difficulty of it being illegal.

In my opinion, the war on pot haeds & more specifically putting them in prison is a massive waste of any country's resources. Unless they were involved in violent behaviour, robbing, stealing etc. But when you look at how much of the US's 25% + prison population is for simple possesion, growing for personal use, minor trafficing of pot. THe US is literally swatting a fruit fly with a bulldozer !
It makes no sense.
All the money & personel tied up in trying to stem the pot trade, could so easily be turned into a profit for the US Government. Simply decriminalise possesion.
THen sell pot in stores that sell tobacco. Tax it !
Use the profits & the money no longer wasted on potheads to go after the really dangerous drugs like coke, heroine, ecstacy, Meth. etc. These drugs are the ones addicts are robbing, killing people over.
When was the last time you heard of a riot or bar fight even...caused by pot heads ? We had a riot on a Halifax street a couple of years ago during 'buck night' , when drinks were a dollar each & that was caused by drunks, drinking legal alcohol to fuel their rampage...the pot heads sat back & watched the show.
There were no arrests for drugs that night, just drunks !

At 10/16/11 11:43 AM, Camarohusky wrote:

At 10/16/11 08:58 AM, homor wrote: This situation is currently being mirrored almost exactly with the Cartels in Mexico.

Poverty, not drugs, created the Cartels in Mexico..

Poverty is coming to (north) America real soon..

Meanwhile..

http://www.newser.com/story/131147/calif -medical-association-backs-legalizing-po t.html

People often say xyz drug should be legalized because it's fairly safe, or because tax revenue can be gained. In my opinion, those are the wrong variables to be looking at. What should be considered is whether or not people own their bodies. I certainly like to think I own mine. If an adult with the ability to consent wants to destroy his body, whether through drugs or calories or piercings or whatever, let him.

Dude;s, i only read the first page. But im getting a vibe off of it. I take drugs on a regular basis, sometimes pretty hard ones. I can safetly say that I'm not a scumbag. I don't steal, attack people etc. I know perfectly drug free people that do these things. And banning drugs just puts the price up, so thsi 'drug realted crime' bullshit si because of the ilegality. I've done some stupid thinfs whilst high, but thats nothing compared to what alcohol can do. I'm also a lot heathier than most people, contrary to popular beleif, drugs don't kill you if your not an idiot about them. If you legalized them, maybe we could give peopel lessons on how to take them properly, give them free ongs and needles to encourage better ways of taking them. We could do more actual, un biased study into their effects and so on. And, if you want to regulate control and putiry, why not have the drug industry run by the goverment. They can get rid of enforcement charges, and make some decent money off selling the drugs, whilst monitering amounts sold, and keeping the drugs safer. You would still get idiots doing stupid things, or ODing, but thats their choice, and you can drink yourself into a simlar state pretty easily anyway