The War on Drugs scores big win

[Bill]

Vile drug criminal gets 25 years mandatory - where he at least gets a morphine pump to self-medicate his extreme pain.

"Paey also has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. He relies on a morphine pump provided by the state to dull his pain. The sad irony is that while Paey is allowed to self-medicate in prison, it was his self-medicating that got him there.

Paey is serving a twenty five year mandatory minimum sentence under Florida's draconian drug laws. He was convicted of drug trafficking in March of 2004 for possessing more than 100 pills. He said he needed them to treat his chronic pain. All sides conceded he never sold a single drug. Even the court of appeals for the 2nd District agreed that his sentence was unjust. "

http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_229223032.html

[kres24GT]

Thanks war on drugs. Both Bush and Clinton admit to doing drugs, and joke about it, yet they both have increased the funding and level of bureaucracy on the insane war on drugs.

[Betty Blowtorch]

Isn't it wonderful that Florida prosecutes its drug laws in a completely
fair and equal manner for everyone who uses painkillers illegally?

Remember when Rush Limbaugh (a resident of Palm Beach, Florida)
was given a 25-year sentence for "doctor shopping" so he could buy
more than 30,000 Oxycontin and hydrocodone pills?

Oh wait... uhhh... he didn't get 25 years, did he?
What was the punishment Rush received?

He made a plea agreement that required him to pay $30,000 and
complete an 18-month therapy regimen with his physician.

Oh my god, the horror!! Rush had to go to rehab and pay a fine
equal to about one week's worth of his multi-million-dollar salary.

And here's the kicker:

Roy Black, one of Limbaugh's attorneys, stated that "Rush Limbaugh
was singled out for prosecution because of who he is. We believe
the state attorney's office is applying a double standard."

Too bad the Florida man who got a 25-year sentence
didn't have Roy Black as his attorney.

[moonman]

Perhaps one day gubment will recognize that drug use is a medical and not a criminal justice issue.

The real problem in getting there though is the vested interests who benefit from keeping the drug war going. Marijuanna has been our largest cash crop for years. Legalize and tax marijuanna and the fedrawl gubment would be so awash in cash not even the Bush Administration could spend us into deficits.

[Moby]

The war on drugs was about increasing pricing just like the war in Iraq was about increasing pricing.

Every nation that takes other approaches to controlling drugs sees better results then the USA has since it's war on drugs. Throwing the same amount of money into drug prevention programs would have far better results but it would cut the demand for drugs, which would cut prices and profits drastically.

[Betty Blowtorch]

Perhaps one day gubment will recognize that drug use
is a medical and not a criminal justice issue.
That day has already arrived in California, at least in regard to
medical marijuana. But the state government only legalized it
because a majority of California voters approved Proposition 215,
legalizing medical marijuana.

This was an example of direct democracy, the will of the people
being expressed at the ballot box.

And yet, because federal drug laws trump California state laws,
the feds periodically raid marijuana dispensaries that are being
legally operated under California state law.

It's federal bureaucracies wasting taxpayer dollars to thwart
democracy and states rights.

[moonman]

The war on drugs was about increasing pricing just like the war in Iraq was about increasing pricing.

Every nation that takes other approaches to controlling drugs sees better results then the USA has since it's war on drugs. Throwing the same amount of money into drug prevention programs would have far better results but it would cut the demand for drugs, which would cut prices and profits drastically.

Respectfully disagree with your notion that drug prevention programs would cut the demand. At least in any significant reduction in demand.

Some years back the APA put forward and the AMA accepted that among the basic drives in human experience is to alter one's perception of reality. Many schools have gone so far as to include this drive to Mazlow's Heirarchy of Needs; (1) food (2) shelter (3) sex (4) companionship (5) altering reality.

[nofear]

another WAR on a word..we love doing that here in the good ole USA..war on terror war on poverty war on drugs..yeaaa..

i guess most people dont think to realize if the US Goverment didnt want drugs in this country they wouldnt be any here..again crack wasnt developed in some inner city lab was it? hhmm why then is crack a inner city problem..?

if the asleep people in this failing republic would wake up and be brave enough to face harsh truths we could make a difference..but when the large % just follow along like sheep..well then the powers at work just keep advancing there agenda..and trust me when i tell you the agenda is NOT IN YOUR BEST INTEREST..

[Bill]

I guess we lost the war on poverty.

But with so many people in prison we're doing great in the war on freedom.

[disrupter]

Needless deprivation of personal liberties does not constitute a morality crusade.

People are the actors.
People have to take responsibility.
Drugs never pulled a trigger.

This is like fighting with the shadows rather than reality,
how incredibly stupid can you get?

This is incredibly stupid.

[moonman]

That day has already arrived in California, at least in regard to
medical marijuana. But the state government only legalized it
because a majority of California voters approved Proposition 215,
legalizing medical marijuana.

This was an example of direct democracy, the will of the people
being expressed at the ballot box.

And yet, because federal drug laws trump California state laws,
the feds periodically raid marijuana dispensaries that are being
legally operated under California state law.

It's federal bureaucracies wasting taxpayer dollars to thwart
democracy and states rights.

Yeah, I live in Cali as well. Actually, unknown to the right wing wackos this is a 10th Amendment issue between the People and State of California v. Fedrawl Gubment.

[kres24GT]

Yeah, I live in Cali as well. Actually, unknown to the right wing wackos this is a 10th Amendment issue between the People and State of California v. Fedrawl Gubment.


What? Now you support the 10th amendment????