Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies

Addiction. Bad. She was charged with forging the prescription.

I've long believed that stiffer penalties for drug users would reduce the sale of illegal drugs. It's simple economics. Lower demand = less profit. [/QUOTE]

I don't think you can lower demand. People have been smoking/eating the fun plants since the dawn of time. And I certainly don't think we can afford to house all the addicts out there. We would need a state designated for it.

 

Haven't we already designated California ?

 

"Stiffer penalties"

That IS a popular theory in law enforcement these days. The problem is, addicts are not rational concerning their addictions and their lives revolve around the addiction. They are remarkably short-sighted as a group.

The success rate of mandatory treatment is ALSO not encouraging. It is basically zero.

About the only successful approach seems to be the twelve step model and I suspect that it succeeds only because it is self-selecting; most people going to AA and NA WANT to be there and WANT to escape the addiction. Even so, large numbers of addicts return eventually to their addictions.

 

Well, it is crystal clear what the two most harmful drugs in the U.S. are.

Are you talking about taking the users of those drugs out of circulation?

 

Illegal drugs.

 

Of course. The most harmful drugs are fine.

Got it.

 

I don't know too many smokers who became homeless, abandoned their families, or rob homes to support their habit (though it may become that way if they keep taxing it)

No, I don't smoke

Though alchohol is a problem, a great many people drink responsibly -- but I am sure you will argue next that a great number of illicit drug users who are responsible with their habit as well. And yes, people who drink and drive, drink and commit crimes should be locked up with the rest of them.

Oh, wait a minute, Your talking about caffiene, aren't you?

 

That is your're not your.

Wanted to get that corrected before Janko saw it.

 

True. But if tobacco were illegal -- which would exponentially increase the costs -- this would surely happen.

By the way, do you know any marijuana smokers who abandoned their families and rob homes to support their habit?

Well, yes, that is exactly what I would argue, at least in respect to marijuana.

And somehow you think that the fact that you predicted the logical response to your argument somehow makes that response invalid?

 

Yes, many.
I pastor at the local homeless shelter and have gotten to know some of the guys. Listen to their testimony regarding week and tabacco, you will get a different perspective.

Not necessarily.
I don't doubt there are folks who use marijuana recreationally and lead productive and unintrusive lives (just as there are functional alcoholics), but I submit that is the exception, not the rule. Don't have any references, just lots of life experiences.

I wish Jimmy would ring in on this, I believe he has professional experience surrounding this topic and could really shed some light.

 

In my experience, I've noticed that the people I know who smoke pot regularly tend to be a little "slower" mentally, a little less inclined to excel at work, and in general a little less "on the ball" than usual.

This is not scientific by any means, just something I've noticed. There certainly seems to be a correlation. Sure there are exceptions on both sides, but in general these are my observations.

 

Are you comparing them to people who drink alcohol on a regular basis? Or just to the general population?

Also, am I to understand that you believe that since these people tend to be "a little slower" and a little less "on the ball," they should be incarcerated?

And at the same time, raging alcoholics are encouraged by our society (as long as they don't drive.)

 

Just people I know.

No, they would be punished for doing something illegal.

That has nothing to do with my post, but I'll buy that.

 

And why is it illegal? Particularly when alcohol is legal.

 

Ask your congessman.

 

And he would say that because his constituents like you demand that it be that way.

In fact, you demand even stiffer penalties for marijuana users?

Why?

Because it's illegal.

And why is it illegal.

Because people like you want it to be.

It's just a giant circular agrgument. Absolutely no basis in reason.

 

As usual, I don't know how you drew that conclusion.

I suggested stiffer penalties for users of illegal drugs as a way to curb the problem. I also said jailing drug users is not practical. I didn't comment on my opinion of which drugs should be illegal.

If you don't like the way your congressman votes, you should elect someone else.

 

Read what you wrote. I'm not even drawing a conclusion, just repeating what you said.

 

.....Huh???

....Yeah...
Do something illegal, get punished. Drink & drive, murder, rape, break campaign finance laws, etc....

Here you are evading the point again. I never said I thought smoking pot should be illegal. If you believe I did, show me.

As a means to reduce the behavior. Didn't say I agreed with it.

As I said before, elect someone else.