The drug war’s profit motive

[Anti Federalist]

The drug war’s profit motive

By Radley Balko February 17 at 4:23 pm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/02/17/the-drug-wars-profit-motive/

Terrific reporting here from the Capitol Report, a small publication that covers politics and policy in Minnesota.

Minnesota state Rep. Carly Melin is trying to introduce legislation to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but she’s bumping up against some aggressive opposition from the state’s police agencies and law enforcement organizations, who have united behind a group called the Minnesota Law Enforcement Coalition.

It may at first seem odd that police groups would so vigorously oppose medical pot. These aren’t medical organizations. They have no clear stake in the debate over the drug’s potential therapeutic benefits. According to the article, the police groups say they’re concerned about public safety, but we’ve been living with medical pot for nearly 20 years now, and there’s no empirical data to support the contention that legal medical marijuana brings an increase in crime. If you’re a fan of public choice theory, you might argue that narcotics cops may oppose any move toward legalization because a decrease in the demand for and supply of illegal pot might mean a decrease in need for narcotics cops to police it. And of course there will always be a supply of and trade in other illicit drugs to keep them busy.

So why such strident opposition? Rep. Melin has discovered what drug policy reformers have been arguing for years: It’s about revenue. Police agencies have a strong financial incentive to keep the drug war churning.

[Warlord]

Very true

[tod evans]

So why such strident opposition? Rep. Melin has discovered what drug policy reformers have been arguing for years: It’s about revenue. Police agencies have a strong financial incentive to keep the drug war churning.

I'd like nothing more than to turn the tables on all of these hypocrites.

Ostracize every one of them from the workforce and society in general.

To a man they know that drugs aren't as big a threat to public safety as the enforcement of drug laws

[KCIndy]

People always freak when their job security is threatened.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTmfwklFM-M

[heavenlyboy34]

The drug war’s profit motive

By Radley Balko February 17 at 4:23 pm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/02/17/the-drug-wars-profit-motive/

Terrific reporting here from the Capitol Report, a small publication that covers politics and policy in Minnesota.

Minnesota state Rep. Carly Melin is trying to introduce legislation to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but she’s bumping up against some aggressive opposition from the state’s police agencies and law enforcement organizations, who have united behind a group called the Minnesota Law Enforcement Coalition.

It may at first seem odd that police groups would so vigorously oppose medical pot. These aren’t medical organizations. They have no clear stake in the debate over the drug’s potential therapeutic benefits. According to the article, the police groups say they’re concerned about public safety, but we’ve been living with medical pot for nearly 20 years now, and there’s no empirical data to support the contention that legal medical marijuana brings an increase in crime. If you’re a fan of public choice theory, you might argue that narcotics cops may oppose any move toward legalization because a decrease in the demand for and supply of illegal pot might mean a decrease in need for narcotics cops to police it. And of course there will always be a supply of and trade in other illicit drugs to keep them busy.

So why such strident opposition? Rep. Melin has discovered what drug policy reformers have been arguing for years: It’s about revenue. Police agencies have a strong financial incentive to keep the drug war churning.
Sooner or later there will be a day of reckoning for the Drug Warriors...and it won't be pretty...

[heavenlyboy34]

The drug war’s profit motive

By Radley Balko February 17 at 4:23 pm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/02/17/the-drug-wars-profit-motive/

Terrific reporting here from the Capitol Report, a small publication that covers politics and policy in Minnesota.

Minnesota state Rep. Carly Melin is trying to introduce legislation to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but she’s bumping up against some aggressive opposition from the state’s police agencies and law enforcement organizations, who have united behind a group called the Minnesota Law Enforcement Coalition.

It may at first seem odd that police groups would so vigorously oppose medical pot. These aren’t medical organizations. They have no clear stake in the debate over the drug’s potential therapeutic benefits. According to the article, the police groups say they’re concerned about public safety, but we’ve been living with medical pot for nearly 20 years now, and there’s no empirical data to support the contention that legal medical marijuana brings an increase in crime. If you’re a fan of public choice theory, you might argue that narcotics cops may oppose any move toward legalization because a decrease in the demand for and supply of illegal pot might mean a decrease in need for narcotics cops to police it. And of course there will always be a supply of and trade in other illicit drugs to keep them busy.

So why such strident opposition? Rep. Melin has discovered what drug policy reformers have been arguing for years: It’s about revenue. Police agencies have a strong financial incentive to keep the drug war churning.
Sooner or later there will be a day of reckoning for the Drug Warriors...and it won't be pretty...

[Danke]

Sooner or later there will be a day of reckoning for the Drug Warriors...and it won't be pretty...

I'm sure they are afraid.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhWrPfyFKis

[phill4paul]

I'm sure they are afraid.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhWrPfyFKis

hb34 knows swordplay, man. They can split those bullets.

[heavenlyboy34]

I'm sure they are afraid.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhWrPfyFKis
That has absolutely nothing to do with the post you quoted, but whatever, man. You're free to fly that way as you wish...

[heavenlyboy34]

hb34 knows swordplay, man. They can split those bullets.

Haven't learned that trick yet. Must be something ya learn at a more advanced belt level...

[heavenlyboy34]

hb34 knows swordplay, man. They can split those bullets.

I was thinking more along the lines of this:
http://chrisincyprus.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/mob_pitchforks.jpg
coming to the DW's offices.

[phill4paul]

Haven't learned that trick yet. Must be something ya learn at a more advanced belt level...

Get with it and up your game! :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzhs1Z8Rwnk

Enough of thread derail. I'm sowry.

[heavenlyboy34]

Get with it and up your game! :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzhs1Z8Rwnk

Enough of thread derail. I'm sowry.
I think it would take me several years of practice with iaito and several of live blade katana to do that. :eek:

[jtap]

Profiteers don't like you taking away their profits.

[jtap]

Get with it and up your game! :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzhs1Z8Rwnk

Enough of thread derail. I'm sowry.

That was impressive.

[LibertyEagle]

I was thinking more along the lines of this:
http://chrisincyprus.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/mob_pitchforks.jpg
coming to the DW's offices.

One drone would take care of that.

[jtap]

The drug war’s profit motive

By Radley Balko February 17 at 4:23 pm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/02/17/the-drug-wars-profit-motive/

Terrific reporting here from the Capitol Report, a small publication that covers politics and policy in Minnesota.

Minnesota state Rep. Carly Melin is trying to introduce legislation to legalize medical marijuana in the state, but she’s bumping up against some aggressive opposition from the state’s police agencies and law enforcement organizations, who have united behind a group called the Minnesota Law Enforcement Coalition.

It may at first seem odd that police groups would so vigorously oppose medical pot. These aren’t medical organizations. They have no clear stake in the debate over the drug’s potential therapeutic benefits. According to the article, the police groups say they’re concerned about public safety, but we’ve been living with medical pot for nearly 20 years now, and there’s no empirical data to support the contention that legal medical marijuana brings an increase in crime. If you’re a fan of public choice theory, you might argue that narcotics cops may oppose any move toward legalization because a decrease in the demand for and supply of illegal pot might mean a decrease in need for narcotics cops to police it. And of course there will always be a supply of and trade in other illicit drugs to keep them busy.

So why such strident opposition? Rep. Melin has discovered what drug policy reformers have been arguing for years: It’s about revenue. Police agencies have a strong financial incentive to keep the drug war churning.

Some people don't seem to get why we are so hard on cops when they are enforcing the unjust laws the politicians are creating. The two are deeply intertwined. If there were no people willing to be the thugs on the ground for the politicians...then we might actually be able to be in the land of the free.