In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act which banned the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain drugs. The act ranked drugs by their potential for abuse and placed them into five categories. Two of the most widely used drugs in the U.S., wine and alcohol, are exempt from the classifications. Ballot measures in several states including Colorado, Washington and Oregon have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. These laws apply only within the respective states and have no effect on Federal law.
@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
Yes
@9F8Y59L1wk1W
Do you believe anybody could be helped? Because I do, some people just stoop or fall so low in their mentality stableness that they need any sort of help that is offered to them, such as drug users and addicts. I believe that they can be helped and even so if they are in jail paying time for whatever it may be that allies with their drug use. But as for importers and sellers, who may or may not be addicts/users themselves, should probably just pay their time and get restricted help for themselves.
If someones decision doesn't directly affect you, then you have no right to tell people what to do and not to do
@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time
@ISIDEWITH11yrs11Y
Yes, for most but not all drugs
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@ISIDEWITH12yrs12Y
No, we should pass tougher drug laws
@9F8Y59L1wk1W
I personally believe that we should decriminalize the drug use in the United States. But at the same time, depending on how badly drug users or addicts are, and how illegally they are using or possibly even selling/ importing, they shall be arrested and get more time than usual, and with that provide help for the addicts while paying time or anything of the sorts.
@9F87HB82wks2W
People should not be criminalized for having an addiction. They should be given help and resources to get help.
@9FBNJRW1wk1W
Some of the drugs are not inherently harmful, and there is an overcrowding of prisons, focus on worse crimes.
@9F8NMBR2wks2W
Just look at prohibition or one of many examples of substance laws back firing in other contries. Toughing the laws just makes the problem worse.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
No, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation
@98JZKDC9mos9MO
I absolutely agree. I consider myself to be socially liberal, but my one outlying belief is around marijuana and other recreational drugs, even the "less dangerous" ones. All drugs pose a risk. However, we absolutely do need to remain empathetic and supportive of those impacted by addiction, and increase government funding for community-based rehabilitation and prevention programs.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@4Q4842P3yrs3Y
Drug addiction is a mental illness, not a crime. We have Alcoholics Anonymous, which helps people take back their lives, why not have the same thing for drugs?
@8N6QGZS3yrs3Y
I do not understand what decriminalization is so I’m going to say that if you possess a drug that’s illegal you should be arrested
@534HWNP3yrs3Y
Instead of jail time there should be mandatory rehab, and parole for that same as jail. They are still using in jails, so that only perpetuates the problem.
@4Q4C63L3yrs3Y
Yes, but level harsh penalties against the user if they hurt someone while under the influence.
@4THMGRM3yrs3Y
Yes, but drugs can also be used as weapons (i.e. as poisons), and hence should be controlled. Recreational use should be legal.
@4VXP5HT3yrs3Y
Only if we summarily execute those who sell to people under age 25. (So brain fully develops. Marijuana should be legal over age 21.
@937HGK41yr1Y
No and increase penalties for alcohol
@4S68HTK3yrs3Y
Yes, but offer safe houses so the public is not harmed.
@4S6KBRM3yrs3Y
No, we have a drug problem in this country and it's not likely due to the fact that people just want to break the law to use drugs. That being said, making it criminal is only costing tax payers money in retaining individuals that made poor choices, but are still susceptible to using when they are free, if we spent the same amount ensuring that people recover and educating others on the dangers and effective ways of coping with life, then we'd all be better off. One bad decision shouldn't ruin your life, but it should turn it around.
@4Q8CTVC3yrs3Y
I believe that if you have nicotine and alcohol legal then why not other drugs. But I would prefer that recreational use of any and all drugs, including tobacco and alcohol be prohibited. I do think that medical use of all drugs should be expanded.
@8H96Y523yrs3Y
Yes, and free people currently serving time for nonviolent drug offenses, and expunge nonviolent drug charges from criminal records.
@8HQ7NMCIndependent3yrs3Y
Yes, but not on dealers. Too much money spent on jailing and prisons.
@57FFD7W3yrs3Y
Hemp should be legal, execute traffickers
@4Q89XTP3yrs3Y
Yes, but selling, transporting or supplying drugs should be illegal. The point is to not punish drug users, the real victims of drug abuse.
@9D5CCYX2mos2MO
What we should do is increase punishment for drug dealers but at the same time we should increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation.
@ThrilledCurRepublican2mos2MO
Portugal is a great example of this. They decriminalized all drugs in 2001 and instead focused on treating drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. As a result, they've seen a significant decrease in drug-related deaths and HIV infection rates. But, they also hold drug traffickers accountable with strict laws.
@94SFFMP1yr1Y
No and make porn illegal and require a special license to drink alcohol
Yes, but only inside of government-certified treatment and rehabilitation centers, where people addicted to drugs can seek help and the ability to get off drugs in a humane way.
@8H8PPS23yrs3Y
Yes, unless they commit a crime while intoxicated or in possession. Increase funding for rehabilitation.
@8H6T2XF3yrs3Y
Yes, and reduce sentences for those already serving time. But, drugs like heroine should remain banned.
Marijuana should be decriminalized, but other instances of drug use should be dealt with through rehabilitation, not imprisonment
@8GLW8NG3yrs3Y
Yes, for most but not all drugs, reduce or remove sentences for recreational drug use as long as it does not endanger the lives of others, and there should be more funding given to addiction prevention and rehabilitation
@95SKRY91yr1Y
No and illegalize porn and prostitution
@9D8TB681mo1MO
No ban alcohol cigarettes tobacco and pornography
@9D8GBQR1mo1MO
No and ban alcohol cigarettes tobacco and pornography
@9992Z767mos7MO
only Marijuana should be decriminalized.
@8WS9BG52yrs2Y
Yes, and but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation
Yes, and support increased funding for addiction prevention, treatments, and rehabilitation, as well as mandatory rehabilitation programs in lieu of imprisonment.
@8T4W27G2yrs2Y
Yes, also increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation
@93P477H1yr1Y
Yes. We shouldn't stop at decriminalizing, but also aim for legalization and regulation to make sure we have safe drugs going into the hands of consumers. We should also fund programs for substance abuse and make information more widely available and accessible to all who need help.
@9BMBXGC5mos5MO
No, we should pass tougher drug laws and ban pornography and alcohol
@93V2CXP1yr1Y
Yes and increase penalties for alcohol
@93SB7YB1yr1Y
Yes, not for all drugs, and retro reduce sentences.
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