Nigel, There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that legalising dugs would decimate the criminal justice system. Legalising the drugs would just open it up to more folk. More people would then become addicted. The cost of drugs are likely to be more once licensing / production / taxation are added and lets be realistic UK.Gov are really, really unlikely to sell this stuff off cheaply and if you think otherwise you must be mad. Assuming that this scenario happens, the average addict then needs to find more cash to pay for his wrap. By and large the vast majority of addicts exist on the benefit system, experience has shown me most fines handed out are met with a deduction from benefits order, which then means to the humble taxpayer that Mr (or Mrs) Criminal Drug Addict now has to pay a fine (deducted at source by DWP) at a measly 5 quid a week (including a compensation order, does that seem fair to a pensioner that has been punched to the ground for her pension so that an addict can get high?). These are normally added onto existing fines. Most addicts that pass through the CJS go on to some sort of rehab. However, this only works if someone wants to kick the habit and invariably they don't. There is a wealth of information on the net that shows that long term use of an addictive drug (illegal or prescription) fucks up your life, people lose jobs, houses families, etc and end up in the gutter on job seekers allowance. And now the really key bit. If addicts can't legimately get hold of the cash for the next fix then they turn to criminal activity to generate the cash REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DRUGS ARE LEGAL OR ILLEGAL . Which is back to the point I made yesterday or sunday.
Now back up your argument with your personal experiences of the system in order to show the world why you think that the CJS system would be decimated. As you pointed out yourself experience is key. BTW - Just for the record I think that the lengthening of the sentence does sound harsh and I have sympathy for the family concerned. I do not know how their justice system works and therefore can't comment on it. From: Nigel Barber Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 11:30 AM To: John Lee Cc: Chris Briggs ; list leedslist ; [email protected] Subject: Re: [LU] Leeds fan in Phillipine Jail - Billy Burton - helpandsupport the campaign There are too many vested interests in favour of the absurd status quo. Legalisation would decimate the criminal justice system - at least until they identified another great evil to fight. This is exactly what happened in America after prohibition was repealed, and drugs became the new menace to keep all the law enforcers busy. You can draw parallels for the army saving us from the red menace, and now from the terrorist menace. It's the politics of the bogey man. We use them on our children and this nasty habit sticks. Nigel. On 1 June 2010 11:08, John Lee <[email protected]> wrote: OK have read some of these threads now. If there was an easy answer to drug use/cultivation/criminality etc then by now it would have become apparent. All I'd add is that the present system regarding criminalisation/possession, in fact everything to do with drug use certainly in the UK, doesn't really work. It will only get worse imho! I don't know what the answer is. I know people who have managed their extra-curricular activities with no negative impact on society at all, and have witnessed the absolute opposite. One size does not fit all. Ridding the streets of heroine would be nice. I don't know why it's so hard to find poppy fields in Afghanistan - they must stick out like a sore thumb in that arid sandpit! -- blog.mindbrix.co.uk/2010/01/20/zoomable-gallery/ www.concentrichron.com -- Mindbrix -- Dream it, draw it, build it, love it 69 Derby Street Beeston Nottingham NG9 2LG +44 7905 311 352 [email protected] www.mindbrix.co.uk Skype: ntbarber twitter.com/mindbrix _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist and the hardest time in a sailor's day is to watch the sun as it sails away
