I'd love it if experience of having taken drugs was required for being in charge of drugs policy. "Minister, have you ever tried drugs?", "Have I ever, Jeremy!".
Ed (never touched the stuff) On 1 Jun 2010, at 13:50, Nigel Barber <[email protected]> wrote: > Chris, for the third time, HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY DRUGS YOURSELF? > > It seems to me that you know everything about the system, and > nothing about > the subject. > > > Nigel. > > > > On 1 June 2010 13:03, Chris Briggs <[email protected]> wrote: > >> 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 <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 01, 2010 11:30 AM >> *To:* John Lee <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* Chris Briggs <[email protected]> ; list >> leedslist<[email protected] >> >; >> [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 >> > > > > -- > 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 _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. 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