It seems the US government thinks the war on drugs is more important than...

...the war on human trafficking:

The U.S. government spends 300 timesmore money each year to fight drug trafficking than it does to fight human trafficking. And the criminal penalties for drug trafficking are generally greater than the ones usually levied against those who traffic in girls.

Isn't that just lovely?

It is pretty sad that people would get a harsher penalty for illegal drugs then for doing things like this to people.

Very sad indeed.

That's the US government for ya. Ever since Harry J Anslinger started the modern war on drugs, using blatant lies and racism as his only points, aided by William Randolph Hearst running straight up lies in his chain of newspapers, trying to eliminate industrial hemp as competition for his paper business. Even though it's common (and public) knowledge at this point, that literally everything used in the early debates was lies and racism ("Marijuana makes darkies think they're as good as white people" -H.J. Anslinger, spoken in front of congress), there's just too much money and power caught up in it now. Cutting losses, and admitting they were wrong just doesn't seem, to them, like a viable option.

Edit: A few more gems, from Harry Anslinger's illustrious career:

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind"

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother"

"All mexicans are crazy, and marijuana is what makes them crazy"

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US,and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers.Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage.This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relationswith Negroes, entertainers and any others."

"Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white mens shadows and look at a white woman twice."

"The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races"

Most of these quotes come from his testimony to congress, in support of the original bill to criminalize marjiuana (along with cocaine, methamphetamines, and a handful of other drugs), shortly before he was named the first head of the newly created Federal Bureau of Narcotics (precurser to the modern DEA), where he was given the power of enforcing all these new drug laws.

It is pretty sad that people would get a harsher penalty for illegal drugs then for doing things like this to people.

CHOASXIII

As far as I remember the war on drugs have always been won by drugs :?Darthkaiser

[QUOTE="Darthkaiser"]As far as I remember the war on drugs have always been won by drugs :?Sajo7

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

Storm_Marine

The war on drugs should be remembered as an embarrassing mistep in American history, but I fear we will just take it farther and farther. Realization that something just isn't working and fixing it isn't a strong suit in America.

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

Storm_Marine

Lol. No. Well, maybe in some places, depending on what kind of hard-ass drugs are involved. I know exactly where the weed I buy comes from, all the way up to the growers, though. And I can assure you, at no point in that chain is there any link to human trafficking and/or sexual slavery. That's a common myth, supported by the people who stand to gain wealth and power from the prohibition of drugs.

The war on drugs should be remembered as an embarrassing mistep in American history, but I fear we will just take it farther and farther. Realization that something just isn't working and fixing it isn't a strong suit in America.

Jolt_counter119

Q. F. Motherf*ckin T.

The war on drugs should be remembered as an embarrassing mistep in American history, but I fear we will just take it farther and farther. Realization that something just isn't working and fixing it isn't a strong suit in America.

Jolt_counter119

...the war on human trafficking:

The U.S. government spends 300 timesmore money each year to fight drug trafficking than it does to fight human trafficking. And the criminal penalties for drug trafficking are generally greater than the ones usually levied against those who traffic in girls.

Isn't that just lovely?

ghoklebutter

The war on drugs should be remembered as an embarrassing mistep in American history, but I fear we will just take it farther and farther. Realization that something just isn't working and fixing it isn't a strong suit in America.

Jolt_counter119

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

the_bi99man

Lol. No. Well, maybe in some places, depending on what kind of hard-ass drugs are involved. I know exactly where the weed I buy comes from, all the way up to the growers, though. And I can assure you, at no point in that chain is there any link to human trafficking and/or sexual slavery. That's a common myth, supported by the people who stand to gain wealth and power from the prohibition of drugs.

I don't know what kind of local grower **** you're into. But most of the big organizations around the world are involved in pretty much everything. The Triads, the Mexican Drug Cartels, The South American ones etc. etc. Though, drugs are the big money makers so making them legit would be pretty crushing to the organizations.

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

Storm_Marine

Lol. No. Well, maybe in some places, depending on what kind of hard-ass drugs are involved. I know exactly where the weed I buy comes from, all the way up to the growers, though. And I can assure you, at no point in that chain is there any link to human trafficking and/or sexual slavery. That's a common myth, supported by the people who stand to gain wealth and power from the prohibition of drugs.

I don't know what kind of local grower **** you're into. But most of the big organizations around the world are involved in pretty much everything. The Triads, the Mexican Drug Cartels, The South American ones etc. etc.

[QUOTE="the_bi99man"]

[QUOTE="Storm_Marine"]

Aren't the same organizations involved either way? Usually the two go hand in hand along.

Storm_Marine

Lol. No. Well, maybe in some places, depending on what kind of hard-ass drugs are involved. I know exactly where the weed I buy comes from, all the way up to the growers, though. And I can assure you, at no point in that chain is there any link to human trafficking and/or sexual slavery. That's a common myth, supported by the people who stand to gain wealth and power from the prohibition of drugs.

I don't know what kind of local grower **** you're into. But most of the big organizations around the world are involved in pretty much everything. The Triads, the Mexican Drug Cartels, The South American ones etc. etc. Though, drugs are the big money makers so making them legit would be pretty crushing to the organizations.

Exactly. Just legalizing the drugs would be disastrous to the real criminals, who use the obscene profits from drug sales (made possible by the illegality) to finance the real crimes, which are far more damaging to society than the drugs are.

Also, yeah, I only deal with local dealers/growers. Besides wanting to make sure I'm not inadvertantly supporting some terrible sh!t, I just like to know where my chronic comes from. Not to mention it's way better that way. That nasty dirt weed getting pushed by the dealers working with the mexican cartels has to be some of the lowest quality marijuana ever grown. I'm surprised they even manage to sell it. No one who's ever smoked real sh!t would even consider buying that crap, no matter how cheap it was.

Probably because more people die as a result of drugs than human trafficking? That would be my thought.

Human trafficking doesn't affect american citizens on a day to day basis like drugs do. Most people don't know it happens or refuse to acknowledge it happens. Drugs is something right in front of them, a visible and clear enemy.

very sad situation tho

Hmm well that doesn't seem to be a very credible source. They don't have hard figures. But the 300 times more spent might have something to do with their being more drugs to combat than human trafficking. I do know the US does investigate and deal with those that traffic in humans so I'm not sure really what the point is here.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Hmm well that doesn't seem to be a very credible source. They don't have hard figures. But the 300 times more spent might have something to do with their being more drugs to combat than human trafficking. I do know the US does investigate and deal with those that traffic in humans so I'm not sure really what the point is here.Rhazakna

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

[QUOTE="Rhazakna"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Hmm well that doesn't seem to be a very credible source. They don't have hard figures. But the 300 times more spent might have something to do with their being more drugs to combat than human trafficking. I do know the US does investigate and deal with those that traffic in humans so I'm not sure really what the point is here.LJS9502_basic

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

TopTierHustler

Apples & Oranges.

They should fund both and there's tons of things tio cut to get there.

Apples & Oranges.

They should fund both and there's tons of things tio cut to get there.

JoGoSo

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"] No actually. We shouldnt be spending any money on keeping any drugs illegal. drug use is a victimless crime. Prohibition has never worked and it will never work mingmao3046

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.

It'll happen at some point. Opponents of legalization are mostly older, and once they start to die off the proponents will outnumber them and politicians will adopt a more lenient stance.

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

Apples & Oranges.

They should fund both and there's tons of things tio cut to get there.

JoGoSo

Complete shi*e legalize all drugs and watch the us turn into a crapholeEmpCom

There is no evidence that suggests legality will increase drug use. In fact I remember a while ago that it is more plausible that it would most likely decrease if anything.

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.Abbeten

I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.

It'll happen at some point. Opponents of legalization are mostly older, and once they start to die off the proponents will outnumber them and politicians will adopt a more lenient stance.

Abbeten

Complete shi*e legalize all drugs and watch the us turn into a crapholeEmpCom

Elaborate.

Oh, and the US is already a craphole due to the fact that nearly 300,000 US children are trafficked for sex (among other reasons).

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.l4dak47

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.l4dak47

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]

I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.

It'll happen at some point. Opponents of legalization are mostly older, and once they start to die off the proponents will outnumber them and politicians will adopt a more lenient stance.

mingmao3046

[QUOTE="l4dak47"][QUOTE="Abbeten"]I'm not sure anyone wants to legalize every drug. But marijuana? Kind of a no-brainer.Abbeten

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]

[QUOTE="l4dak47"] What are your views on drugs such as shrooms, lsd, and basically any hallucinogen? l4dak47

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

We should spend less on soft drugs and much much more on hard drugs.

mingmao3046

Hard drugs cause many many many problems in society, from economics to funding terrorism to general population health.

In Portugal, all drugs have been decriminalized and the rates of drug use have either stayed the same or actually dropped off a bit. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.htmll4dak47