Point Of Order

The "war on drugs" is a civil war, primarily fought against our own citizens.

I can't see any way for it to end except by eliminating it. Who signs the surrender papers when it's won?

The war was declared in 1969, when Vietnam was raging. Vietnam is over. But the "war on drugs" still drags on, intensifies, becomes more expensive and deadly.

Addendum

Posted elsewhere:

As I debate and plan this on various places I've troll... uh, posted my solution to, alcohol would definitely be included.

There would be separate endorsements for different drugs, and each would require education and a test about the drug, much like a driver's exam. (Probably no "behind the wheel," though. Heh.)

Solving The "Drug Problem."

I've always said that drugs should be legal. Drug users commit crimes primarily because drugs are illegal and hard to get.

So here's what I propose: Treat drug use like driving. It is a privilege, not a right.

Issue "drug use" licenses to adults, the same way we issue driver's licenses. If you fuck up and commit an actual crime while under the influence of drugs, your license can be suspended or revoked.

Committing an actual violent crime could result in permanent revocation.

Committing further drug-related crimes while under suspension or revocation would be considered aggravating circumstances in the crimes themselves.

Along with all this, we offer free counsling and treatment to any drug users who want or need it, paid for by part of the taxes earned from legal drugs.

So, who'd want to risk getting their drug license yanked by being irresponsible?

Comments? Questions?

Gardens & The Smoking Ban

Since mid-May I've been spending a considerable amount of my non-working hours puttering away in the Association's garden. This is a true statement if you replace the word "puttering" with "engaging in back-breaking labor" and the word "garden" with "half a city block completely neglected and over run by weeds."

The only reason that I mention this is that what I expected would happen with the smoking ban has -- since the weather has been nice, there's a whole lot more folks loitering outside the local watering holes having a smoke. This means a lot more noise in the neighborhood. Something particularly noticeable when I'm in the back yard.

I'm not going to cry boo-hoo, woe is me, because I chose to live in the heart of the city. But it does remind me that the sorts of folks that wanted the smoking ban probably don't live near restaurants and bars and therefore are not as directly affected.

Now, there's been a shooting and a violent rape in my neighborhood within the last four weeks after a long time without such nasty crimes. I don't know that one could connect the ban with these things, but when there are more folks milling around, feeling cranky, more bad things happen...