[granitDev]

How about we legalize the drugs, because the drug war has helped exactly no one, and release everyone convicted of a non-violent drug offense, AND wipe the conviction from their record and offer them free educational assistance? That would be a start, would probably get rid of half the prison population, and would prevent a whole lot of future arrests, and would defund the gangs.

[coldcode]

I always said if Walmart/Amazon could sell Pot, crime would be cut in half. The point is that "illegal" drugs still have people who want them, thus economically someone will provide, and getting arrested is part of the cost, and killing rivals part of the business. But if buying/selling/using is legal, then supply goes to the whoever can do it the easiest/cheapest, which is usually regular retailers. Thus arrests for these now legal drugs (like Nicotine and Alcohol are) are limited to misuse (like DWI) and police can focus on regular crime. Also enforcement of rules (don't sell to minors etc.) can be managed easier since it's the retailers that are being managed.

[SquishyPanda23]

I'm a long-time fan of legalizing drugs, but it's not entirely an easy problem to solve.

Eliminating the black market is good. Having huge corporations pushing drugs is maybe not so good, or at least we should think through the consequences.

[merpnderp]

Exactly, we'd want to model it on successful systems. Like having drugs dispensed at government facilities where users were offered counseling and rehab, and an area specifically for getting high. We don't want there to be tv advertisements for heroin or meth targeting kids (or anyone).

[leetcrew]

> Like having drugs dispensed at government facilities where users were offered counseling and rehab, and an area specifically for getting high.

I've read that this approach has been pretty successful where it's been tried. the theory is that doing it in a controlled environment removes a lot of the "fun" for the users so more of them eventually quit. additionally, it makes the use of hard drugs less visible, so fewer people end up picking up the habit.

I have to suspect that there's a point where you introduce too much friction though. if it's too annoying to go to the government facility, it might become tempting to just buy illegally. for instance, there is still a market for bootleg cigarettes even though anyone 18/21 or older can buy them at any gas station or convenience store. for some people it's worth buying them illegally to either evade the tax or purchase less than a full pack at once. I've also heard from my friends in CA that there is still a thriving illicit weed market for similar reasons.

[curiousgal]

The U.S. couldn't model its healthcare system on more successful systems, if those in power have such disregard for human life, what makes you think they'd think of drug users'.

[mellavora]

well, it helped a lot of politicians get elected, and it has sure made a pile of money for people who own/operate private prisons. Not to mention justifying who know how much in salaries for various police forces, and the business which supply said forces with various equipment, training, supplies... heck, even Palentir and Google are making money off of it.

Lots of vested interests in continued criminalization of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

[zentiggr]

But then how would the private prison companies maintain their revenue streams?

I swear if we forbade private incarceration, we'd see a major change in both total prison population, and the sort of "crimes" people are shanghaied for.