Nobody is for drugs.

This blog isn't about drugs

The fact is people take drugs and laws don't seem to have much affect on drug use, one way or another.   I believe you can be against drug use and understand drugs are sold and used by others.

Believing that Drugs should be against the law is what started the "War on Drugs". It's where we are.

It is important to see things as they are.

Drug use is in many ways it's own punishment. If you have known or witnessed drug abuse in person you might understand what I mean. People who are into drugs continue to make bad choices in part because of the effect drugs have. It's a sad downward spiral that bears more resemblance to a complicated health problem than a criminal problem. But in desperation to get drugs people will engage in all sorts of criminal activity. This is because drugs can be expensive and substance abusers (drug users) don't have lucrative career options. More downward spiraling seems to be the rule.

Personally I don't have any use for marijuana. I don't believe I have any health problems that would be solved by cannibus but if I did I hope, that it would be available. It is nothing to be afraid of.

As it stands, the main use of marijuana seems to be putting people in jail. Think about that, stoners make excellent inmates. If you were running a jail would you want to deal with hardened criminals or easy going pot heads? Not a difficult choice to make really.

As a media consumer you may have seen people using pot in popular movies. They are almost always comedies. In news reports, smoking pot is seen as a joke as well.

Being targeted by law enforcement is not a joke.
Having a drug arrest can seriously mess up your life. Imagine a swat team descending on your home. They break down your door, ($1000. repair) shouting obscenities. They have an order from a Judge saying they can break whatever they need to, and you will not be able to stop them. ($1000. to replace the furniture they break) They might have to shoot your dog. (replacement cost at least $100) They will threaten your children. Because they can. We have given them the right to do this all in the name of winning the "war on drugs". It's been going on for over 40 years. It seems to be getting worse. Worse for ordinary people caught in the crossfire.

So that SWAT raid is going to cost you at least $2000. Let's just suppose they brought some pot with them or, of course they found "contraband" in your domicile. You my friend, are heading into the "justice" system.

You should make a deal, as soon as possible, get on with your life, put this shit behind you, because you can't win at this casino. The game is fixed. If you go to trial you are doing time. The technicalities you hear about on T.V. are mostly bullshit. The only way you get out of this mess is by agreeing with the organizations that have violated you. Make a deal, get over it. that's your only option.

I consider myself very lucky to have escaped my High School and Jr. College years without being caught with the wrong people, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I hope I can avoid being named by desperate people trying to save themselves from long jail sentences. I do this by not associating with anyone.

My conscience is clean. I was never involved in the "business" but that wouldn't really matter if I was targeted by a Grand Jury in a conspiracy trial. The way that deck is stacked, you will be convicted. The burden of proof can hinge on outright lies paid for with promises of "sentence reduction".

So what is the statute of limitations? How long should I be looking over my shoulder, wondering about possible punishment for being at the wrong party, for having the wrong friends?

That seems to depend on the amount of money the Prosecutors believe you have. If you have some property they can size, it will be taken. The US Attorneys office reports over 1. 7 billion seized in the fiscal year of 2010. If you care enough to keep score that's One Billion, seven hundred million for the "good guys" and who knows how many millions left in profits for the "bad guys".

I don't know, but if the "drug" business can throw off $1.7 billion just in losses to the "justice department" and stay in business, it must be a pretty big business. There is always the chance that this isn't all drug related. But forget about the "conspiracy" law deck stacking.
This is your government making money from drugs.

Why "tax" it if you can just take whatever you want. Who's going to complain? What, you're going to listen to a bunch of Drug Dealers? Did I mention they pled guilty or were convicted?

Are you still for the "War on Drugs"?

That's fine, you can believe whatever you choose. 

Tell me about it. 

I don't mind if anyone disagrees. But let me know if you think there should be an endgame to this "War".

What would "victory" mean, what would it look like?

Policing with a profit motive is a bad idea. If you have ever been caught in a speed trap I think you can understand this.

But I'm not advocating for "medical marijuana" and I don't believe anyone should move to Colorado or Washington state just because they want to get high. I don't care if they do or don't. It isn't about state rights, it's about civil rights and justice.

What's been going on for 40 years now, is wrong. It hasn't worked, that's how we know it's wrong. You can still make a connection with a local dealer in any place in the USA (perhaps the world) and buy pot. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

But if you've collected any money or property, and you get noticed by some ambitious politicians, judges or DEA agents you could loose everything you care about.
It doesn't matter if it's legal in your state or not, the Federal Government can fall on you and you will be left with without recourse.
Maybe you'll have some names to give, maybe that will keep you from getting a LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE federal prison sentence.

I'm not willing to bet on that.
Drugs aren't worth the price we have paid in lost liberty and respect for the rule of law.