at least you read and took all my posts into account before you posted latinmami

no offense kid but i think you probably have a better chance getting your pot legalized than the rest of this garbage, at least when you arguing pot should be legal that sort of makes sense and people can understand but arguing that heroin should be legal so you can control the source not a good argument, we want the drugs off the streets period not to make it more readily available for people to trash their lives with it

thekid3477 - I'm well aware of what dirty needles can do and the problem with Aids. I have a real problem with drugs and the choices people make when I see people and friends dying from cancer. Something they cannot control or prevent. It deeply upsets me and makes me sick to my stomach.

spark: i agree otc legalization is extreme. im not saying thats the answer. but it can be de-criminalized so we CONTROL THE SOURCE. you dont want to even get users clean needles?? are you aware of the possibilities with shared needles?? we are trying to STOP the spread of aids...

glad im makin headway on the pot part anyways;) im aware legal heroin is a crazy thought and that by discussing legal heroin peeps think im crazy...and i ultimately hurt my legal pot argument...but the fact is the logic is the same for ANY drug you talk about being legal. control the source if you want to have any control at all.

thisisme- I don't think that's what the posters that are defending the legalization of heroin are saying at all on these posts. Some have gone as far to say legalize it over the counter at a pharmacy. If someone needs to "come down" from an addiction, etc. That is fine. That should be handled however need be in Rehab. Catering to someone so they can get safe needles, etc. and continue their habit in a safer way (which is beyond ironic considering there's nothing safe about it) is a horrible option.

Ok... I lost out through the weekend because of lack of computer but it didn't take long to get back up to speed.. (no pun intended!)
Hannah- you are absolutely right, the abusers will still abuse... without help. Any drug is almost impossible to quit cold turkey for a lot of people. The peeps that I have known that used, came off and stayed off when they have been pulled gradually and had a support system. Kind of like the patch. I have known people who have gone cold turkey, even in rehab and been right back to it when they got out. What thekid is suggesting ( I hope i got this right) is that we give the benefit of allowing an addict to "come down". To not go through the withdrawls, but to be gradually released from the drugs deadly clutches. The effects of withdrawl itself can be deadly. Once the physical addiction is taken care of by gradually reducing the amount of drug, the mental addiction will then be easier to beat. This is exactly how they treat other opiate addictions and it has lasting effects. Heroine is an opiate, if it works for Oxycotin and Percocet, why couln't it work for Heroine?

thekid3477 - I can sometimes understand your logic behind the pot situation. Do I agree with it, no. But, I can understand some of your points. However, I will never agree with the legalization of heroin or even comparing it to the other situations. Not even in the same category in my book. The drug is horrible, and the people using it or selling it, should pay the price for their decisions. Get that sh%t off out of here. Until then, we can agree to disagree.

im aware of hannahs intent;)

i wasnt referring to those who dont use as the non abusers who need to be left alone. i was referring to those of us who do chose to consume drugs yet continue to live a successful fulfilling life...same as those who chose to drink alcohol on a non abusing basis. we're the ones that need to be left alone. i should be able to get a bag of pot if i want it without risking buying from a shady source or worse...a source with a badge and losing everything i have attained...THE SAME AS THOSE WHO CHOSE TO CONSUME ALCOHOL IN A RESPONISBLE MANNER. while we all know my main concern is one drug only...the logic behind legalizing pot is the same as legalizing heroin. the same logic that was behind ending alcohol prohibition.

thekid3477 - I think you misunderstood hannahs point. And yes, we should get those that abuse drugs help, however they need to want the help. That is acting like an adult my friend. As far as those that don't USE (not abuse), we are being left alone by choosing not to break the law or harm our bodies.

excellent point hannah. im glad you are on our side now. youre 110% correct. peeps will abuse whether legal or not. so we need to get those who abuse help and leave those who dont abuse the **** alone and treat em like adults. welcome aboard.

Ya, emotions. Do you know what those are? You should look them up.

there's those emotions again lol

thats funny shopiere. you make a valid point regarding what the legalization of alcohol did. i agree with you, but point out that to make a fair comparison you also need to look at why it was illegal to begin with...and why it being illegal didnt work...and you cant even acknowledge what im talking about or attempt to see the logic behind it?? you cant even think about what im saying regarding the oil companies push for alcohol prohibition to kill the ethanol industry. we had a larger percantage of ethanol fuel...made right here in the united states...in 1920 than we do today. you cant even stop to realize that the problems alcohol prohibition created ARE THE SAME problems 'drug' prohibition creates. why i wonder, would you rather act all hoity toity and try to insult me?? maybe you fear you will find out my logic isnt flawed and its actually...ummm...history. keep the blinders on...that will get us somewhere.

Talking_Monkey- Hate? When did I say that? You know who needs love the most? My kids. The ones I want this crap to stay away from. The ones I'm trying to raise properly. I realize that people using may need love just like everyone else in this world does, but please explain to me what legalizing heroin so you can support their terrible, deadly habit is doing other than catering to them and not getting them help!!!! THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. Oh, here ya go, it's now legal so you can get a clean needle to inject with. You think that's love? If that's the case, you need to look up the word. Spare me the the counseling session and your sarcasm. This isn't a frickin joke to me.

Has anyone looked at Amsterdam's crime rate? And compared it to rates prior to legalization? And what about a business model? Taxes? Or have some people (not to mention any names, shopierehuh) been contemptuous prior to investigating? "Normal" (read non-addicts) people don't do that.
Hey spark, did you ever think that maybe the people you seem to hate need love the most? Do you even know what love is??? Look it up... it's a verb. ACTION. Not just a feeling...

Oh! Kid! I think you are talking to me. I am not going to discuss a lot with you. Your logic is flawed, you are too lazy to construct a sentence, you talk like a pothead or some kind of an addict.

Clean yourself up, control your addictions, overcome your weaknesses, show that you are a man and I will talk with you.

"Kid i wonder how it is people can enter a convo by making a valid point and then completely ignore the counterpoint"
--------------------------------------------

well because they .

The USA is one of the only industrialized nations that list heroin as illegal. I also think it should be available.. but with a Rx by a licensed Doctor. I also agree that the "War On Drugs" has been a waists of trillions of taxpayer dollars, & has become a "War on Chronic Pain Patients, Drug Users, & Doctors treating chronic pain patients." Prisons should be over crowded with dealers by now... but truth has it that dealers are just as free to deal now as when the War started. Another truth is, its cheaper for the county to throw users in prison's then to open treatment rehabs in this county. The only inpatient rehab here is Mercy's. I have a family member who's been in their & I understand why the failure rate is so high.. besides.. who can afford the exaggerated cost of any inpatient treatment.. Its a lose, lose situation..

"Leagalize more drugs? They legalized alcohol in 1933 and look at the problems it causes"

yeah well they banned it in the 1920's and it caused A LOT MORE PROBLEMS than when it was legal. Prior to prohibition you didnt have gangs armed with automatic weapons smuggling illegal liquor to illegal taverns so people could consume it. Sound familiar to what is going on in mexico today dosen't it

i wonder how it is people can enter a convo by making a valid point and then completely ignore the counterpoint

I wonder what is wrong with peoples lives that they prefer to view it through a haze of marijuana, alcohol or any other mind altering chemical.

nice....

For those of you who think my views are crazy and I should loose my job as a police officer:

SEATTLE, WA -- A Mountlake Terrace police sergeant who was fired after publicly criticizing the "war on drugs" has reached an $812,500 settlement in a lawsuit he filed against the city and police department, among others. Under the settlement, Sergeant Jonathan Wender has been reinstated on the force and is eligible to receive back pay and full retirement benefits.

“In an open society, people on the front lines of the criminal justice system have an ethical duty to speak out on controversial social and legal issues that affect the public we serve," said Sgt. Wender, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a 10,000-strong organization representing police, prosecutors, judges and others who fought on the front lines of the "war on drugs" and who now want to legalize and regulate drugs. "The public has a fundamental right to know which laws and policies are effective, and which ones aren’t; and they should expect that their police officers will speak the truth even when it isn’t popular or comfortable to do so. I hope that the outcome of this case will help reassure police and other public officials that they can speak freely on controversial topics such as the urgent need to seek better ways to deal with the crisis of drugs that plagues American society.”

Sgt. Wender joined the police force in 1990 after graduating from college and was terminated in 2005. He holds a Pd.D. from Simon Fraser University and is currently a full-time sociology professor at the University of Washington. As part of the settlement, Sgt. Wender is back on the payroll at the Mountlake Terrace Police Department, where he will serve on administrative leave until he retires from the force on November 10, 2010 and can then qualify for his full pension.

"Jonathan Wender's victory is ours, as well. As was his fight," said Norm Stamper, the retired Seattle police chief and LEAP member. "Because of this fine man's courage and perseverance, and his willingness to tell the truth about the 'drug war,' we've all moved closer to putting an end to that war. I believe police officers across the country will be moved by Jonathan's example, and will raise their voices in support of LEAP's goal of ending drug prohibition."

The lawsuit was filed against the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mountlake Terrace Police Department, the City of Mountlake Terrace, the City of Lynnwood, and a handful of individual defendants.

For more information about LEAP, please contact Tom Angell at (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc

I would add another group to thekid's list of groups that want drugs to remain illegal. Drug dealers at the highest level. Just like what alcohol prohibition did for the mob in the 20's and 30's, drug prohibition empowers the mafia and drug cartels today. LEAP(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

carlitosway to bad you don't understand that making drugs illegal hyper-inflates cost to the point where it is profitable to make and distribute them. People will always use drugs we can't control that legal or illegal. If this isn't true then after making drugs illegal 30 years ago why is there still a problem? What we are doing now is corrupt to say the least. If you really care, find a way that is going to drain the system of money is creates. Hit the supply where it hurts in the cash flow.

thats what we're talkin about carlito. ARREST ILLEGAL SUPPLIERS/DEALERS NOT THE USERS. get the peeps who abuse help...leave those of us who dont have a problem the **** alone. actually even the pot grown indoors requires very little fertilizer. if its not 100% natural it would be from chemicals added AFTER it was grown. which again...would be nixed if controlled by uncle sam. you are rite on the heroin OD. i need to clarify my point. OD's would still happen no doubt. there would be less OD's from dirty heroin. it might not be an OD from to much heroin...but maybe its cut and theyre shooting laundry detergent into their arm. those are the OD's that will be reduced. do i get cranky if im without?? well i havent actually been without for about 4 years...but 3 years ago i had to do some group therapy for alcohol and i was worried about a urine test so i stopped smoking for like 2 weeks. i had weed in my house. never smoked it. pot is like sex. do i think about it when im not doing it?? yup. would i rather be doing it about any time?? yup. do i CRAVE it when im not having it?? nope. i wont even talk about the cravings i had when i quit smoking cigs...we all know that crap is almost as addictive as heroin...but i promise you on all that i can...i HAD MORE CRAVINGS WHEN I STOPPED DRINKING CAFFIENE THAN I DID WHEN I DIDNT SMOKE POT FOR THOSE 2 WEEKS.

The intelligence that comes from people under the influence of any MIND altering substances is hilarious You will find that after a few years of using their favorite drugs the will become babbling idiots with no hope of a safe return locked away in a sanitarium . To support any type of drug is crazy IMO. And weed is not as natural as some portray to be as it is grown and most of the ones growing it use chemicals to enhance the growth of it. fertilizers etc etc. As to Heroin there is a synthetic version the government already controls "Methadone" and the purity of todays heroin is just that pure uncut and kid every person is different as to amount used as to your OD statement if it was legalized less ODs that is the most insane thing you could say as any amount could cause an OD. illegal or legal no difference. Point here people take prescriptions as prescribed and die as to OD as their tolerance system was not the same as someone elses. Just arrest all dealers and get the addicts help.IMO Kid ? When you are out of weed and can't find any do you get moody? Just curious and if you answer please do it honestly. or do you have ample supply and don't have to worry about runnung out?

To legalize any drugs tells people because its legal then its ok to use Point alcohol is legal! and is more abused than any drug out there and IMO if you legalize weed or any other drugs you will find it more abused and a worse problem then what we have now. to legalize to tax it is just more money for the government. Why is it all about the income it could generate rather then the health of the people Some would rather have money then a persons life Now that is insane. To me there is no price high enough for my loved ones!!!!!

jja: thats a silly uninformed statement. i dont think officerfriendly even USES 'drugs'. i admit to a lot of pot intake but thats the ONLY drug i i consume...and the truth is if you knew me 5 years ago and IF you knew me now...youd probably agree that marijuana should possibly be legalized but definitely has medical benefits.

shopiere: we are aware of the problems with legal alcohol...but to do a fair comparison you have to actually look at what illegal alcohol did and why it was prohibited to start with. senseless murders. dirty cops. dirty gov'ts. tax evasion. al capone controlled/regulated/profitted instead of uncle sam. they spent wasted money on tryin to eradicate alcohol knowing that could never be done. and it didnt which is why prohibition was repealed...and the same will eventually be for marijuana prohibition(and maybe all drugs). dont forget either that during alcohol prohibition they didnt arrest the USER. they arrested the suppliers. you also have to look at WHY alcohol was outlawed to begin with...and that timing is about the exact same time the ethanol industry was killed the first time. why?? cuz it was an alcohol that couldnt be produced during prohibition. theres a good chance that without alcohol prohibiton killing the ethanol infrastructure that was being created we are a nation consuming maybe up to 50% ethanol produced here at home. you dont think the oil industry had anything to do with alcohol prohibition?? ITS THE SAME THING NOW. alcohol/tobacco/pharmaceutical/paper lobbyist ALL LOBBBY against legal marijuana. will there be problems with legal drugs?? abso freakin lutley. but an undeniable amount of probs will also be fixed.

wow... the kid seems to be much more stable than the name-callers

Leagalize more drugs? They legalized alcohol in 1933 and look at the problems it causes.

I'd much rather use our tax dollars to lock people up than to try to rehab them. After all, they were the ones that were stupid enough to try it despite all the bad things we all know about heroin.

I'd much rather legalize than decriminalize. Let all the idiots pay taxes on it and kill themselves. It's called survival of the fittest.

officerfriendly1 look at drugs have done to you and the kid.thats evidence enough .

Kid as much as everyone will say your wrong, the truth is your right. Legalizing possession would put an end to drugs as we know them. Simple economics. If there was no supply, there could be no demand. When the price falls the supply would not exist. Legalize tomorrow and let the free market kill the drug trade dead.

Kid has a valid point. im also sick of reading how everyone bashes him. we are allowed to our own point of views

ive been thinkin about this. you people crack me up. someone drives thru a stop sign, possibly high, and THE FIRST FEW POSTS are saying 'wheres kid' 'come on kid, defend pot now'. then, when i get into the convo saying the same things ive been saying for years...you say 'calm down kid' 'dont get all mad kid'. really?? you ask me to defend a stupid person who made a stupid choice possibly high merely because i advocate that i shouldnt have to worry about arrest for possessing the drug that he was on. you dont see why i might get a little insulted?? then, i get into a convo about the logic of legalized heroin and YOU people all seem to get insulted and mad at the IDEA...calling us stupid...insane. smoke some of what i gots an relax;). let me type this slowly so you can all try to understand...NO ONE HERE IS SAYING 'USE HEROIN'. NO ONE HERE IS SAYING 'HEROIN IS GOOD'. WE ARE SAYING IF IT WAS LEGAL OR DECRIMINALIZED IT WOULD BE A CONTROLLED SOURCE. i laugh as i write this because i KNOW you people may read what i write...but you wont even TRY to grasp the concept that myself and few others are trying to explain. good day. i said good day.

fyi-i dont want any drug LEGAL, other than my favorite:), i think they should be de-criminalized. de-crim means its illegal to sell/produce or possess in certain areas(schools/parks). keep the punishments the same for those...or worse...than they are now. uncle sam will control the source. de-crim will simply stop locking up the ADULTS who CHOSE to intoxicate their body.

loco chica. where did i try to convince someone heroin is ok?? as you say 'heroin is a drug that is becoming more and more used and is destroying more and more people lives'. isnt that proof that keeping drugs illegal is ineffective?? if it was illegal and people were using less and less id agree that what we have is working. but thats not the case. what we have is not working. since you apparently didnt read any of the other posts ill say it again. i KNOW legal heroin is an idea that is waay out there. im not a user so i could care less...im just trying to get the blinders off so you peeps can see there are options other than just locking people up who have drug problems. lock up the suppliers. not the users.

you have an exponential mental capacity...but im stupid for trying to discuss our side?? got it. if you understand the difference between the two then why do you say we are contradicting ourselves?? or did you gain the mental capacity AFTER that post?? legal heroin would gaurantee the source. gaurantee that its clean. peeps are usin anyways. as gma said, if your kid is going to use heroin, would you rather they get it from a place they KNOW its just heroin?? or some dude on the street who cut the heroin with laundry detergent to increase the weight?? again, i understand that these ideas are out there, but i have yet to see even a single idea from anyone else on how to help the drug problem. if we're all so stupid and insane instead of wasting your time discussing this with us why dont you use that mental capacity to find a solution?? are legal drugs the answer?? maybe...maybe not. what we got now sure aint keepin kids from using.

you know it is one thing to defend you pot kid that we get you are a stoner who loves his magical smoke, but the fact that you are now trying to make a point to legalize heroin. sick that is just wrong. heroin is a drug that is becoming more and more used and is destroying more and more people lives. i will give you the fact that your pot use probably harmless MOST of the time you should probably stick to being an advocate for that and really stay away from trying to convince people now that heroin is okay. what's next you are going to say if you are mad at your neighbor shoot them if they come on your property. good luck smokey robinson with your debate of stupidity

thekid3477- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HEROIN, NOT YOUR POT. Mental capacity? Kid, I have way more mental capacity than you can imagine. I know the difference and what you are talking about and my point is. NONE OF IT IS SAFE. And no, I don't believe in making heroin safer by legalizing it. That is the craziest thing I ever heard. I don't belief in catering to drug addicts. Sorry. Clean your act up. People do it all the time. Quit making excuses. You chose the path.

spark: its to bad you lack the mental capacity to tell the diff between the argument that legal heroin would be safer and the argument that heroin use is safe.

moose: arguing with a stoner?? its a discussion. a discussion only a few people seem to have ideas on how to fix. you just refuse to even think about our ideas. do you have any ideas for fixing the drug problem?? officerfriendly makes the same points. hes not a stoner. markm made the original post here. are you assuming hes a stoner?? gmaof3 agreed. she smokes a bit i believe but i wouldnt classify as a stoner?? theres a few more peeps on here that have the same belief as i do. i should chose to not get in a discussion with the blind but how else will i give you sight??;)

look people all we are saying is that the system we have now has failed. they arrested someone in this story. bravo. did that eradicate the heroin trade in rock county?? nope. those peeps that were expecting this heroin are, as we speak, in possession of heroin from a dift source. spark i completely understand that heroin will never be legal. pot will probably never be legal either. but there ARE steps we can take to de-criminalize all drugs that would mean the user is safe from incarceration. adults should be able to do to their body as they wish. incarcerate those that sell drugs. especially those that sell to kids. but arresting people for CHOSING to use drugs is a complete waste of our time and resources. we didnt do that durin alcohol prohibition...we shouldnt be doing that now. go ahead and call me stupid or insane again if thats easier than thinking about other options.

So we agree drugs are not benificial. GREAT! But you want to legalize them because that would be a safer way to use them???? I don't care where this crap comes from, it will never be safe!! No pharacist or government can make poison safe! That is the lamest argument I have ever heard! After prolonged exposure to drugs, your logical thinking capacity has diminished!!
I should have taken my own advise...Never argue with a stoner!

"Selling drugs is no way to make money for society". As long as drugs are kept illegal, therefore keeping drug prices high and profitable, there will be those who sell drugs to a population that demands it. Simple supply and demand economics. With the current state of our economy I predict more people will turn to drug dealing to make money.

I got news for all of you that think this crap should be legalized. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN and thank God. So many of you contradict yourselves it's hilarious. One minute you're saying it should be legalized and then when you're called out on it the immediate response is "when did I ever say heroin was a good idea?" WHAT? Do you listen to yourselves. And yes if you think it should be legalized, YOU ARE STUPID. PERIOD. If someone could legally buy it, they could still go sell it to someone of a lesser age (KIDS). It would solve nothing. Get off your soap box of the taxes and make a profit bullcrap. Selling drugs is no way to make money for society. Sorry. Poor and completely irresponsible choice. Go fry your frickin brains all you want on your own time, in your own home. I hope you get caught. It might be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Heroin is a unique drug. It is very addictive. It makes the user inacapable of stopping. We now have to deal with it in our community. Be prepared to support those agencies willing to work with and help these addictive people. Otherwise, double lock your doors, and don't leave anything easy to access - cause they will steal whatever they can to feed their habit.

officerfriendly is 100% spot on. Apparently, something like 80% of drug trafficking is marijuana too. Legalize it, and you've weakened the gangs. Now, we could discuss prostitution here since women and girls are being seized by the gangs, but let's discuss one vice squad issue at a time.

Absolutely people should say no to drugs, including alcohol. Why not spend the trillions of dollars that we are spending on a "drug war" that isn't working on education and rehab instead. We can not lock up all drug users. People will find and use whatever they can to get high, legal or not. Want to end the violence in Mexico Hillary? Legalize drugs! It's the money that keeps these drug cartels in business. Does anyone remember prohibition? Those who don't know their history are bound to repeat it. LEAP http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

Say no to drug

I still am not believing what I am reading. Drug use is the same as someone addicted to smoking,gambling,drinking...there are many types of addictions some are legal some are not but just because they are legal does it make the alchoholic not a stupid person or the person who gambles all their money away. Come on lets use our brains to help these people not make it easier for them to get more drugs.
Also talking about Rehab it would be nice if Janesville had someplace these kids/adults could go but their is no place here.
Stop acting as though you are above everyone people make wrong choices and that is what happens in life.

Just an observation here... and I'm not condoning or condemning anyone's opinions, but its similar to buying the staples at your local supermarket.

I wouldn't buy milk from someone standing in Shopko's parking lot, who bottles their own in their backyard. I couldn't be sure that it was done properly. That it is fresh and that I wouldn't get a tummy ache from it.

If there aren't places to purchase "controlled" drugs of quality, people will use anything they can get their hands on. In a perfect world, NO one would be chemically altered. Will never happen!!!

Back during prohibition, they tried this EXACT approach. It was just DAYS before the hooch was flowing.

This approach is simply NOT working.

Just playing 'devils advocate'...

i cant imagine in a million years there are positive benefits to heroin use. have you seen someone here post about the benefits of heroin?? cuz if they have i must have missed it. i could go off, and have;), about the potential positives of marijuana use...but thats not what were talkin about here. no one here is saying its ok to use heroin. we are merely pointing out there are safer ways to use. heroin is a sick and highly addictive drug. if someone is going to use it...they are going to do so whether legal or illegal. these recent heroin stories PROVE that keeping it illegal wont stop peeps from using it. if someone CHOSES to do heroin id prefer they get it from a clean trustworthy source. a)less risk of overdose and 2) someone is profitting off drugs, why not tax the profits??

could you tell me some benefits to using alcohol or nicotine?? i realize they are completely dift drugs to chose...but if there must be benefits, in your opinion, to drug use...then there surely must be some benefits to using those drugs...hence the legal use of nicotine/alcohol.

He must have stepped out to smoke a joint. I'll check back later for his answer. Time for Friday night fish fry!

I can't believe what I am seeing. You people think leagalizing the drug is the answer? Have you seen anyone who was addicted to heroin? I have. They are throwing their life to the dogs. Loosing everything, including their family. And for the rehab, do you know that it takes more than a phone call to be accepted. It can take 3 weeks for them to even see you.

Still waiting...

Tell me the positive benefits of drugs. Just because you think you can function fine while high or stoned isn't one of them. I'll wait...

more insults. thats easier than trying to listen i guess.

Don't argue with a stoner Spark. It's a total waste of time. There brains are fried!!

its just an opinion spark. it doesnt make any of us stupid. actually the contrary...we at least have read enough to form an opinion. stupid people would be aware of a heroin issue and not want to do anything to help. just because you dont agree with us doesnt make us stupid.

like those of us who agree w legalized drugs came up with this idea?? you give us to much credit spark;) drug use will always be drug use. as the last 40 years proves people will use drugs at the same rate regardless of how much you try to scare them. we are well aware of how insane these ideas sound...but were actually talking about making drug use safer. rather than dismissing what thisisme and others are posting...try actually processing what theyre posting...

thekid3477- And i classify people that want heroin legal as STUPID! Talking about REHAB and making heroin legal are two completely different things. If you can get help before getting caught using it, I'm all for getting them the help. If you get caught and then want help. You can get it behind bars.

i didnt say heroin use was safe. i said uncle sam is a safe source vs people like the guy in this story. who knows how many times the stuff has been 'cut' by the time it gets to the user. as a wise blogger said the other day, stupid people are stupid people. stupid people that CHOSE to use heroin can get it whether its legal or not, as evidenced by all the recent stories of heroin. you did post on our side...whether you agree or not...thats what were talkin about. put the abusers in REHAB not jail

Ya, you guys really have no idea how unintelligent this makes you sound. There are parents out there and people locally that have lost children to this horrible drug. Try spending your energy on ways to help prevent people from using this horrible drug rather than encouraging it. Take your insane thoughts elsewhere.

I can not believe anyone would even say to sell HEROIN at a drug store!!! come on people what is wrong with you??? I have to tell you until you have experienced anything like this first hand you have no idea what this drug does to someone and I have I am a mother of an addict and let me tell you you never think it will happen to you.....and when something like this hits home....and then you hear people with no clue talking like this you just want to scream!!!! So unless you know anything about the drug please do not comment or if you do don't make such STUPID remarks like making the drug legal!!!!

thekid3477 - I will never post on you or others side when it comes to this. Please don't even compare me to that. You just said get them REHAB. Why not legalize and make sure it comes from a safe source? THERE IS NOTHING SAFE ABOUT HEROIN. Why is it so hard for you people to understand drugs are harmful. You are all so worried about the money this country spends, etc. that you can't even get past the harm drugs cause your body. It's unbelievable. By the way officerfriendly1 you can be secure in your home, etc. all you want. Your business. Keep Heroin and all the other garbage away from me and where I'm at. That's public my friend and it becomes my right and problem. It's illegal anyway you look at it and those of you that think heroin should be legalized are micro.

I'm not a drug user I'm a Libertarian. As a Libertarian, one of the principles I believe in is personal privacy. I support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. I favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes" without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes. http://www.lp.org/

I am curious, is herion legal ANYWHERE?
I understand that pot is legal, where, in Amsterdam, or places like that?
Are there studies done about how the legalization of drugs effect the health/crime of that society?

spark: you keep posting on our side. that is EXACTLY the point of what we are saying about legalized drugs. DRUG ABUSE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN NOT A CRIMINAL ONE. dont lock up the abusers. get them REHAB. people who want to use heroin WILL FIND IT AND USE IT. why not ensure that its from a safe source, funded and taxed by uncle sam,and that its a clean cut(less worry of OD)??

hannah: i dont CARE if those other drugs are legalized. i do care if pot is. thats the diff. the logic says all day long that drugs should be legalized, controlled, and taxed by uncle sam THE SAME AS THE NUMBER ONE KILLING DRUG but that is such an uphill fight i try to stick to just caring about mother natures finer herbs:)

thisisme- Really? Tell me something I don't already know. Doesn't make it right. And here's what I have to say to that. You all need a lot of help. Until then, do your drug and kill yourself doing so if that's what you opt to do. I'm just happy as hell my life doesn't depend on that. Enjoy yourselves. By the way, I've said it before, I'll say it again. Comparing alcohol to heroin is a joke. The reason you do that is because ones legal ones not. The effects of the two aren't even in the same boat. I'll put my odds on someone having a beer and not getting addicted or dying over someone shooting up heroin and day of the week. One time and you're addicted and can overdose just like that. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT POT HERE PEOPLE. IT'S HEROIN. GET A DAMN CLUE!

officerfriendly1 do you take a trip and never leave the farm ?

Do you realize that there are many adults that function on a daily basis while using (not abusing) drugs, prescription or not. The person that sits across from you in the office may be high on something right now. Or they may be just waiting for the 5:00 buzzer to go home and snort a line, smoke a joint, or shoot up. The person on the other side of you may be waiting for that smoke break or the 6:00 buzzer to go to the local bar with the boys. The only difference is that there is legal and illegal. There are some that you would never know the difference. We all have our vices, some more so then others. What my point is, is that there are some of us who are perfectly happy going home at night to our vice. If alcohol, one of the number one killers, is legal, why not the rest. Otherwise, since we're banning cigerettes, and since every thing else is illegal, lets ban alcohol too.

Ya, there are clinics in places that offer help with your problems too. It's called REHAB!!

Thanks Mark, Kid, Officer! There are clinics all over the bigger cities offering heroin from clean needles, at a lower price, ensuring that it is clean cut. This reduces the amount of overdoses and also the cases of AIDS and AIDS related death. There are those that CANNOT get off the stuff and are breaking into our tax payers money by overdosing (no health insurance in most cases), and/or getting locked up, again coming out of our tax payers money. There is obviously going to be those that overdose still, but if given the right dosage, the amount will be less.

I am also for full legalilzation of marijuana. The government made over $300,000 in state taxing California residents in one year and over $600,000 in federal taxes. Bring it to all the states and there goes our deficit, right out the window. I say make alcohol and cigerettes illegal and introduce the world to Mary Jane!!! It's going to be easier and cheaper to get illicit drugs then cigerettes come the first of April anyway.

It's not guns that kill people, people kill people. Used properly, guns have great benefits. It is the same for all drugs... drugs don't abuse people, people abuse drugs.

officerfriendly1- By the way, I have to laugh at that website you linked. I love the question "If hard drugs were legalized, would you use them. 99 percent so no!" Did they survey the same number of people and ask them if they use drugs or not? I didn't think so. I could go survey that many people and get that percent for people that don't use drugs period. Give me a break. What kind of brainwashed crap are you reading?

officerfriendly1- You and many others don't get it whatsoever and it's scary that you have that mentality. WOW! I cannot believe what I'm reading and I hope to God there's no youth reading the posts on this subject. You people need your heads examined big time.

Heroin should be legal at a pharmacy? Overdoses would drop by at least 90 then? You have got to be kidding me. You cannot be serious and if you are, I'm glad you're not in charge of the laws because that is just plain stupid. Are you aware that you can still overdose on certain drugs regardless? Are you aware that using only one time can make you addicted? What is more alarming is that people like you think others shouldn't have the right to be concerned with the well being of their fellow citizens. What kind of sick World are you living in? How many Americans are they going to lock up just for getting high? People are dying you morons!! It's more than just getting high. Why don't you learn to enjoy life and deal with your problems without something that can kill you? I'm sorry for getting personal, but you people need to seriously get you priorities straightened out. Zero tolerance. That's what I have for drug addicts. You want to kill yourself, go nuts. Don't ever expect sympathy from me and don't push your legalization crap on me. Keep it away from me and my kids and get your act together. You're a disgrace to society. Kid, I cannot believe you agree with this. It's one thing for you to talk about pot, but I really just lost all respect for you my friend.

Great post Mr. Montgomery. It's nice to see that some people get it. LEAP(Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

oh my goodness!! I cant even believe someone would post that. Just because a drud is legal does NOT mean people dont OD on it!

good post. logic WILL prevail...

Law enforcement can arrest as many heroin dealers as it wants and they will never even START to put a dent in the demand for drugs. Heroin should be legal and available to anyone over 18 at a pharmacy. The first thing this would accomplish is that the number of heroin overdoses would drop by at least 90% because the addicts would precisely know the dose they were taking. It would also cut the drug mafias out of the loop because they would have no more customers. It would also reduce burglaries and robberies because heroin addicts could get their heroin for under 50 cents a dose at a pharmacy. But this will never happen. Why? Because of law enforcement. Law enforcement and the private prison industry LOVES the drug laws because drugs means steady jobs, lots of overtime and the ability to intrude into the lives of civilians at the drop of a hat. Drugs are a sweet deal for cops who love the ability to search a car or a person without a warrant and generally harrass innocent civilians. We have spent 37 years and over a TRILLION dollars on this foolish "war on drugs". How many million more Americans are going to lock up for decades just because they like to get high? The drug laws are bankrupting city and state governments. Wake up America, we have been sold a bill of goods by law enforcement and our elected officials. Legalize ALL drugs now and we can release a million innocent civilians from the prisons. Mark Montgomery boboberg@nyc.rr.com