Land of the free

[Pho King]

What that "wider path of criminal activity" is, apparently, will never be confirmed. Unless you can demonstrate sentencing for multiple charges, drug possession/dealing being only one among them? Otherwise, we need to know if sending up criminals on drug charges alone helps reduce rates of other crime. I have no doubt that it helps remove thieves and those who assault people, when those criminals have a significant drug habit. However, if that is the modus operandi of prosecuting criminals, then a whole slew of criminals who do little or no drugs are not being sent up at high enough rates. The other points of my previous post were not addressed, yet. Light sentences for drug possession, compared to repeat offenses for assault convictions? Crappy drug rehab programs in most prisons? Reducing those crimes inspired by poor judgement, brought on mainly by drug use?
Depending on drug laws to sentence serious criminals is failing to solve the problem. It fails to resolve drug abuse (a massive problem in the US). It fails to send up professional criminals who keep their drug use in check. It fails to separate the serious criminal who is a drug user, from the multiple repeat drug offender who violates petty theft (stealing food) and trespass laws (to sleep or "crash"). Depending on this method guarantees a conviction rate for the local prosecutor, based on the "usual suspect" list of local druggies. Easy money, and it illustrates how lazy and incompetent some local DA offices have become.

My point is, that very rarely happens. Our prisons do not have many petty criminals that are also drug addicts. Multiple chances are given to avoid prison. Indeed, prison is not even on the table for petty offenses like trespassing and petty theft. Did you look at Arizona's sentencing guidelines for drug offenders, which I provided? A very clear distinction is made in AZs criminal code between petty offenders that commit minor offenses to support their habit, and serious criminals. The problem is not with the sentencing scheme. Its quite reasonable, although arguments can certainly be made that it is too lenient, or too punitive. But, like all states, AZ is not interested in imprisoning drug addicts that do not commit serious crimes.

[Going Postal]

Boo, here's an example of a federal drug crime.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...61240a88588ef0

[BooRadley]

Boo, here's an example of a federal drug crime.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...61240a88588ef0

And that wouldn't have happened without the black market that's created by the Federal government.

[Going Postal]

And that wouldn't have happened without the black market that's created by the Federal government.

You implied/said it was because of personal use.

Another instance of federal drug crime was in our postal magazine where a customer was using the post office to send drugs. They put him and 2 postal workers (long story but you can google new jersey drugs post office) in the federal pen.

[BooRadley]

If the black market didn't exist, then the black market wouldn't exist. That kind of goes without saying. I don't understand what you're attempting to demonstrate.

[Malcolm Wright]

If the black market didn't exist, then the black market wouldn't exist. That kind of goes without saying. I don't understand what you're attempting to demonstrate.

I think he is just sharing anecdotes ?