Ron Paul opposes the War on Drugs.
On November 20, 2008 Ron Paul said in a New York Times / Freakonomics interview:
“[...] the federal war on drugs has proven costly and ineffective, while creating terrible violent crime. But if you question policy, you are accused of being pro-drug. That is preposterous. As a physician, father, and grandfather, I abhor drugs. I just know that there is a better way — through local laws, communities, churches, and families — to combat the very serious problem of drug abuse than a massive federal-government bureaucracy.”
Note: This summary of Ron Paul’s position has been determined to be incomplete! Contact us to join RonPaul.com as a voluntary editor. Help us set the record straight and keep this page up-to-date.
Start legalizing dope and you better plan on paying all police 100K a year or mayhem will follow. Ah, the RP ideals of meth heads and LSD/acid trips on every corner. Sounds like a place I’d love to raise my family. Very comical to think all of the Americans that are addicted can be fixed through families and communites. Have you every tried reasoning with someone addicted to Meth? Ron Paul 70% genius 30% insane.
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Do you have any empirical evidence to support an increased use of drugs after lessening drug laws (decriminalization is the closest you will find). Well, you have none, but the evidence points quite to the contrary. Making drug possession an infraction opens users to treatment, lessens robbery and property crime, reduces overdose and disease rates, lessens the number of addicts and results in less drug use in general (as shown in Portugal). Shifting the pressure from users to dealers/importers is much more effective at stopping drug use, and morally it is much more acceptable, allowing those with the serious medical condition of addiction to recover and allowing those who want to recreationally use a substance use in peace; remember drugs would still be MUCH harder to get in the first place.
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Tim,
I’m not completely sold on legalizing drugs myself, however… you don’t think your kids walk past meth heads and crack heads on every corner now?? In addition, don’t you think the Police Officers who go out into our communities and put their lives and livelihoods on the line for you and your family every single day don’t deserve pay that reflects the risks that they take??? Not only that, crime rates dropped after Prohibition was repealed and our police officers were safer and were more able to focus on other crimes… like the crack heads who were trying to kidnap children on their way to school…
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http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/hemp.htm
Please take the time to read this. I’m all for legallizing cannibis, how about we discuss insted for now, the legalization of Hemp that it may become a viable farming industry that has so many ecological and sutainable bonuses that could be a good answer and new frontier in our local national economy’s issues. What do you think?
This could be the first small step towards legalizing cannibis later after everyone finally realizes what benefits this plant can do for us.
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Please take the time to read this. I’m all for legallizing cannibis, how about we discuss insted for now, the legalization of Hemp that it may become a viable farming industry that has so many ecological and sutainable bonuses that could be a good answer and new frontier in our local national economy’s issues. What do you think?
This could be the first small step towards legalizing cannibis later after everyone finally realizes what benefits this plant can do for us.
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As long as he legalizes cannabis, he’ll definitely win. cause there are alot of people who do that.
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As long as we are involved in wars that cant be won-such as the war on drugs-we are not only wasting our time but our money as well. The only way to end drug use is through treatment through channels Ron Paul mentioned above- churches, communities, and families. The war on drugs is supported by bedmates that profit from war such as artillery suppliers,etc. War is very big business, and as long as we allow this war to go on, we are filling the pockets of people that are simply in it for the money. Do you actually think they care about a loved one that either you or myself might have that is using drugs?
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compounding pharmacy arthritis http://sundrugstore.net/catalogue/g.htm pharmacy doctor medical consultation order
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I’m considering my support for Ron Paul, I’d just like to see legalized cannabis.
It’s a plant that’ll grow damn near anywhere. There’s nothing harmful about it at all if you’re making things out of it (like rope, paper, brownies, ect). Maybe we shouldn’t think about if they taxed it or sold it commercially or put age restrictions on it. It’ll save everyone money. Never again will you have to call some stranger who may rob you, or kill you. You wouldn’t even have to go up to the store to purchase any.. Just go out to the back yard, pluck the prettiest bud you see and commence. God damn it. It’s a fucking plant.
See, you have to understand why some drugs are illegal. I believe there was a law enforcement official who posted below about drugs that are a real problem. Go read that. It makes perfect sense. Meth Labs blow up. Heroin… Go watch Requiem for a Dream. Coke, Crack, and other things including opiates are highly addictive and expensive while also causing harm to your body.
The psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocibin/psilocin, mescaline, and Dimethyltriptamine do not have very high (Or any) levels of toxicity at all. Nor do they pose a chance of addiction. These sorts of drugs are illegal just to be illegal. I, myself, would never push to make them legal (Besides psilocibin or mescaline for tribal ritualistic means.. I mean.. they’re just plants too) and this is because they are completely unnecessary. And I suppose you could say that about cannabis as well, but I can’t drink. Haha. It’s that thing. Alcohol can kill you. Prohibition can kill you. Maryjane hasn’t taken a single life.
Pro-pot. Maybe pro Ron Paul.
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I’m agree with Ron Paul. People in Netherlands have better liberties than us. It is embarrassing for our country.
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The war on drugs, on illegal immigrants, and on abortion, are all examples of our government creating a problem and then perpetuating it. Ultimately, they are all wars waged by our government on liberty.
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Why does the government continue to waste time and money trying to arrest and catch the ones involved in marijuana when my state is one of the WORST for meth labs! Meth labs can blow up and that is a hundred times worse than growing a plant! It is being done in vehicles and in homes that also house children! But yet marijuana is the worst thing according to our government! Marijuana does not cause hallucinations like bath salts, heroin, cocaine, meth, and pills! No wonder our government is in the hole with nothing to show for it….its because they are wasting time and money on petty things! I honestly believe that our country should not stick their heads where they dont belong too! Instead of jumping in to every dispute that happens over seas and protecting other countries for free for that country but on our dime. Charge those countries for our services to them! Then maybe we wouldn’t be so far in the whole from the efforts and costs of our military expenses! I am a normal citizen that pays taxes and abides by the laws and I am a hardworking mother and going to school for two associates degrees fulltime while working fulltime and I have more common sense than the government that is in place and can understand this stuff and know how to improve things so why dont they get it?! Why?! Because they are being bought off by lobbyists, companies, and the like with their own personal agendas that doesn’t want to see politicians take money away from them and spread the wealth out across the board to us normal citizens…..its crap and it needs to stop we need to have someone in the top office whose first concern is the citizens of the US and what is best for them! Ron Paul is that man! (P.S. Kudos to his son for standing up for us against the TSA!)
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[...] Email This Post As the GOP field narrows to four, one candidate has proven to be no ordinary Republican- Ron Paul. The Texas congressman, whose “non-interventionist” foreign policy was booed during last week’s debate in South Carolina, also believes that marriage should be available to all equally and views the war on drugs as “costly and ineffective.” [...]
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[...] also believes that marriage should be available to all equally and views the war on drugs as “costly and ineffective.”The foreign policy that gets booed may hurt Paul’s chance at candidacy, but it might also [...]
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Being half Dutch/American, I have lived in both the US and The Netherlands – famous for their free drugs mentality. Despite the American ‘war on drugs’, Americans use more drugs than Dutchmen. Yet I think that about 90% of the Dutchmen strongly support the free drugs laws. Not because they are hippies, but because they don’t want a government telling them what to do. That fundamental right is directed by an idea that every human being may decide about the matters of its own health. I am thrilled to hear that Ron Paul supports this same idea – and I don’t even take alcohol, let alone drugs.
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@JKellyH Get real! The government, will never win that war as long as they can capitalize on it. They don’t ever plan on it.
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I’m all for legalizing marijuana. The war on drugs is just another phrase for war on the people. The pharmaceutical companies give us their drugs to use and the crap poisons our minds and bodies, you have to take a drug to fix or slow down a process and something else messes up. They make millions of dollars off of giving us more diseases than curing them. Give people jobs that can support them and their families and stop filling our jails with petty marijuana drug dealers. Lock up the sex offenders, the sickos that murder innocent people. Stop wasting tax dollars on garbage like that. Give better rehab to the people that is strung out on the cocaine, heroin, etc., I know people that keeps going in and out of rehab like it was their second home. What gives? “Marijuana is dangerous” what about the cigarettes and alcohol? Cigarettes only kill cause of the chemicals that are allowed in the tobacco, pure tobacco doesn’t harm. Alcohol, kills everyday and both are legal. (go figure) Well that is our law makers for us. Government has double standards all around. I believe the so called war on drugs is just a crock, how do you think the drugs get in the US? It is all a set up plan to put certain people behind bars.
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http://www.littleredumbrella.com/2012/01/lets-be-clear-ron-paul-fucking-sucks.html
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They’ve been growing it since 1968 for research and provided for a few patients . http://articles.cnn.com/2009-05-18/justice/government.marijuana.garden_1_marijuana-drug-abuse-cameras?_s=PM:CRIME President Nixon made marijuana a schedule I drug against the advice of the commission he’d appointed to study it and against the AMA’s recommendation. At the time, it was in the news that marijuana wasn’t worse than alcohol, but the excuse was that authorities had no easy field test to determine whether someone was under the influence (such as with alcohol). Apparently someone can test positive well after the influence is gone.
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I think that the government has failed us about the truth about marijuana. In fact, alcohol is more dangerous and even a cigarette is more dangerous than marijuana. I think it’s about time to stop putting people in jail for getting “high” or smoking marijuana. In Holland, where marijuana is legal there is less crime. The government deliberately lied about marijuana to scare people. Marijuana is medicine for some people with (e.g. cancer, HIV, arthritis,etc.). Why not just tax the drug and put an age limit on it. Total decriminalization of the drug might actually help this country!
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President Ron Paul?
http://johnston-sequoia.blogspot.com/2012/01/presi...
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Ya know I was a HUGE supporter for the “War on Drugs” especially since at one time I was quite addicted to many of them. However now after doing my due diligence I must agree that there is a better way. I would say the biggest turning point was after reading “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts” by Dr. Gabor Mate. I think the good Dr makes GREAT points on why the system just doesn’t work and gives some great insight as to how it can be changed. I would love to hear more about how Ron Paul plans on getting out of the “War on Drugs” because in my opinion this particular war has cost America more money, time, and heartache than all the rest combined!
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Well put, I appreciate and respect your own truthfull perspective..,All to often many of the solutions to our issues reflect ignorance and/or selfish intrest; which means we don’t fully understand the problem to begin with.
I have listened to several interviews and lectures were Dr. Gabor has gone into great detail the truth that encompasses the issues of both our failed drug policies and the slanted views of drug use.
Two other great minds on this same issue are Dr.Abdrew Wiel (sp?) and Judge James P. Grey. Both of them speak from years of practice and experience in their respected fields.
Check out “Americas Failed Drug Policies” by James P. Grey. Also From Chocolate to Morphine by Dr. Andrew Weil
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The “war” on drugs has cost us billions by putting non-violent offenders in the prison system. Better to use that money for rehab, which the offrender could also help pay for depending on financial situations. Putting non-violent users in prison just creates more hardened criminals when they get out.
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Guest123456789 you could not be more wrong. Marijuana arrests account for HALF of all drug arrests. Heroin, Meth, Coke, Ecstasy, and other drugs COMBINED account for the rest. No state has fully legalized Marijuana, and only a few are thinking about it. Even Medical Marijuana is Federally Prohibited, and that leads to the DEA breaking down doors of state-law abiding patients, caregivers, and dispensaries in military style raids. Over half a million people have been arrested each year for Marijuana since 1995, that number hit 858,408 in 2009. Of these arrests(in 2009) 88% were for simple possession. Apparently, law enforcement does have a problem with it, and it is the one drug you ARE trying to crack down on. Numbers don’t lie, but cops sure do. FYI people also use Marijuana to cope with medical conditions like cancer, migraines, stomach problems, Multiple Sclerosis,AIDS, arthritis, depression, epilepsy, and countless other conditions. To most users, Cannabis is simply a cure for the pains of life and the War on Drugs is making criminals out of these people. The federal government should have no say over how you medicate your pain, as long as you are not hurting anyone else.
You are right about these drugs taking over the lives of our youth, you just don’t know how. Millions of children in this country are on amphetamines/stimulants(meth/coke), antidepressants(which artificially raise serotonin levels, creating, not fixing a chemical imbalance in the brain), and opiates(Heroin). However many children are being PRESCRIBED these drugs by doctors. These pills are not just handed out to kids who need them either. They are shoveled out onto the public, given to anyone who will buy. There is no infringement from law enforcement in this “black market”. and no its not a conspiracy, its the dang truth. if you can’t see it open your eyes.
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The word “drug” does not begin and end with Marijuana! Yes, California and many other states have already or are thinking about legalizing marijuana. I am a law enforcement officer. Marijuana is the least of our nation’s concern and problem when speaking of drugs.
Heroin, Meth, Cocaine, Ecstasy, and other drugs of those nature are the problem. These are deadly drugs. These drugs are taking over the lives of our youth. These drugs are causing our nation to become filled with mindless junkies who do not contribute to society. Most posts here talk about Marijuana as if that is the one drug everyone wants to crack down on. Get over yourself and your need to have a plant to calm you down. If pot is all you experiment with, get off your anti-governemnt soap box. We don’t care about your concerns for legalized marijuana. Whether it is legal or not, you will always find something to argue about.
Pay attention to the real issues at hand, the issues that are causing our nation to errode with poor decisions, terrible policy, and corrupt, power hungry, greedy leaders. The War on Drugs is a necessity. If Ron Paul is too naive to believe that the people in the community can fight it, then he is a poor choice for the position.
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Well you are entitled to your opinion.
And I agree…Thirty+ years of our faild zero tollerance drug policy is a waste of time and tax dollars.
Marijuana [as well as cocaine and heroin) should not be an issue. Pot should be legalized(medical & recreational use), and coke and heroin decriminalized up to 1 gram.
I personally would rather see my tax dollars go towards more important issues such as improving our Education system, creating a Single Payer Health Care system, Solar & Wind Energy, and advancements in bio fuels and high speed rail system.
How? First we need to get our militaries ass out of Iraq and Afganastan; as well as reduce our Governments foot print around the world…Stop meddleing in the political afairs of other governments. Stop giving Isreal money and stop borrowing from China.
Next reduce our defence spending by 1/3 and start shutting down 1/3 of the 700+ military bases in other countries.Now don’t have aheart attack over all of these ideas for solutions…But don’t you agree it’s time we wake-up and learn from our past; our mistakes, our succeses’,rather than continue down the “war on…” path. We, you, me, society in general, have beat ourselves to death over these silly wars…Not one single war since WWII has been just or necessary. Its as if we let that one victory – be it an important victory over facism – go to our heads…infate our “American egos” to the point of missing the BIG picture.
The last thing we need, anyone for that matter, are more draconin laws, a larger military and a paramilitary police force.
The question WE ALL need to ask ourselves is: Do we want Freedom (life, liberty,and the pursuit of happines), or do we want more security (a police state).
Obedience to Government is the sign of a Totaltarian State.
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Send the addicts to rehab, not prison. Have some Law Enforcement Against Prohibition people speak in your community. Prohibition of alcohol didn’t work, just increased crime. Same with other drugs!
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The war on drugs is over, we lost. California already threw in the towel. If it is regulated, then it can be controlled. If the stuff is taxed, then the different “products” can be age restricted, controlled. Jobs/employers can still keep those idiots from working for them via drug screenings. People will always come up with something stupid to get high off of, fastrer than lawmakers can deem it to be illegal. At least, if the junk was legal, the drug-heads would be less motivated to get around the system that doesn’t work very well anyhow. Having stuff available for leagal sale would keep the worst stuff out of the system, at a low price that the murderous drug czars can’t compete. Having lower prices that are manageable would reduce the need for drug-heads to mug, rob and kill, just to get a fix.
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@Motov Not even getting into the debate of whether or not God exists, I would say that there is a little bit of God in each of us, and that we can create as He can.The difference between “natural” and “man-made” makes little difference to me, and here’s why.Assuming God made the world, and assuming that this creative power resides in us, because we were made in His image, we can create either things inspired by the God within, (Holy Spirit-inspired) or we can create something selfishly, for the animal within.
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The government doesn’t want you to use your drugs, they want you to use their drugs.
They love the drug companies money, that’s what it is all about.
Legalizing pot will end that gravy train.
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@Motov I have no problem with taking synthetic drugs made from professionals such as Pfizer (of whom my family are shareholders), the problem is when people step onto my private property and tell me what i can and cannot do with my own body.
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@coyo Totally agreed, just like prohibition in the 1920′s.
I am chemically dependent due to Parkinson’s Disease. Pot helps me better than my meds. Government does NOT care, and would happily toss my butt in jail, even though I never committed a violent crime. Yet if government gets caught committing crimes they are rewarded with million$.
(Like that “Weiner” who couldn’t keep his pants zipped)
WTF is wrong with this picture? Discrimination? oops I forgot this kind of talk can also land my ass in jail! Now,…all they have to do is say you are a terrorist and they can barge in, arrest you, and without due process throw ya in jail.
Welcome to the USSA! (United Socialist States of America) Comrade!
Impeach Obama now!!!!
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@Motov@coyo ok.. dude…. First, Bush, not Obama, passed the Patriot Act that allows them to say you are a terrorist and can “land your ass in jail,” he is also the one who ILLEGALLY invaded another country. Secondly, Obama is a supporter of medical marijuana. Think twice, or do some research, before you speak. I support Ron Paul if Obama doesn’t get re-elected. Either one works for me.
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