It Was Just Pot, They Said

[Skip]

Some see hope, others see problems in Colorado push to 'defelonize' drug possession


https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...rug-possession

Some Colorado lawmakers want to make felony drug charges a thing of the past. They see it as a way to stop "arresting away" our drug problem, but critics argue it comes with a whole host of other issues.

"The war on drugs has completely failed," said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "The system is broken and this is a way to fix it."

[snip]

Can't disagree. But the war on poverty has also failed along with all the social programs. Why must one continue while the state punishes workers and rewards a recreational lifestyle?

Story mentions this report...

https://komonews.com/news/local/komo...attle-is-dying


We have the same idiot voters, same stupid ideas, and will start having the same outcomes.

[Irving]

This should be a great discussion!

First

"My goodness, Denver is about to turn itself into the homeless capital of the Rocky Mountain region," said 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler.

I can't imagine there is any other place in the Rocky Mountain region that currently hosts more homeless than Denver already, but I don't know.

Next, I take issue with this statement, but I need some time to flesh out exactly why.

Why must one continue while the state punishes workers and rewards a recreational lifestyle?

What do you mean about the state punishing workers?
I'd argue the point that this rewards a recreational lifestyle, but not necessarily your overall point, as soon as I figure out what that is.

[Skip]

[snip]

What do you mean about the state punishing workers?
I'd argue the point that this rewards a recreational lifestyle, but not necessarily your overall point, as soon as I figure out what that is.

The litany of overlapping taxes, fees, and redistributed costs imposed on those of us who work.

Compared to the benefits given to those who choose not to work from our paychecks. And it is pervasive! Can't count the number of social media whiners talking about their benes. Their pics are full of tats/pot/etc. Able bodied, able minded, don't work.

Keep pretending this a freedom issue all you want. The worst combination of Chicago and Seattle is Denver's future on this course.

[Irving]

Sounds like we'll really have to flesh out specific arguments to discuss. To start I'd say that of course all the fees and taxes and such are going to be aimed at the largest, richest segment of the population, which is people who are gainfully employed. I know that's not specifically what you meant, but if the state needs to make money, it's not going to be from people already living off of state provided benefits.

I've been dealing heavily with people who are "disabled" a lot lately so I'm right there with you on that particular topic, probably.

[FoxtArt]

The drugs include heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and most other illicit substances. Under the proposed measure, those caught with small amounts of these drugs would face a misdemeanor instead of a felony charge.

I'm curious what a "small amount" of fentanyl is, because a "small amount" of fentanyl as typically described by lawmakers is enough to kill about 1,000-10,000 people.

Doesn't that, by definition, make it a "arsenal-of-death" in the hands of these "high supremacists" just waiting to mow down an entire town, that should warrant national news every time its found and all the criminal penalties that go with hiding such "arsenals"? When are we going to take steps to stop the next mass drugging? https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/13/healt...ose/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/healt...ses/index.html

[FoxtArt]

I do wish there were per-capita homeless comparisons across the state, tracked over time.

Montrose isn't so bad, but it seems like there's a disproportional crap-ton around Grand Junction any time I go there. I wonder how it compares to Denver on a per-capita basis. The only place I know of that is nearly free from homeless is Craig... something... something about those brutal -30 winters.

[Eric P]

In reality, government should have zero say in what you freely put in your body. And at the same time, it should not provide you means to sustain your life after freely ingesting any substance. Let nature take its coarse, and yes I mean let ODs die on the street, jobless starve, ect.

Government should be function to protect private property and life from those who steal or cause harm to others. As well as provide for means of commerce.

Government should not be educating nor providing healthcare.

[Irving]

Government should not be educating nor providing healthcare.

That's false and short sided. I guarantee none of us would want to live in a world where there is no assistance like that.

[BladesNBarrels]

I'm curious what a "small amount" of fentanyl is, because a "small amount" of fentanyl as typically described by lawmakers is enough to kill about 1,000-10,000 people.

Doesn't that, by definition, make it a "arsenal-of-death" in the hands of these "high supremacists" just waiting to mow down an entire town, that should warrant national news every time its found and all the criminal penalties that go with hiding such "arsenals"? https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/healt...ses/index.html

On another forum, there was a discussion about Fipronil and its toxicity.
One response brought a little more perspective, with a touch of humor:

"Fipronil is very toxic. I read that even a concentration of one part per trillion is toxic to bees. That is one liter per cubic kilometer. Think about it. That?s not much.
It was in Organic or Physical Chemistry in college that we were discussing the toxicity of some substance, that someone in the class said that one gram of that particular substance could kill a million people. To which, Dr. Burr countered: That is like saying that a teaspoon of semen could impregnate 250 million women. The problem is distribution!"

[BladesNBarrels]

Government should not be educating nor providing healthcare.

May get an argument about that:

The purpose of our Federal Government, as found in the Preamble of the Constitution, is to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity."