Jason Huff wrote in a message to Alex Vasauskas:
AV>  JH> I don't understand why people are locked up so long for possession
AV>  JH> of a  controlled substance.  Just for using drugs (and getting
AV>  JH> caught) you can get  more time than murder, rape and an assortment
AV>  JH> of real crimes 
AV> So, at its simplest the answer to your question is not
AV> completely, but very much:  money and power.
 JH> okay, i see where the power comes in from locking up possessors,
 JH> but what  about money.  all i see is that it costs money to lock
 JH> them up.  could you  explain a little further on that point for me?
It costs YOU money.  But, that money is being paid TO someone else.
It is that someone else who is being paid with your money in the
name of prohibition who is financially benefiting from prohibition.
Prisons to lock up the prohibition-prisoners bring in state and
federal money to local areas where the prisons are located and create
prison jobs.  Police agencies justify the need for more cops and
equipment (and the money to pay for this) based upon the need to
interdict drugs, and so they get more tax money allocated to them for
this.  They also often get to keep whatever property is forfeited by
those accused of drug possession or sale.  The military gets to
maintain or increase its size and equipment in the cause of advising
drug interdiction in foreign countries and assisting in it here.
Money is being made by drug testing labs.  Money is being made by
those who organize and sell programs like DARE.  Money is being
made by mental health programs where people convicted of drug
offenses are ordered by the courts to seek rehabilitation
counseling -- even though the only drug problem many of these
defendants have is being arrested in the name of prohibition.
It IS costing alot.  But, on the other side, someone is getting the
money that you are paying.  Prohibition is costing tax dollars, and
this money is going to feed bigger govermnet -- and every government
agency likes to get as much money in its budget as it can.  Instead of
decreased taxes or allocation of what there is to reducing the national
debt, or helping to fund better schools and libraries or other
institutions or programs that help people improve themselves or better
their lives, we are paying for government to get bigger and gobble up
more money wageing prohibition, locking up people, and destroying lives.
Discovering who benefits from prohibition is like solving any crime
or mystery:  watch where the money goes and see who benefits.  In this
case the money and the benefits are going to more police, more military,
and bigger government.  It would be much less expensive and decrease
government to legalize all drugs, possibly put a tax on them equivalent
to the cost of treating those who have problems with them, and deal
on an individual basis with those who have or create problems.  But,
those who benefit from the current status quo would fight this
kicking and screaming all of the way because they like their jobs,
their money, and their power -- and they would keep telling you how
it is all for your own good, and that adults shouldn't have a problem
being treated like irresponsible children because the government
employees know best which decisions you should be permitted to make
about your life and which ones they are better able to make for you.
So, of course, they are worth the money that is taxed from you.
BTW, it looks like we have really gotten away from alternative
medicine here.  If you are interested in more information and
discussion regarding prohibition and the politics of prohibition,
you should try the Fidonet NORML echo if it is available to you.
There are many knowledgable people there who can answer your
questions and provide you with information or, if you like, debate.
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