Law Enforcement 'Addicted' to Drug Revenue - Norm Stamper Video
Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/10/04/Should_All_Drug_Use_Be_Made_Legal
Norm Stamper, former chief of the Seattle Police Department, argues that law enforcement, and the private industries associated with it, make too much revenue from the prosecution of drug laws to support reform. "I think making profit off the criminal justice system, which deals fundamentally with social justice, is immoral," says Stamper.
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Although the media sporadically reports on major narcotic raids, the general consensus about the war on drugs is that small battles will not win this war. Despite all the money spent on drug enforcement worldwide, illicit drugs are still relatively cheap and widely available. Increasingly drugs are being viewed as a social problem rather than strictly a legal one.
So is it time to rethink traditional approaches to the illegal drug industry? Countries like Portugal and Argentina are forging ahead with drug reforms, but will Australia follow suit?
In this panel from the provocative Festival of Dangerous Ideas the argument is put forward that decriminalization and regulation would be the best solution to addressing the problems associated with drugs. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Norm Stamper is the former Chief of the Seattle Police Department. He is an advisory board member for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing.
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Shadizar666: funny I said the same thing months ago from a different perspective though "war on drugs?" i said, "losing?" "you're going about it all wrong..." "drugs are just a new form of natural selection blah blah blah", I continued... finally I had ended with "legalize them all and give the crap away, you'll win the 'war' by default; then you can move the 'drug war funds' to something more suitable"
notabuzzkill: Every citizen of America should see this clip...
WakeUpAndLegalizeIt: legalize it!
wmg111: Either all drugs should be legal or all drugs should be illegal. That includes alcohol, tobacco, pain killers, anti-nausea medication, stimulants, sedatives and viagra. How many people are addicted to oxicontin? The whole "war on drugs" is a giant con job. Drug use is a lifestyle choice. Drug abuse is a healthcare issue. Incarcerating people for drug use or abuse is criminal.
CanadianBeaver: Peace and Love!
FXThug: Perhaps you wish to live amongst drug infested utopia of crackheads, heroine addicts and other idiots but I do not want this for my children. I endorse an relaxed stance on Marijuana, and other minor drugs, but strict vigilance on hard drugs.
Amnesiac023: We already know what drugs are dangerously intoxicating and which are not. We also know the degree at which they are addictive and the violence the drugs produce. If marijuana is going to be legalized and restricted to people 21+, then there must be an extra criminalization/rehabilitation policy for cocaine, heroin, and meth users. Also, strict laws on the umbrella of intoxicated driving.
sexdrugsRnR: haha 2:25. thats how the whole statist system runs! i.e. making profit off of 'social justice'
mattghtpa: Do you actually think there are hordes of people waiting in the wings with fixing gear for hard debilitating drugs to be legal? Don't you realize all those drugs are just as accessible now? Wouldnt teaching, educating, and promoting responsibility a more responsible path? Where is the constitutionality and liberty of trying to mandate what an individual ingest as a rational citizen?
mattghtpa: Doesnt lung cancer and alcoholism already demonstrate hypocrisy as well as a 70% prison population for first time drug offenders who are now filling all the newly privatized prisons traded on Wall Street. Dont drink the kool-aide. There are obscene profits being made not only by the drug dealers, but the true drug lords; the politicians, black op intelligence entities, corporations, and practical any government where raw drugs exist.
marsCubed: Consider also that the alcohol industry is able to lobby to keep drugs like extacy illegal. Many outlets would see revenues fall to competitors who offered alternative entertainments. Alcohol wouldn't be able to compete, it is a nasty drug by comparison. Any transition to change in the law would need to address the potential collapse of parts of the alcohol sector. It can be done, but gently gently. alcohol can go high quality instead of bulk etc. Holland's quality beers became world famous.
proteanview: Right on!
MiranUT: Everything he said is right on. He didn't mention the redistribution of urban votes to rural populations via the 2 million plus minorities incarcerated in US prisons. Like he said: There are too many (not just dealers) making money off the drug war to change anything.
HolyRevelation: It's not like the war on drugs is stopping the drugs, you can still get anything you want. The system isn't going to change because the dealers/law enforcement like the way the systems working. The love of money is the root to all evil.
dmlauffer: Alcohol prohibition opened up a door to organized crime, but eliminating it did not eliminate organized crime. Like he said, bad people will find other ways to be bad.
oayia: i <3 money
hurchel: Yes the police and governments are too addicted to the money and profits.
Inupiatun: Is someone bad for choosing to smoke pot?? I think not.
fourthirteen: Imagine that, the last thing the drug cartels want is legalized drugs. Now they have a government enforced monopoly, legalization would make them compete with walmart....
dmlauffer: No, but I don't think its a wise decision. I'm all in favor of legalizing pot, I just don't think it's gonna stop crime.
shamefulidiot: when drugs are illegal, real criminals will profit from it. the money goes to fund all kinds of things they we could solve simply by legalizing it.
uriel578: We should also legalize slavery, part of the same problem.
BigNewGames: The only difference is the police get their drug money the legal way. Whatever they confiscate they can keep. Then, turn around and sell the dope to someone, entrapment, bust them then take all their possessions too. The law gives them the right to pilferage, steal and make a living similar to the drug dealer, with guns, who the police officers say, are the bad guys. I hope I am not the only one who sees this. Sounds like a dog eat dog world doesn't it?
BigNewGames: The good police officer will agree with me. Justice and equity can not go hand in hand or else becomes corrupt. Drug companies like UpJohn make trillions from drugs that have worse side effects than marijuana. But as long as they list the possible side effects, in a pamphlet no 40 year old can read without bifocals, then it is perfectly fine. One of the side effects of the drug Humira my son was prescribed is death. I guess you have to outweigh the benefits over the possible side effects.
BigNewGames: The money is not evil. It is the lust for money that brings out the evil in a person.
Author: ForaTv; Uploaded: Nov 10, 2009; Duration: 2:44; Views: 1336
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