Law in Contemporary Society

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JohnAlbaneseFirstPaperTalk 3 - 23 Mar 2010 - Main.JohnAlbanese
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Why stop at drugs? -- DRussellKraft - 28 Feb 2010
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 In MA we started with the decriminalization referendum in 2008, which eliminated CORI records for possession and changed the penalties to $100 fine. Polls showed that the electorate was split, about 1/3 each supporting decriminalization, full legalization, and the status quo. The referendum passed 65%-34%. The effort was led by a coalition of urban religious leaders, libertarians and leftists, and opposed mainly by law enforcement and DA's, one of whom famously admitted to using. Now, there's a bill for legalization moving (slowly) through the legislature. The problem with gradualism is that it doesn't deal with the problems of civil rights violations or the disproportionate effect these laws have on the poor.

-- JonathanWaisnor - 02 Mar 2010

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Thank you for the feedback. I think Matt is completely correct: the day that people start seeing "upstanding" white people arrested and put in prison, the drug laws will immediately change. Almost all of our drug laws have racist roots and were intended to prevent minorities from corrupting white women and children. I recommend that everyone read the district court opinion in United States v. Clary, 846 F.Supp. 768, as it lays out a history of U.S. drug policies and makes a compelling case as to why the continued enforcement is horrendous.

I think that many people are aware that our laws are ineffective, but would like to believe that they work because they seem "moral." Moving people away from this belief would allow for changes to occur. I think a stronger paper would provide ideas on how this could be done. Any suggestions?

-- JohnAlbanese - 23 Mar 2010

 
 
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Revision 3r3 - 23 Mar 2010 - 03:18:18 - JohnAlbanese
Revision 2r2 - 02 Mar 2010 - 23:48:40 - JonathanWaisnor
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