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Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by wildmusings on Sunday July 10, 2016 @01:55PM (#12066436)
People illegally selling hard drugs should go to jail. As for the rest of the War on Drugs' imprisonment policy, I'll agree that it's counterproductive and harmful.
Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by oxide on Sunday July 10, 2016 @06:15PM (#12067512)
I respectfully disagree. People who sell drugs are by and large non-violent offenders.

American prisons would have plenty more room to keep pedophiles in prison and off probation if the cells weren't packed wall to wall with non-violent drug offenders.

Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by wildmusings on Sunday July 10, 2016 @06:21PM (#12067540)
Like that FiveThirtyEight piece I linked to points out, releasing everyone that's in prison for primarily drug crimes will only reduce the prison population by 14%. The headline figures of 50% that you hear includes anyone that has any drug charge as part of their conviction, even if it's not the most serious charge.
Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by dragonwriter on Sunday July 10, 2016 @06:26PM (#12067571)
14% is a sizable share, and, in any case, a large portion of those with drug and other charges, rather than just did charges, have all the charges stemming from drug-related activities or transactions, or otherwise connected to drug prohibition (similarly many with no drug charges, but only other charges); ending the war on drugs wouldn't just eliminate the imprisonment tied solely to dig charges.
Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by oxide on Sunday July 10, 2016 @06:22PM (#12067552)
14% is a staggering, massive number. full stop.

Not much of an argument IMO

Re:Inside an L.A. OxyContin ring that pushed more than 1M pills by mnbcvx on Sunday July 10, 2016 @10:18PM (#12068455)
But keep in mind that the black market around drugs, and the difficulty and expense of obtaining illegal drugs, creates violence.