Re:Surgeon general: No 'value' to locking people up over mar...
by bagacrap on Tuesday July 20, 2021 @10:03AM
(#27893842)
Who should we ask then, the chief of police?
Clearly the basis for banning drugs is the harm they may cause to the health of both their users and others. A medical expert's opinion is relevant in assessing harm. It's not like he weighed in on net neutrality.
Re:Surgeon general: No 'value' to locking people up over mar...
by ayane_m on Tuesday July 20, 2021 @05:16AM
(#27891541)
Arguably, it is medical. Substance use disorders, of which cannabis can be an example, are medical disorders which are better treated medically than with punitive justice.
Re:Surgeon general: No 'value' to locking people up over mar...
by hajile on Tuesday July 20, 2021 @01:19PM
(#27896508)
Everything from chronic theft to murder to and many things in-between could all be viewed as medical disorders in many cases. That isn't particularly relevant to whether or not it should involve jail sentences. Cannabis is not an addictive substance more than many other crimes.
Pointing out cannabis isn't harmful is what I'd expect a surgeon general to say (and I think they should say), but he didn't. Instead, he made a "value" argument which is strictly non-medical.
I didn’t elect him and he needs to keep his non-medical opinions separate from his job.
From global warming to the pandemic, medical experts and scientists taking political sides has lead to disinformation, hesitancy to do what should be done, stonewalling or even outright censorship of the facts.