Cincinnatus, that is a valid observation. Yes it would lower the cost but that is a HUGE benefit. Cheaper drugs equates to less crime to pay for them, less profits to buy guns, less profits to interest drug cartels, and less violence to collect on the small amounts owed to the dealer. Will the addiction rate go up? I honestly don’t know. It may decrease as some involved in drugs do so simply because it is illegal or because they like the rough and tough gangster image. We should expend our energies to assure children never get started. If a child is caught with marijuana I suggest we do NOT punish the child but punish the person who supplied the child (severely). Another thing we could do to curb addiction rates is keep supply down by confiscating drugs coming into our Country and by not allowing our government to make it easily available in government controlled DRUG Stores. I realize my suggestions will never materialize because the American people are too fixed on forcing their values on others and because government will never give up the tax revenues they claim they need to fight this horrendous problem. The War on Drugs is unconstitutional and contrary to God’s inspired word. I don’t expect to change your mind but I appreciate your honest discussion and courteous responses.

Jim Schu: What about the unintended consequences of decriminalization? Wouldn't it lower the cost of drugs? If so, haven't we seen that when the cost is lowered, the rates of addiction go up? I do not think exponential growth of the addicted class is healthy for the nation.

Cincinnatus, I will do my best. Constitutionally speaking the government has absolutely no authority to charge users, growers or dealers of drugs with a crime. As such there should be NO LAWS pertaining to it, regardless of the size of the amount. That is how I define “decriminalization”. As long as these people are harming NO ONE (other than themselves) why should the government intervene and VIOLATE their RIGHTS? I avoid the use of the word “legalization” as government may sell, regulate and tax any “legal” drug. Government should NEVER sell drugs (or alcohol, for that matter), regulate them or tax them. It is an immoral act that should not be endorsed by government. Interestingly enough, however, the government does have the constitutional authority to deny shipment of drugs into our Country (Commerce). I have no problem with the government seizing and destroying drug shipments to America and for prosecuting those engaged in trafficking undesired products to our Country. I do object that our morally bankrupt government is wasting huge sums of money to aid Mexico in the destruction of marijuana crops while (AT THE SAME TIME) PROMOTING and PROTECTING poppy farmers in Afghanistan! (Government hypocrisy at the expense of the American taxpayer!) I further have no objection to severe penalties for those providing drugs to children (excluding parents, of course) provided these are State laws and NOT federal laws. You may be correct that people will purchase from the “black market” (drug cartels), at least for a little while. Risks determine profits. Decriminalized drugs have little risk, therefore cartel profits (as well as cartels) will eventual vanish. Regarding what can or can’t grow here or the addict’s “patience”, well, let THEM worry about that. I honestly couldn’t care less nor do I feel obliged to help them acquire their drug of choice.

Jim Schu: Can you define "decriminalization" for me in the way you think it should work? The decrim plans I have seen decriminalize possession of small amounts but still have penalties for large amounts and trafficking. With that sort of scheme there will still be a black market. Sure people with patience could grow their own pot, but patience is not one of the traits of drug abusers. It is very unlikely that the average person could grow coca plants in the US climate, however it may be possible to grow turkish poppies. But again, an addict can't wait 4 months for a plant to bloom. They are going to buy from the black market.

Cincinnatus, excellent question. Thanks for asking. I am opposed to “legalizing” any drug but I am in favor of decriminalizing the use of ALL DRUGS. The difference is legalization will lead to government regulation, sales and taxes. To me, that is a government endorsement of drugs. (Consider Liquor Stores). Government should distance itself from this topic. There is a direct correlation between the amount of money government takes from us and government corruption. Government corruption (tyranny, if you will) leads to a loss of freedoms. As government has proven itself time and again to be irresponsible spenders we should be reducing their revenues, not increasing them! Consider Obamacare (the BIGGEST tax increase in the history of the world) and the thousands of pages of regulations (not to mention the thousands of newly hired IRS agents for ENFORCEMENT). Here’s a fun fact, between alcohol and marijuana the government elected to criminalize alcohol FIRST! Are we impervious to the lessons of Prohibition? Today, America incarcerates more of its citizens than Russia and China COMBINED! Is it worth it to punish people whose actions harm no one but themselves? Our tax dollars are being wasted on an unconstitutional and unwinnable war! Why? Does it make us better Christians to FORCE our values on others? Can we legislate a Utopian World? We can easily end the profits, end the violence and end the drug cartels simply by decriminalizing the use of drugs. The money we save could be used to improve lives rather than destroy them.

Jim Schu: Are you for legalizing all drugs? Crack cocaine and heroin are both derived from a plant, and the plants they come from are sufficient to get one high even if they are not used to make stronger drugs.

OMG, someone was selling a PLANT?! So now the taxpayers can feed, clothe, entertain and house this NON VIOLENT OFFENDER for the next eight years! LMAO. Perhaps when Americans are starving to death they’ll finally realize how stupid and frivolous this expense actually is! Of course, by then… it will be way too late!

Well you know this news site leaves off lots of info. Maybe this guy was on his 3rd or 4th felony for the same thing. Maybe the amount of drugs was high enough to warrant long sentencing.

Seriously, the Don aka the Boss 6 months in Juve and the worker gets 8 years! What The Fluck!!! That is rediculous!! Their sentences should be vice versa!

8 years is excessive. Especially considering that there was no links to any violent crimes from the information that I've read. I've seen murderers get 10-13 years by simply pleading. This is exhibit A as to why some marijuana supporters feel that it needs to be decriminalized. I see why one would come to the conclusion that folks in similar cases as this gentleman get stroked in sentencing not because marijuana is the big bad wolf but simply because he was making a substanial amount of money and was not paying taxes considering that we as a country are "broke."