WEEK 9 DISCUSSION 1

Week 9 Discussion 1
Give a brief summary of a case from your local or national newspaper where the defendant is charged with possession, trafficking, or sale of illegal drugs.

Lions Running Back – Mikel Leshore

Has pleaded guilty to having marijuana in his possession on Friday, August 24, 2012 two months ago in court (Berrien County). He was fined $575 for having possession of and chewing marijuana.

Reference: Associated Press

http://bigstorystage.ap.org/content/lions-rb-leshoure-pleads-guilty-drug-possession

The war on drugs has been going on for over 40 years. Discuss which of the drug-fighting tactics are working the best and which should be dropped because they are ineffective. State your rationale.

Proposed Rejection Keep
Heavy policing Zero Tolerance Drug Policy
Drug sniffing dogs in schools Abuse and Control Act
Elaborate stake outs (costly sting operations) Anti-Drug Acts and National Drug Control Policy
Counseling Sessions State Narcotics Acts
Narcotics Control Act of 1956
Narcotics Addict Rehabilitation Act of 1966
The Drug Enforcement Agency in 1973
1986 Anti-Drug Abuses Act
Citizens Watch Groups

Most of the activities that are done to prevent drug abuse and selling of narcotics are of a necessity and the ones that I feel are ineffective and serve no purpose are the ones in the category of proposed rejections. Heavy policing does nothing but cause a cessation in that area and a relocation of drug activities in another sector. Drug sniffing dogs in schools equate to a lack of time because they know that they will be disciplined if they brought substances into the school and that is the number one spot a competitor will look if they want to knock them out and obligate them to supplier for money they can’t get without the product. Elaborate stake outs are rather useless because everyone knows everybody in those neighborhoods and the odds of coming up with a genuine bust is rather unrealistic and probably staged. Counseling sessions are not going to help because some people come in with preconceived thoughts that will not allow adjustment or change.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Narcotics+Acts

http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/paradox/htele.html

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/117447.pdf

http://www.cracked.com/article_19937_the-6-most-popular-crime-fighting-tactics-that-dont-work_p2.html

Driving under the influence of alcohol causes the most criminal homicide deaths annually. Explain why you think such a dangerous substance continues to be legal in the United States, and what you would recommend to help resolve this problem.

Alcohol consumption has been prevalent since this country has founded and it is a substance that each individual has the right to consume. Further, it is rather big business and back by many prominent people and taking on and trying to stop the usage of alcohol or spirits was already done during the prohibition era with no results but bloodshed and lots of violence and death. The overindulging in drinking alcohol is the problem not the consumption of a drink or two…learning to know what is good for your health is a number one priority and having concern for others if you are driving is number two and the most generous gift that you can give others if you are going to drive. Just be safe and not sorry and don’t be the one to take someone’s love and little ones away from them.