Artists vs. the Drug War: On the Scene at the Drug Policy Alliance's re:FORM Art Auction

[felpaluche]

Interesting but too short

[13R1CK4]

Coming from the government point of view. Why would we just let people do what we want with their own bodies when we can do cool stuff like militarize our police, wage a war our our own citizens, spend billions on the creation of prisons to become the nation with the highest % imprisoned in the world, and fly around in helicopters with night-vision and stuff! Is everyone having fun yet!

[mathers3000]

Vote Ron Paul in 2012, he's the only one who will end this madness.

[ZM7241994]

This is one issue that I agree with the Feds on. We need to continue the war on drugs.

[ehrengm]

Jared Diamond is looking youthful.

[scepticsteve]

While I agree with the general notion of "it's not the government's business" I would like to also mention...

1. Real people against artists with stupid priorities (don't flame me for my stupid humor, I know artists are real people. Besides Matt Damon and Bruce Springsteen that is...)

2. First get rid of the collective insurance and tax payer funded programs for rehab etc.

3. Allow private insurances and employers to discriminate against whatever they don't like (drug tests are allowed)

[thomaserossi]

@scepticsteve - Agree 100% I'm not going to support drug legalization while we have a Welfare State.

These people must be high if they think the two are morally acceptable. Why should I be forced to pay for their bad behavior? Why should I be forced to pay for their stupidity? Why should I be forced to pay for collective healthcare costs for others? Get rid of the Welfare State, State sponsored rehab, and allow for private employer discrimination and I'll be all on board for legalization.

[dffykvn]

@thomaserossi Our laissez faire capitalism has been the only thing that could possibly be a bigger failure than the war on drugs.

[dffykvn]

@scepticsteve Number 3 so isn't going to lead to people being dropped for bullshit reasons as an excuse not to pay their medical costs.

Conservativ iz brillyant.

[scepticsteve]

@dffykvn Why should an employer be forced to pay someones medical cost if the labor is not worth it? In a libertarian world you would not need any excuses to fire someone. If the contract can be terminated for no reason given that's ok. Freedom of contract. Employers fake other reasons today because of the stupid regulations (fire the last hired first for "social reasons" etc.). My point would just provide the natural freedom of contract.

[dffykvn]

@scepticsteve Great, lets depress worker wages EVEN FURTHER!

Sure, it's not like the ceos already make 200-500 times what a drone makes...let's make it 800-2000.

Workers today are more productive than their counterparts 30 years ago, they work harder, longer, have fewer benefits but their wages have been stagnant or have even went down while ceo compensation is through the roof even if they nuke their own companies.

Lets fuck the working man a little bit more...libertarian asswipe.

[scepticsteve]

@dffykvn Where do you get these imaginary numbers from? 30 years ago almost no one had a PC today about every worker has one. They work less hours and retire early. EVERYONE has better cars, better food, gadgets, flat screen TVs, cell phones.... the list is almost endless. The demise of the worker is pure propaganda and that's proven already several times. Government regulation is the thing that screws people but it still cannot stop free markets and innovation. I'm a conservative btw.

[dffykvn]

@scepticsteve Wages you ass. I don't see a difference, they're both bullshit ideologies.

Let me tell you how your freedom of contract utopia would work.

Here's my super awesome insurance plan A, everyone pays in while they're healthy, I'll fully cover cheap stuff...but if you get cancer, well tough luck shithead, you're out!

No consumer protection lets the insurer fuck the consumer up the ass with no legal recourse.

I'm not talking about white collar office monkies btw.

[scepticsteve]

@dffykvn While your choice of words betrays great expertise in the field you sadly failed to tell us where your phony numbers come from. I just proved to you that EVERY worker is wealthier today than any worker was 30 years ago. Just look at the stuff even unemployed people possess in comparison. If you choose a bad health plan that's bad. But if you choose to swallow bleach... well, it's your responsibility. Companies die when they make bad products. Does intel screw you without gov protection?

[dffykvn]

@scepticsteve Alright for pities sake I'll agree with you.

Fuck the no nothing bureaucrats!

They keep trying to get in between me and my doctor.

How dare some number cruncher say he knows more than my doctor on what is and isn't a neccessary procedure!

[Huboons]

@scepticsteve Americans don't have the balls for capitalism, they are fat stupid lazy and looking for a handout. It's always someone else's fault they lost their shit job, never their own for not knowing how to do anything that can't be replaced by a monkey.

[OfAllOblivion]

The drug war actually has increased drug use. Heroin & cocaine use, for instance, has been tripled since the start of this "drug war". It was not meant to stop drug use in the first place. It was never meant to be "won". It was only meant to be sustained so people can get rich at the expense of people's lives. The U.S. has the highest prison population in the world because of non-violent drug offenses. This shit has gone way too far.

[El3ctricPenguin]

@DEMOCRATSareRACISTS a troll? on my ReasonTV? get out

[DudleyaSetchellii]

Guy at 1:25 looks baked, Ed Moses. It's good to put artists on becuase they are high (no pun intended) profile and are treated differently by the courts, police and the public. Look at Charlie Sheen, his popularity grows with each outburst. My sister lost her kids and was jailed because she did crack. That was 12 years ago and she still hasn't gotten her life back. She wasn't a bad person, just an recreational user and Dad didn't like it so turned her in.

[Chad9976]

Bill hicks said it best 20 years ago

" a bunch of people sitting around getting high are winning the drug war"

[thomaserossi]

Seriously, who gives a rats ass what Artists think? Noam Chomsky is more educated and learned then any one of them & his "knowledge" of economics is embarrassing.He doesn't even understand the division of labor or the function of prices.

There's an excellent book on the economics of artists. I won't sell it here. But Artists are generally wrong about everything because they're idealists. They live in their imagination. That's why they're Leftists. It's not creativity but Utopia they're after.

[SonicATL]

When it comes to Pot, I'm all for making it legal. The others are too dangerous for human consumption. If anything, put the crack, meth and other addicts in rehab before giving them probation, house arrest, ect. At least then they'll be sober when they have to go to court or jail.

[myusernameisluc]

@4181Blade

Thanks for the enlightenment. I understand such judgements are often corrupted by prejudices about drugs. I think it's better to say there are more marijuana _users_ in the United States than in the Netherlands, which is true.

[Synapticsnap]

1st step to stopping the Drug War is to send Cruse Missiles to all Drug lords' homes in every Country that brings Illegal Drugs to the U.S Immediately. Afterwards anyone caught bringing Illicit Drugs of any kind over Our Border ahould be doused in Gasoline and set on Fire and only Shot in the head when the Border Officers get Bored with their Screaming. That should put a stop to the degradation of Our Society. Want to do Drugs Freely? Move to a Country that it is "Legal" in otherwise Shut It!

[dffykvn]

@Synapticsnap So you want to solve the drug problem by legalizing murder.

BRULYANT!

[Synapticsnap]

@dffykvn Self Defense isn't Murder, maybe the gas part was over the top but yes shoot em' in the head on the spot after determining that it is a Illicit drug and you have a kill order.I don't mean some Canadian or Mexican folks bring their prescriptions over the Border,use some sense,I mean Mules humping Kilos.I want a REAL WAR not this pansy wannabe war. It's a Joke. Each Governor should place their National Guard Peeps on the Border to Enforce our Laws as Long as the Feds keep to their selves.

[Sondre7]

"I think legalizing marijuana should be the first step"

First step? What an optimist :D

[CharlesBartowskiHere]

I'm torn.While i feel that marijuana is a relatively harmless drug,do we really want crack heads and heroin addicts running all over the place?Attempting to equate people who have been busted w/a little weed to people who use heroin and crack is a joke-imo.Charlie Sheen is the exception to the rule,lol.A joint vs a rock is a BIG difference!The whole "gateway" theory i feel is b.s..Sorry,ReasonTV,you lost me on this one. P.S. Mary Jane will be good to you,don't cheat on her.Signed,conflicted.

[kohlsblows]

@CharlesBartowskiHere Well guess what, they already are running all over the place. The fact is people are going to do the drugs either way. You can either spend billions of tax dollars a year on a losing plan that imprisons mostly non violent offenders, diverts police forces and empowers gangs and drug cartels who sell to anyone, dont care about product safety and murder tens of thousands or let people open up legitimate businesses who will follow the rules to maintain a profit.

[dapperswindler]

I like the elephant roosevelt painting. I'd totally sport that in my living room....or my bathroom. Should totally freak out the girlfriend.

[seanpennsuxdictators]

LEGALIZE CIGARETTES,lol

[rockinandout]

Do these people honestly believe that selling black tar heroin to Americans is a good idea. I mean we have a failing school system and debt our great grandchildren will still be paying off. Do we really need a distraction like that filling our streets and communities

[cloudberry121]

If you can't have drugs, how can you call it Art?

[xyzomz]

@DEMOCRATSareRACISTS

I'd like to understand where you are coming from but all you do is run you mouth and never really hammer down a point... I can't view your channel or send you a PM Why so secretive? Why so angry ?

[truthslap]

@kristopheraugust any amateur art student could have pointed that out, but it certainly detracts from the discussion.

[catobear1704]

we could start with marijuana...

[goingalt]

Was that Taft with the elephant head photo-shopped on? I'd pay $100 for that.

[xyzomz]

@DEMOCRATSareRACISTS

the fuck are you on about ?

islamocommunazi ? did you just pull that out of your ass ?

[seanpennsuxdictators]

FUCK SEAN PENN, FUCK HIM RIGHT IN HIS COLON CANCER ASS!

[kmg501]

Another avenue to stopping the horribly bad & failed drug war is to promote a campaign of education on why drug use should be avoided (not the stupid moralizing type of campaign).

-

[mikheii]

Hipsters and drunk old men in pink shirts won't win over many supporters....

[depro9]

What are the Koch Whores at Reason.tv selling now? Oh, the sky is blue & the earth is still round. Thanks, I had no idea. ಠ_ಠ

[oilhammer04]

The British used opium to control China. Would drug decriminalization cause something like this to happen in America? I'm curious.

[Aeschylus]

#1 opponents to legalizing drugs: drug-dealers.

[Steve83B]

@Aeschylus 100% correct.

I remember being told that the largest lobby against the legalization in drugs in CA was the Mexican Government.

[libertyfizz]

@Steve83B Other lobbies against the legalization of marijuana. Alcohol producers, prison guard unions, big tobacco, big pharama and drug dealers. Smaller players but just as significant, timber interests and paper manufactures and the manufactures of several products for which hemp is a much cheaper alternative. Essential Self (selfish) Interest keeps marijuana illegal.

[Steve83B]

@libertyfizz Meh. True, but a lot of those players might be able to benefit as well. It's really just bad economics. Out here in AZ, we have a Radio DJ who was saying how the legalization of MJ wouldn't help the economy because the prices would fall so much the taxes on it would be so low. What he forgets that low cost weed means more money for other things. Economic dumbasses, the lot of them.

[evilsceptic]

Something that I have not heard brought up when trying to figure out why legalisation DECREASES drug use rather than raises it is that it's part of a drug dealers job to be discrete and not to deal in the open, on the other hand convinient stores and pharmacies are in the open and if you are seen buying cocaine or weed your standing in your community could take a serious knock.

[silversobe]

Criminalizing drug users does more damage to the individual and the community than the drug itself. What we need is regulation and education on these substances. We have lowered the rate of smokers we can do the same with other substances as well. Its a health concern, making it a criminal act only makes it worse, along with creating an underground market for cartels and drug lords to flourish causing more violence than actual drug use ever could.

[Nielsio]

Legalize freedom. You own your life.

[bttalbot]

@Nielsio

I'm all about liberty and freedom, but are you really free if your freedom is dependent on a legislature or ballot, no matter the outcome of that ballot?

[myusernameisluc]

@bttalbot

Indeed, a person can't allow you to be free. One is either free or not. There's a dichotomy between freedom and a privilige.

[yakyakyak69]

@Nielsio Yes, you do own your live and everybody else own's THEIR own lives too. You have NO RIGHT to force others to pay for your mistakes. Become a drug addict. Too bad! You can't force taxpayers to pay for your rehab or provide you with welfare or medicaid.

Individual Liberty REQUIRES Personal Responsibility!

We can NEVER legalize drugs as long as the "new deal welfare state" exists.

[Huboons]

@Nielsio I find it hard to believe what you say. If you do, you must also support totally unregulated capitalism and no government interference in economics. You must hate liberal collectivism as well right?

[Nielsio]

@Huboons I actually do support totally unregulated (by coercion) capitalism. Voluntary regulation is of course fine.

Check out my channel, I have lots of info about it.

[Huboons]

@Nielsio Well then you understand basic morality, but how many of the people in this video apply their views on the drug war across the board? As an objectivist myself, and one who enjoys art and counter culture, I have to deal with a lot of selective collectivism. Lets face it, the art community is almost exclusively on the political left and has funny ideas about the government staying out of some things but absolutely ruling with an iron fist on others.

[theshaggyshow]

they put weed legalization on the ballot in CALIFORNIA of all places... It did not pass; the majority of Voters did NOT want it legal... 2:19 listen to that stupid woman... "we can certainly START with marijuana..." then she wants Speed legal , then Cocaine ? and heroin ? and have a nation of Hardcore Drug Addicts... on welfare, no doubt

[flynn556603]

@theshaggyshow the reason it didn't pass was because it was too vaguely worded. The so-called drug war costs billions of dollars every year with little to nothing to show for it. If you legalize and regulate drugs you take out of the hands of criminals and keep it from small children. By the way, do you live on Slippery Slope?

[myusernameisluc]

@theshaggyshow

The point is that drug prohibition does more harm than good, don't you get it?

The United States has more marijuana addicts than the Netherlands (yes, percentage-wise).

Prohibiting something gives it a "forbidden fruit attraction", and keeps it out of the legal circuit, so it can not be easily checked. And the dangers of drugs are severely exaggerated.

[PGTRegard]

@myusernameisluc Well Marijuana is illegal in the Netherlands. But yes what you say is true.

[myusernameisluc]

@PGTRegard

No, in the Netherlands Marijuana is tolerated. It is a really weird bureaucratic system, but one can get it legally in "coffeeshops", the streets of the city centers are full of them here.

[PGTRegard]

@myusernameisluc Sure its tolerated, but that isn't legal is it? Couldn't the cops start a crack down US style anytime they want. But I don't live there so I couldn't say.

[myusernameisluc]

@PGTRegard

I think it's illegal for coffeeshops to buy, but legal to sell and to buy for personal use. But the point is, even if it would be illegal, it's just a paper tiger, and not enforced, and people can freely buy and sell it without danger of any fine or criminal charge. It's almost as good as legal(except for a few certified growers one can't legally own more than 5 cuttings). We consider it legal.

[Riskygodfather]

@myusernameisluc Theres no such thing as marajuana addiction, just thought I should point that out.

[myusernameisluc]

@Riskygodfather

No physical addiction, but one can get a mental addiction. I personally know such people.

[yojimbo81]

@myusernameisluc No one is addicted to marijuana. We have more users than the Netherlands.

[myusernameisluc]

@yojimbo81

Read the rest of my comments, I already corrected myself.

[thomaserossi]

@yojimbo81 - Even Dr. Drew says people are addicted to Marijuana. The most rudimentary understanding of neuro-chemistry indicates addiction is inevitable. And don't try to lie and pretend "it's psychological." With over 30 years of experience in marijuana addiction, it changes the neuroreceptors. Heavy users are 50x more likely to become schizophenic later in life. But you're already indoctrinated and cannot listen to anything I say. Right now you're thinking of ways to flame me. Good luck.

[yojimbo81]

@thomaserossi Really? I'm sitting here and thinking how to flame you? A bit full of yourself, eh? Because I can't stand it when people disagree with me, right? When you can quote someone that does not exploit genuine addiction for financial gain come back and we'll talk.

[thomaserossi]

@yojimbo81 - For no other reason than I point out a consistent pattern observed in your other posts I must be "full of myself" eh? Because anyone who disagrees must have a personality disorder, right? So now he "exploits"? You clearly don't know what that word means. How is he "exploiting" anyone for "financial gain"? Newsflash! All doctors charge for their services. Like I said, you're indoctrinated. Because he has a radio show he must be evil. Because he makes money he must be evil. Right.

[yojimbo81]

@thomaserossi LOL. What "pattern" is there in my posts? You're a funny kat. I love money and capitalism by the way. You would know that if you've actually read any posts of mine on YouTube. Keep the comedy coming in full force!

[thomaserossi]

@yojimbo81 - LOL! Keep the comedy coming in full force! LOL Katz! I luv money LOL!

Yeah, Marijuana is harmless. Thanks for proving otherwise. I'll put on my Ron Burgundy voice - compelling and rich.

[yojimbo81]

@thomaserossi What have you proven other than citing Dr. Drew of all people? Could you also, please address the "consistent pattern observed in your other posts"? I made one comment that you attacked here so I am very curious what other posts of mine you've actually read, if any at all.

[ThePintsizeslasher]

@thomaserossi

Reefer madness bullshit:

ncbi DOT nlm DOT nih DOT gov/pubmed/19560900

time DOT co m/time/health/article/0,8599,2­005559-2,00 DOT ht ml

blog DOT norml DOT or g/2009/06/17/fox-news-infected­-with-reefer-madness/

Actual science and research says complex or no link... but hey! Dr. Drew!

As for addiction, people certainly can get addicted to mj, but it does not have the addiction and dependency rate nor the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. And the drug war does far more damage than mj.

[thomaserossi]

@ThePintsizeslasher - Never said anything about Reefer Madness. Don't come here with a strawman fallacy then expect to look wise. Don't pretend for one second you can pull a strawman and get away with a valid argument.

[ThePintsizeslasher]

@thomaserossi

The reefer madness was in reference to your schizophrenia comment-which the links debunk. So yes saying that using marijuana (even heavily) makes you crazy, can be called reefer madness bullshit. No strawman.

[thomaserossi]

@ThePintsizeslasher - Did you even read your links or did you just post them because they were in High Times? The Time magazine article is a dead link. The BLOG article is utterly bogus. It's baseless agitprop and you must be indoctrinated for believing it. The 1st article is credible but you obviously didn't read it. The article is medical journal testing the validity of another article. The problem is that article (again, probably from High Times) is from 2005, and proven wrong in 2006.

[ThePintsizeslasher]

Ad homs. lulz.

The TIME article is titled "a complex link between schizophrenia and marijuana" - I must have copied it wrong.

The pubmed journal tested the validity of an article that stated there is a link between mj and psychosis independent of the normal effects of marijuana. Not sure why that would appear in high times. Believe it was in the lancet 2007. Also the article was published in in 2009, but used data from 96-05. Got the 2006 data?

And I've never smoked pot and I don't drink.

[Electricspaceodyssey]

@myusernameisluc I agree entirelly but calling people "marijuana addicts" goes against any and all real science - Due to the lack of Endocannabinoid Receptor-sites in the medulla Oblongata and the Mesocorticolimbic pathway ; it is IMPOSSIBLE to die or become physically addicted to cannabis. - Though I do see what your saying ; maybe you could say they have more cases of marijuana-related "crime" [possesion, dealing, etc] - if tobacco is legal, so should be weed.

[myusernameisluc]

@Electricspaceodyssey

Thanks for the enlightenment, but I already corrected myself. See the rest of my comments.

[ZM7241994]

@myusernameisluc Are you saying you want to allow all drugs (coke, crack, heroin, etc) or just marijuana?

[myusernameisluc]

@ZM7241994

I want adults to be able to decide for themselves whatever substance they put in their body, as long as they don't initiate violence. You own your body.

[ZM7241994]

@myusernameisluc I understand your point, but coke, crack, and heroin are dangerous. They cause all sorts of health problems and are extremely addictive. They are so dangerous that they can kill a person after one use. Marijuana might not be dangerous, but coke, crack, and heroin are far too dangerous to be legal.

[myusernameisluc]

@ZM7241994

And what do you think gives a person the right to determine what other adults put in their own body? Does anyone have a higher claim on your body than you yourself do?

What constitutes "far too dangerous" is subjective. Thai boxing and extreme mountainbiking are also very dangerous, and to some extremely addictive, do you think they should be illegal too? BTW, EVERYTHING can kill a person "in one use". If you drink too much water in one session you will die.

[myusernameisluc]

@ZM7241994

I don´t think you understand my point. You do your profile picture honor. By claiming certain substances should be made illegal, which means some people can forbid something for other people, you implicitely claim that some people have a superior moral control over other people.

[ZM7241994]

@myusernameisluc I'm not saying some people are morally superior to ohters, but that some things are just too dangerous to be legal. The use of drugs like coke, crack, and heroin affect more then just the users, but their families and society. Drugs have caused close families to be ripped apart, and entire neighborhoods to become impoverished. I'm not saying that drugs are the only dangerous things in America, but that they are some of the most dangerous things in America.

[myusernameisluc]

@ZM7241994

You want something to be illegal. From that follows that some must assume a higher moral in relation to other people to forbid it, like a parent to his child.

Can you specify in what concrete way the use of drugs affect more than just the users? With everything someone does he affects others.

Drugs don´t "cause", users do. If users initiate violence, they can be held accountable, but as long as they don´t damage anyone, no-one has the right to prohibit subtances from them.

[myusernameisluc]

@ZM7241994

I would consider extreme mountainbiking more dangerous than snorting coke. "Danger" is an entirely arbitrary criterium. Everything has a certain level of danger, from choking on your sandwich to geting hit by a car when crossing the street. What contitutes an "acceptable" level of danger or not is entirely subjective. The question you should ask yourself is: Is it right to violently meddle in actions that don´t have involuntary victims? The action of using drugs itself doesn´t.

[ZM7241994]

@myusernameisluc You're right, everything does have a certain level of danger, but none come close to the danger of drugs like coke, cocaine, and heroin. One little bag of meth or crack can get someone hooked for life or even kill someone. When people become hooked on drugs, they are mindless husks. The only thing that they think about is "How can I get more drugs?" because they are so addictive. Drugs affect more then the users, but their friends and families.

[kamikazee55]

@theshaggyshow I don't give a fuck if not one person votes for it. The masses do not own my body.

[AceHoale]

Substanceal changes overdue.

Fear and Miss Information to blame for continuation of failed policies.

Portugal shows the way.

Why can't people look at what works best and then decide for themselves?

Ah! WorldCorp.

Who make billions in production, distribution, suppression and jailing of the users and pushers who, at the same time are their business partners which is just slightly insane, watcha think?

Legalize.

Save.

Love.

Peas.

[jonahfox]

I think drugs should be legalized but its hard to know what would happen. Heroin and meth at 7-11 marketed to young people? There would have to be some sort of regulation? No?

[SingularInfinity]

@jonahfox Your right, we need to focus on deciding on a mid point between total prohibition and a free for all legalization.

[myusernameisluc]

@SingularInfinity

No, prohibition creates problems. Prohibition actually increases the amount of addicts (and is immoral, imo). Prohibition causes a drug to get a forbidden fruit aura, and causes more people to try it. Take marijuana as an example; The United States has proportionally more addicts than the Netherlands. The BEST(and only thing that constitutes a) solution to these kinds of problems is education. Education based on facts, that is.

[myusernameisluc]

@myusernameisluc

Wait, I'm wrong. There might actually be another solution: Torture-till-death penalty for drug users, dealers and their families and a totalitarian police-state with indefinite martial law to enforce it. But with that solution there's the morality issue, and the collateral problems it creates.

[SingularInfinity]

@myusernameisluc That what I was sayin bro.

[myusernameisluc]

@SingularInfinity

You said "you're right" in response to "only soft drugs". You also said we need to find a mid-point. I interpreted that as making a compromis. I am saying even a compromis will still create more problems than it solves.

[AvatarRoku1]

@jonahfox only soft drugs, like cannabis, lsd and psylocybin

[SingularInfinity]

Legalize regulate educate.

[vspqbd]

Solution: Legalize ALL drugs.

Period.