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Adamist
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The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict
#11333956 - 10/27/09 07:09 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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(I read this in my "50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know" book by Russ Kick. It's part of the 'Disinfo' series... Usually their info is pretty legit, but I want to hear what the Shroomery thinks about this.)
THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO INGEST ANY DRUG, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AN ADDICT
In the early 1920s, Dr. Linder was convicted of selling one morphine tablet and three cocaine tablets to a patient who was addicted to narcotics. The Supreme Court overturned the conviction, declaring that providing an addicted patient with a fairy small amount of drugs is an acceptable medical practice "when designed temporarily to alleviate an addict's pains." (Linder v. United States.)
In 1962, the Court heard the case of a man who had been sent to the clink under a California state law that made being an addict a criminal offense. Once again, the verdict was tossed out, with the Supremes saying that punishing an addict for being an addict is cruel and unusual and, thus, unconstitutional. (Robinson v. California.)
Six years later, the Supreme Court reaffirmed these principles in Powell v. Texas. A man who was arrested for being drunk in public said that, because he was an alcoholic, he couldn't help it. He invoked the Robinson decision as precedent. The Court upheld his conviction because it had been based on an action (being wasted in public), not on the general condition of his addiction to booze. Justice White supported this decision, yet for different reasons than the others. In his concurring opinion, he expanded Robinson:
If it cannot be a crime to have an irresistible compulsion to use narcotics,... I do not see how it can constitutionally be a crime to yield to such a compulsion. Punishing an addict for using drugs convicts for addiction under a different name. Distinguishing between the two crimes is like forbidding criminal conviction for being sick with flu or epilepsy, but permitting punishment for running a fever or having a convulsion. Unless Robinson is to be abandoned, the use of narcotics by an addict must be beyond the reach of the criminal law. Similarly, the chronic alcoholic with an irresistible urge to consume alcohol should not be punishable for drinking or for being drunk.
Commenting on these cases, Superior Court Judge James P. Gray, an outspoken critic of drug prohibition, has recently written:
What difference is there between alcohol and any other dangerous and sometimes addictive drug? The primary difference is that one is legal while the others are not. And the US Supreme Court has said as much on at least two occasions, finding both in 1925 and 1962 that to punish a person for the disease of drug addiction violated the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. If that is true, why do we continue to prosecute addicted people for taking these drugs, when it would be unconstitutional to prosecute them for their addiction?
Judge Gray gets right to the heart of the matter: "In effect, this 'forgotten precedent' says that one can only be constitutionally punishable for one's conduct, such as assaults, burglary, and driving under the influence, and not simply for what one puts into one's own body."
If only the Supreme Court and the rest of the justice/law-enforcement complex would apply these decisions, we'd be living in a saner society.
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Adamist]
#11334076 - 10/27/09 07:29 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Robinson v. California just meant that you cannot make it a crime "to be" something. You have to commit an act. Basically it said that the being an addict is not a crime, but drug use still is a crime. Aka you can't be arrested for being an addict.
That concurring opinion is just a concurring opinion, i'm not a 100% sure but i don't that the concurring opinion applies to anything.
I don't see where it says you're allowed to ingest any drug.
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Doc_T
Random Dude
Registered: 03/06/09
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: learningtofly]
#11334088 - 10/27/09 07:31 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
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MrBump
Third prize is you're fired
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict [Re: Adamist]
#11334100 - 10/27/09 07:33 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO INGEST ANY DRUG, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AN ADDICT
A nice dream, but not true.
In Robinson the addict simply had track marks on his arms. He wasnt, to my knowledge, currently under the influence of a drug, nor in possession. He was simply arrested for being "sick" w/ a disease of addiction. It cant be a crime to have a disease.
Powell was an alcoholic, who at the time of his arrest, was currently under the influence of the substance to which he was addicted. The Court ruled he wasnt being punished or his disease, but for his actions while being addicted.
In short, you can walk down the street w/ a major hangover or suffering withdrawals w/o fear of being arrested. You can be arrested for public actions while on a drug, being in possession of a drug, but not for simply being an addict.
-------------------- If it weren't for the bloody corpses, I wouldn't have any corpses at all. There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree: start climbing or sit on an acorn. Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Doc_T]
#11334108 - 10/27/09 07:34 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
Kind of, you can still be arrested for public intoxication.
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Prisoner#1
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Doc_T]
#11334116 - 10/27/09 07:36 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
possession via consumption, it's a popular charge now
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Doc_T
Random Dude
Registered: 03/06/09
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Prisoner#1]
#11334158 - 10/27/09 07:39 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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No shit?!? Tell me more. Have the Supremes seen it yet?
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justinsanity
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Prisoner#1]
#11334205 - 10/27/09 07:45 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:
Doc_T said: Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
possession via consumption, it's a popular charge now
I failed the breathalyzer and got a possession of alcohol. I got caught coming out of the woods at night high and got a possession of marijuana. What the hell is that?!
I can just picture a cop saying "Well it's inside your body, so your touching it. That's just the same as having it in your pocket."
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Silversoul
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: justinsanity]
#11334261 - 10/27/09 07:55 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
justinsanity said:
Quote:
Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:
Doc_T said: Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
possession via consumption, it's a popular charge now
I failed the breathalyzer and got a possession of alcohol. I got caught coming out of the woods at night high and got a possession of marijuana. What the hell is that?!
I can just picture a cop saying "Well it's inside your body, so your touching it. That's just the same as having it in your pocket."
I'd make a citizen's arrest on the officer for possession of DMT in his brain.
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fatso
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Silversoul]
#11334330 - 10/27/09 08:03 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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last time i checked, its not proven that there dmt in the brain
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justinsanity
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: fatso]
#11334344 - 10/27/09 08:05 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Adamist
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict [Re: Adamist]
#11334346 - 10/27/09 08:06 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Once again, the verdict was tossed out, with the Supremes saying that punishing an addict for being an addict is cruel and unusual and, thus, unconstitutional.
Quote:
"Unless Robinson is to be abandoned, the use of narcotics by an addict must be beyond the reach of the criminal law. Similarly, the chronic alcoholic with an irresistible urge to consume alcohol should not be punishable for drinking or for being drunk."
It seems to me he's implying that if you're addicted to a substance, you shouldn't be punished for not only usage but possession, or attempted possession. Punishment for these "crimes" would come pretty close to being unconstitutional. If you arrest a junkie and send him to jail, you're forcing him to go into withdrawal, which would fit "cruel and unusual punishment"... What you *do* while high is treated the same as if you were sober- you can't blame drugs for a crime. But possession of a drug that your body/brain requires shouldn't be a criminal offense.
I don't know much about law though, just common sense.
Edited by Adamist (10/27/09 08:11 PM)
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Prisoner#1
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Silversoul]
#11334377 - 10/27/09 08:09 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Silversoul said:
Quote:
justinsanity said:
Quote:
Prisoner#1 said:
Quote:
Doc_T said: Exactly. It's not against the law to be on drugs, it's against the law to have drugs.
possession via consumption, it's a popular charge now
I failed the breathalyzer and got a possession of alcohol. I got caught coming out of the woods at night high and got a possession of marijuana. What the hell is that?!
I can just picture a cop saying "Well it's inside your body, so your touching it. That's just the same as having it in your pocket."
I'd make a citizen's arrest on the officer for possession of DMT in his brain.
prove there's DMT in his brain and it's not just some speculation from tim leary... you know the guy that dosed people then tested for it
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Doc_T
Random Dude
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: justinsanity]
#11334504 - 10/27/09 08:24 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
justinsanity said: I got caught coming out of the woods at night high and got a possession of marijuana.
You weren't in possession? Just high?
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Deekay
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: Prisoner#1]
#11334512 - 10/27/09 08:24 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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don't hold your breath
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MrBump
Third prize is you're fired
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict [Re: Adamist]
#11334575 - 10/27/09 08:32 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Adamist said:
Quote:
Once again, the verdict was tossed out, with the Supremes saying that punishing an addict for being an addict is cruel and unusual and, thus, unconstitutional.
Quote:
"Unless Robinson is to be abandoned, the use of narcotics by an addict must be beyond the reach of the criminal law. Similarly, the chronic alcoholic with an irresistible urge to consume alcohol should not be punishable for drinking or for being drunk."
It seems to me he's implying that if you're addicted to a substance, you shouldn't be punished for not only usage but possession, or attempted possession. Punishment for these "crimes" would come pretty close to being unconstitutional. If you arrest a junkie and send him to jail, you're forcing him to go into withdrawal, which would fit "cruel and unusual punishment"... What you *do* while high is treated the same as if you were sober- you can't blame drugs for a crime. But possession of a drug that your body/brain requires shouldn't be a criminal offense.
I don't know much about law though, just common sense.
However, what the individual is addicted to is illegal to use and consume.
Pederasts may have an addiction to having sex w/ underage boys; shall the author of this article propose that sex offenders who commit crimes against children go unpunished?
-------------------- If it weren't for the bloody corpses, I wouldn't have any corpses at all. There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree: start climbing or sit on an acorn. Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
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Doc_T
Random Dude
Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: MrBump]
#11334597 - 10/27/09 08:34 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
MrBump said: Pederasts may have an addiction to having sex w/ underage boys; shall the author of this article propose that sex offenders who commit crimes against children go unpunished?
Obviously, those who wish to commit acts like that- but don't- are free of criminal guilt. No punishment.
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Chubba
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict [Re: MrBump]
#11334606 - 10/27/09 08:36 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pederasts may have an addiction to having sex w/ underage boys; shall the author of this article propose that sex offenders who commit crimes against children go unpunished?
Ones a victimless crime, the other has a clear victim.
You can't make that arguement at all.
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Adamist
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addict [Re: Chubba]
#11334669 - 10/27/09 08:45 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
However, what the individual is addicted to is illegal to use and consume.
Pederasts may have an addiction to having sex w/ underage boys; shall the author of this article propose that sex offenders who commit crimes against children go unpunished?
If insulin were illegal, should a diabetic be punished for possessing it? When you're hooked on an addictive drug, your body craves it to the point you will physically suffer without it. The same can't be said for a pedo's lack of kid sex..
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neopet nub
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Re: The Supreme Court has ruled that you're allowed to ingest any drug, especially if you're an addi [Re: justinsanity]
#11334699 - 10/27/09 08:51 PM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
justinsanity said: You think so huh?
I always love proof by wikipedia
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