Judge calls for drugs to be legalised

[Indycar]

A FORMER Supreme Court justice has called for illicit drugs to be legalised.

 

Retired ACT judge Kenneth Crispin says the banning of party drugs has been an even bigger failure than the US prohibition on alcohol during the 1920s and early '30s.

 

The three-decade war on drugs had produced gangsters like Al Capone on a much greater scale, he argued.

 

"Drug usage has exploded during the period of the war on drugs," he told ABC Television.

 

"All around the world, the most vigorously enforced drug laws tend to have the highest rates of usage."

 

Street prices of drugs had also fallen during the crackdown on drugs, with cocaine costing a sixth of what it did compared with the start of the drug war.

 

Mr Crispin said he came to his conclusion on the need to decriminalise drugs "incredibly reluctantly".

 

Asked how politicians would respond to his suggestions, he acknowledged they would fear a backlash.

 

Mr Crispin, who retired from the ACT Supreme Court in 2007, has recently written a book, Quest for Justice, about his legal career.

 

AAP May 27, 2010 8:56PM

Source: news.com.au

 

It's meant to be "Breaking News" by news.com.au standards. But as you'll see it dated 27th of May, 2010 at 8:56PM

[Luke Skywalker]

Also note that the outrage this judge felt about the failing WOD did not extend to speaking out whilst sitting on the bench, only when he was safely retired with a nice fat pension.

 

I agree with him, but I deplore the state of affairs that he felt he couldn't or simply wouldn't speak out whilst on the bench.

[Crunchy]

yep Luke, although he couldve came to his conclusion after leaving office, but its still part of a widely seen pattern where people in positions of power will only speak out against the status quo after safely leaving those positions.

 

But i cant condemn him, not after speaking out against prohibition, the thing to appreciate is that this man held a notable position of power and his opinions may help sway the minds of those who respect him.

 

His words wont get the whole job done, but no doubt it'll open a lot more people up to the idea, and at the end of the day what we really need is awareness and support.

 

Peace,

Crunchy