Comment · Tue, June 12, 2012
24-Year-Old Gets 3 Life Terms in Prison for Witnessing a Drug Deal: The Ugly Truth of Mandatory Drug Sentencing - Clarence Aaron is serving three life terms for a small-time college cocaine deal, another victim of heinous mandatory drug sentencing laws.
What they were answering
SassyMoron · 1 points
Quite possibly we do and perhaps we might even be at an impasse as a result. However, you seem comfortable with the idea of society prohibiting rape and murder, just not with society prohibiting a market for recreational cocaine use. Therefore, my guess is that the role of authority is not really the issue. I think you have categorized buying and selling as activities that simply can't be morally reprehensible enough to merit societal interference. I think that's a mis-characterization, and I'm bothering to argue it out because I think it's a common and dangerous one. Also because I don't feel like doing my real job just now.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
I understand where you are coming from. You are saying that selling cocaine is morally reprehensible due to the harm that someone can cause to themselves by abusing it. I guess you could equate it to selling arms to a war lord. However, I have multiple friends that occasionally use cocaine recreationally. I personally choose not to, but do not feel that I should judge them for wanting to. If it were legal and regulated, then the purity and safety for them would be increased. The abusers would still do so, but would be more likely to openly seek help with their problem. See how well it has worked in Portugal? Their drug related deaths fell drastically after decriminalization. Do I feel the coke dealers are morally reprehensible for the way they operate? Yes. Do I feel the act of selling coke to willing buyers in reprehensible? No.