Good work guys and gals.

Some unusual products in that mix.

Where they out in time for lunch?

Ha ha. Well I guess there are some good sources out there who need a little extra xmas cash for presents.

Dont tempt me.....

Who or what will come to town to replace those lost to arrest? As the situation becomes more and more unstable due to arrests, many will be looking to fill in for those lost. This always brings mayham and increased violence. The demand will not go away so the supply will continue by new people who will need to work out amungst themselve a new hierachy. Arrests are great but they come at a cost of increased violence. look for more drive bys and shootings in the new year.

So, the cops should leave the drug dealers and the gang members alone? Now I've heard everything...

Sure wish they would name the arrested.

i dont think these gangs understand the federal goverment is not pending millions for nothing and i mean millions on this problem in the north we dont live in los angelos we dont have form borders beside us we live in prince george british columbia, how would you like your fifeteen year old kid him or her brain washed by promises of lies you see i know what gangs are all about for guys that are up there higher you loose your cars and houses and maybe even shot and dead.in the end you GET BURNED and as far as somebody taking over it aint going to happen dont you get it the feds are sick of this shitt.so shut it dowsn boys take your change and head for the high counrty byby for now

So much testosterone so few braincells. I only suggest our approach is not working as long as there is demand there will be supply. I'll try to spell it out clearer for those braincell challenged next time.

So what's your suggestion oh wise one? Should the cops just pack it in and go home? Seems like a losing battle, according to you.

REALIST is just trying to be realistic.

How many centuries have people been using "mind altering" substances? This is nothing new. Getting tough with them is nothing new.

REALIST is right on the money. When was Chicago the worst from the point of view of the different criminal groups fighting each other? During the time of prohibition.

Here is a backgrounder of the reality of alcohol prohibition as well as drug prohibition

http://www.drugtext.org/library/articles/craig1.html

from that report:

"Today as well, most people in the illicit drug business are small-scale entrepreneurs.

Supporters of the drug war frequently suggest that elimination of the currently large-scale drug producers and distributors would have a lasting effect on drug production and distribution.

There is no more evidence supporting this now than there was during alcohol prohibition. Much illicit drug production today is also decentralized and democratized.

There is no criminal syndicate that, when eliminated, would stop the distribution of any currently illicit drug, or even reduce the supply for very long.

Today some groups, families, and business organizations (like the so-called Medellin cocaine cartel) have grown very rich in the illicit drug business. However, just as Al Capone was quickly replaced, so have new producers taken the place of those cocaine "kingpins" who have been arrested.

Indeed, after billions of dollars on interdiction have been spent by Customs, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and even the armed forces, there has been no lasting drop in the supply of cocaine.

Even when interdiction does affect the supply of a criminalized substance, the effects are often ironic. The partial success of the Nixon administration’s "Operation Intercept," for example, gave rise to what is now a huge domestic marijuana industry (Brechcr 1972), which produces far more potent strains of marijuana and has become ever more decentralized and democratic as armed helicopter raids have increased."

Should the cops just pack it in and go home?

Well. Think of it. At the moment we are paying people a considerable sum to fight the drug war. So far, we have not won. It appears to be another losing battle.

So can we look at what a drug control system would look like? Likely similar to the alcohol situation.

That means a very much reduced criminal element. It means fewer police are involved with the control of the drugs rather than the prohibition of the drugs. There will be fewer people gunned down in the street, etc. etc.

Of course, the biggest outcome would be that the government would make money from selling the products and control the quality of the products.

gus, the self-proclaimed voice of reason.

Your post is wonderful, however 'legalized' drugs are a pipe dream. It won't happen in our lifetimes, so what is the point of trying to envision it?

They're looking into legalizing pot in poor California maybe next year. Hey! They gave us the skateboard. Now doobies! Only in America.

Great work and yeah, name them. Actually name them, tell us where they work, what businesses they own, who represents them in court, etc. That way the honest joe can at least try and do their part by boycotting absolutely everything that they touch.

Actually, the post was not so much wonderful as a rehash of the same old prohibition argument. The argument, like so many others, ignores the fact that drugs and related crime are a growing problem. Violence between gangs in Canada is also a growing problem. What is changing which is causing the problem to grow? It certainly isnt tougher drug law enforcement.
Gus also ignores the fact that unlike prohibition, drugs have never (in living memory) been legal in canada, as opposed to alcohol. Taking something as culturally important as alcohol away from folks was doomed to fail.
The argument also has nothing to say about just what a Canada with legalized drugs would look like. We dont know, and I hope we dont find out. Will drug use become more acceptable? I am sure it will. WIll it destroy more lives? Yup. Will it be very difficult to go back to drug prohibition once we have opened that door? Of course.
There is, of course the question of just how often you want to be searched while trying to enter the US (or how often your mail will be opened). There is also the question of how many drug gangs will open up branch offices in Canada to service the illegal american drug appetite (they will NEVER legalize hard drugs).
If you want to give up to the drug cartels then say so, but please dont call your position 'common sense'. It is more like surrender if you ask me.