Clay Travis has solved the NFL's national anthem problem.

[JoshB]

@50+yeartidefan, The thing is the suggestion isn't ridiculous. It's (the for profit system) not the main reason. But there is no denying they make their money (profit) when their head count reaches a certain number. They are lobbying congressional members and it is in their best interest to see the federal laws remain as they are.

@BamaBoyJosh

It isnt the facility that sentences offenders....the facility just holds them...
This is ridiculous.... the court and judge do the sentencing....send them away...
Whatever...
And Terry..everything is lobbied... sure there is profit but in long run cheaper than State operating more holdings facilities.....
and not a lot ..if any casual users in there...its pushers...habitual criminals...

It's the facilities (or their owners) that lobby politicians to keep draconian drug laws in place, so they can house more prisoners. Why? Because they get more money from the government. The more prisoners they pack in, the more money they get from the government. If it costs $100 per day to house an inmate, the government pays the corporation that owns a prison $150 (or more) per day. Yeah, saving tons of money there.

So, you have people that are going to prison for decades because of marijuana, while the rich get richer and we just keep creating more career criminals. These prisons aren't trying to reform non-violent drug offenders. They're simply housing them, feeding them as little as they can get away with to boot, and then sending them back out into the world after learning how to be a better criminal from actual criminals in the system. The cycle simply repeats and then people like you tell me "it's not the facility's fault."

 

[TerryP]

And Terry..everything is lobbied... sure there is profit but in long run cheaper than State operating more holdings facilities.....
and not a lot ..if any casual users in there...its pushers...habitual criminals...

You've bought a narrative that isn't true when it's broken down past the sound bytes. Is it true that private prisons are currently cheaper than those operated by the state? Yes. It comes at the expense of health care. State institutions absorb the health cost. The private institutions don't. If the medical care was adequate and the private institutions were taking the same inmates you'd see private cost more than state--with worse conditions. It's literally a part of their contracts they receive "the healthy ones."

When you have companies like the Correction Corporation of America being guaranteed a certain occupancy how do people not look and say, "wait a freakin' minute!" Guaranteed population for a prison? I look at those pushing the "state is more expensive than private" when the private sector isn't responsible for the same health care as misleading. Setting aside political correctness, it's a damn lie.

The core issue lies with comparing apples to apples. When that's done, it demonstrates private is more expensive. Yet, today, there is not a set measure/standard on comparing the two. I'd encourage you to look up the stories revolving around the state of Arizona. You'll find lawmakers killing the studies under the guise of "the numbers are misleading." Simply not true. The number are exposing.

When you have parents being arrested for giving their children CBD oils to prevent seizures you can't say "it's the pushers." (And believe you me, I have a hard time with the descriptor "drug pushers." They aren't pushing anything when their clientele is buying--basic supply and demand at work.) When you have close to 40% of drug offenders being incarcerated for possession it's clear the current system is draconian, at best. (The last study I looked at--as in serious study--was back when I was in post-grad at UA. At that time roughly 25% of inmates were drug offenses and over 10% of those were possession charges.)

The mere idea of a prison being guaranteed a certain population should make everyone (no matter what their position on cannabinoids) ask questions--A LOT of questions.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

@terry @BamaBoyJosh

Sounds like....from both of you....that drugs are the problem... not the private system...

If there wasnt the dope problem...wouldnt need the facility.....

Any way.... lets get back to football.....roll tide

 

[Max]

Sounds like....from both of you....that drugs are the problem... not the private system...

If there wasnt the dope problem...wouldnt need the facility.....

I do believe you've missed the point. Marijuana isn't a problem. The laws are where they are taking exception and they're also pointing to the system that is keeping some of these laws on the books.

It's not a stretch of the imagination when you see the issues with opiods and those who support legislation to have that overuse continue.

There are a ton of studies and reports documenting how upside down this system has become. Some of those have been mentioned here. On the same end I've seen it said ITT that the private system isn't the main culprit; but it is one of many. Fact of the matter is some of these laws are supported by some very benign industries like cotton. They certainly don't want to see companies moving to hemp based materials despite it being cheaper and lasting longer.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Sounds like....from both of you....that drugs are the problem... not the private system...

If there wasnt the dope problem...wouldnt need the facility.....

I do believe you've missed the point. Marijuana isn't a problem. The laws are where they are taking exception and they're also pointing to the system that is keeping some of these laws on the books.

It's not a stretch of the imagination when you see the issues with opiods and those who support legislation to have that overuse continue.

There are a ton of studies and reports documenting how upside down this system has become. Some of those have been mentioned here. On the same end I've seen it said ITT that the private system isn't the main culprit; but it is one of many. Fact of the matter is some of these laws are supported by some very benign industries like cotton. They certainly don't want to see companies moving to hemp based materials despite it being cheaper and lasting longer.

Absurd...thats like saying its not the penalties in football...its the rules... causing the infractions..... or the refrees for inforcing the rules....
And friend...theres a lot of studies onecan find to justify any position on any issue...
...anyway... interesting input....

 

[TUSKtimes]

I do believe you've missed the point. Marijuana isn't a problem. The laws are where they are taking exception and they're also pointing to the system that is keeping some of these laws on the books.

It's not a stretch of the imagination when you see the issues with opiods and those who support legislation to have that overuse continue.

There are a ton of studies and reports documenting how upside down this system has become. Some of those have been mentioned here. On the same end I've seen it said ITT that the private system isn't the main culprit; but it is one of many. Fact of the matter is some of these laws are supported by some very benign industries like cotton. They certainly don't want to see companies moving to hemp based materials despite it being cheaper and lasting longer.

Without getting too philosophical, The problem is that people struggle to regulate their lives when it comes to habitual behavior patterns. Prohibition was an exercise in futility that not only didn't curb Alchohol abuse but created organize crime that we are still dealing with. That still didn't make the abuse of alcoholism that was skyrocketing, particularly with adult men at the end of the 18th century, anything less than an epidemic in this country.

So what is the solution for habitual and abusive behavior patterns in all kinds of people, whether it happens to be regulated by the government or not? People and their exercise of moderation. Just don't bet on it, it has never happened.

 

[TerryP]

Does allowing marijuana use curtail the abuse of opioids and help with pain. That's the main point for me. The laws are a part of the conversation.

If you had to take something to alleviate pain, or other things, which are you choosing? Ya can't.

 

[planomateo]

I watched first hand what legally prescribed opioids can do to people who are taking them for the wrong reasons. The simply go into a Dr office, claim ailments and get Oxy prescribed so they can abuse it.

There is a HUGE problem.

 

[JoshB]

@terry @BamaBoyJosh

Sounds like....from both of you....that drugs are the problem... not the private system...

If there wasnt the dope problem...wouldnt need the facility.....

Any way.... lets get back to football.....roll tide

No, the problem is pretending that marijuana is the "problem" and turning a blind eye to the corruption.

 

[JoshB]

I watched first hand what legally prescribed opioids can do to people who are taking them for the wrong reasons. The simply go into a Dr office, claim ailments and get Oxy prescribed so they can abuse it.

There is a HUGE problem.

Just to illustrate this, when I broke my ankle last year I was prescribed oxycontin for pain. I only used it when it was severely needed. My family has a history of addiction issues and I try my best to steer clear of alcohol or anything else. Every single time I went back to the doctor he tried to prescribe me another script for the pain killers, even after I told him I still had some from the first. "Just in case you run out," he told me.

 

[JoshB]

Watching "Blow" this afternoon and Boston George says it all about our prison system...

"Danbury wasn't a prison, it was a crime school. I went in with a Bachelor of marijuana, came out with a Doctorate of cocaine."

 

[CmnRef]

Criminalization of addictive behavior has never worked and is not working now. We have spent the past fifty years in this “war” and had addiction on the rise the whole way. We have filled the prisons with addicts and enabled a world wide criminal enterprise of incredible violence. I have worked in the criminal justice system both as prosecutor and defense attorney for most of that time.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Too ignore or marginalize the benefits of medical cannabis at this point is just willful ignorance and coupled with the willingness to continue to push pharma opioids it becomes criminally stupid greed IMO