[lbo-talk] [Fwd: The success of drug decriminalization in Portugal]

[Mark Bennett]

The great HBO television series "The Wire" had an entire season based upon
this idea.  Western District Commander Police Majory "Bunny" Colvin set up a
free zone for the local drug trade, called "Hamsterdam" by the street
dealers who frequented it.  This had a very positive effect on the
community, and once it was disclosed, Mayor Royce - modeled, only partially,
let us hope, on former Mayor Kurt Schmoke (who makes brief appearance on in
the show) - would like to keep the system in place; but he is visited by
officials of the DEA and FBI, who, in no uncertain terms, make it clear that
if Mayor Royce even thinks about continuing Hamsterdam he - and everyone
else involved - would spend many long years in prison, Baltimore will lose
every single cent of federal assistance, and will turn into Freetown in no
time.  A great deal of literary license was involved, of course, but the
message was pretty clear.  The creater of the show, David Simon, has
publicly advocated jury nullication as a way to combat this, er, problem.

On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM, Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> wrote:


> Note, drug "decriminalization" is not the same as "legalization."
> Moreover, it is something that can be informally and partially achieved
> on a local level: the local police simply need toquit paying any
> attention and the states attorney refrain from trying drug cases. This
> would be partial because feds & state police could still raise hell. But
> any municipality or county would save a good deal of money by ignoring
> the drug traffic. Court costs, jail costs, etc.
>
> Carrol