Should People who use illegal drugs be punished?

Do you think that people who use illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin etc...)should be punished/imprisoned? Or should we help them get rehabilitated?
I would really like to hear your complete thoughts on this subject :)
Answer:
Illegal drugs are causing this country and many other great nations to suffer greatly.The short answer is,yes,they must be punished,but the real criminals aren't the users.The real criminals are the drug dealers.They don't care about the consequences of drug use.They are in it for the money.The basic problem is that families are not like they used to be.Mom %26 Dad don't keep involved with what their kids are doing,who they are associating with,and setting a good example.This breakdown of the family is a big cause of why kids get involved with drugs and other illicit activities.Parents aren't setting rules and are trying to be friends with their children.It's a tough job being a parent,and tough love makes a child a better adult.Liberal attitudes are destroying our society.

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I don't think so as long as they don't break any other laws, why not, population control.

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People who commit any crime should be punished.

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People that use illegal drugs must be punished because it is provided for under the law since prohibited drugs are dangerous to the health of people.

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Imprison them for a good long time.

That will cure their cravings

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The way I see it, its none of my business or anyone elses as long as they dont bother or endanger anyone else while using their drug of choice.

I'd even go so far as to say we should legalize most drugs as controlled substances, if for no other reason than to deprive the gangs and violent drug traffickers of their main revenue. No illegal drugs, no illegal drug market, no illegal drug sellers, no people killed over drugs, etc etc.

The "war on drugs" is a catastrophic failure and a colossal waste of money, time and resources. We should do away with mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug related offenses immediately. Our prisons are filled to the brim already, and we've created a subculture of people who live their entire lives in the prison system. Its ridiculous and shameful.

Thats only the beginning of my thoughts on this subject, but in the interest of space, I'm going to stop there.

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if you are strong and respodsable you should tell someone you really trust tlo help you get these people because if you don't someone could get heart

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I say give them what the want. Lethal Injection is a drug as well!

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i would have to agree with the idea of the war on drugs as futile and hypocritical.....many drugs and very harmful substances are perfectly legal....alcohol....tobacco...... fructose corn syrup....etc... if we made it all legal, then we could focus on the violence that our society faces and put dangerous people out of society....rehabilitation, i fear would not work either, as nobody will be rehabilitated that does not want to be...they have proven this with aa...our whole culture and perspectives need to change to prevent abusive behaviors and lifestyles from ever occuring to begin with....our culture is not healthy....that is what needs to change, but to answer your question completely....if one is not violent and dangerous, they have no business being locked up

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i personally don't think they should be punished. if they want to ruin their own lives it's no sweat off my back. in the animal world the weak ones get picked off and eaten so why not apply that to ours? let the drugs pick off the weak ones!

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yes for one simple reason. "IT IS AGAINST THE LAW".