Occupy for Drug Reform facebook page

[TheJourney]

I made a thread a while ago about Occupying for Drug Reform. I have decided to make a facebook page about it! If this could gain any traction, that would be phenomenal! We need to get the idea and push for drug reform out in the open! We need a social revolution!

If you would like this or whatever, that would be awesome! I'd really appreciate it. Let's really try to get the idea out there!

Occupy for Drug Reform | Facebook

Let me quote the "about" section from the page.

"With the incredible growth of the Occupy Movement, and massive political unrest, I think it is the perfect time for a social revolution to go along with the impending political revolution. The war on drugs is a huge burden on our country economically, and it is also a central issue in regards to our civil liberties. Marijuana legalization is something that should obviously be done, and we need to also start thinking more sensibly about our views on drugs in general. Let's put an end to the lie of our society that drug use is always drug abuse, and let's acknowledge the fact that certain drugs can be very beneficial in opening minds and expanding consciousness. Let us begin the social revolution, and embrace the potential that marijuana and psychedelics have in aiding the process.

Prohibition serves none of the purposes that the government claims it is for. The War on Drugs has done nothing to prevent usage. It has gone up ever since the War began. The "gateway effect" that the government loves to talk about is perpetuated by their own policies. People who want to smoke marijuana are required to go through a criminal drug dealer in order to get it; that dealer often deals harder drugs, and will try to get them to buy those as well. Prohibitionists claim that one of their big concerns is preventing use by children. Use of drugs by individuals who are underage is clearly increased by prohibition. Drug dealers often don't care who they sell to, regardless of age. Legal establishments would not be so willing to sell to the underage. This is why it is currently easier for the youth to get marijuana than alcohol.

Prohibitionists also claim that they want to prevent harm that comes from drug use. Prohibition forces people to get their drugs from the black market. With the black market, there is a substantially increased risk of getting a faulty and dangerous product. The profit motivation is huge with prohibition. This is combined with the fact that real information that could be used for drug safety is suppressed by a nonsensical policy of "Just say no," causing many to disbelieve anything that is told to them about drugs, and use blindly. There is an incredible profit to be made by selling illegal drugs. This profit motivation simply wouldn't be there if they were legal. Why do you think the Drug Cartels and the like fight so hard to keep drugs illegal? When the biggest enemy in the War on Drugs fights to uphold the government's policy, it's time we re-evaluate the policy."

[James Fletcher]

I do think that people should have a right to put whatever they want into their bodies.

What I don't like are the extreme liberals of the drug legalization movement who, instead of advocating the rights of the individual to quiet enjoyment in the privacy of their own home, seem to be trying to force unconditional universal cultural acceptance of recreational drug use, as if smoking weed automatically makes them a member of a persecuted minority. Although, their attitude is certainly not unique to this issue.

Therefore, in the case of the US, legalization is something that should be left up to the states to decide.

[garentee]

I agree that drugs legality ought to be up to the states.. For me I think drugs are a waste of valuable time.

[GONorman]

The state I live in uses private-sector employers as drug police. The federal government signs the "Drug Free Workplace" order, making it legal for employers to give random drug test. Then the state turns around and makes it only legal to test state employees if there is an accident, impairment is observed, or there is reason to believe an employee is under the influence. No Random Testing, for their own employees. I guess my right to privacy isn't as important as a government employee's.

I was recently fired from my job of seven years because I failed a random test. I never violated the "Drug Free" policy, because I never went to work under the influence, used at work, or carried drugs with me while at work. I don't have that policy at my home. I spend 16 hours a day away from work, and 8 hours at work. I don't see how my employer can write a company policy that he can enforce in my home, or at another job. What if I have a "Work-free Drug place" policy at my house?

I was at work everyday, did quality work, and never had an accident. I was going to work to do a job, and make a living, not a parole meeting to prove my innocence. Now I am unemployed, my unemployment insurance was denied, and my bills are stacking up. I am not in trouble with the law, but if I was in jail at least I wouldn't have to worry about rent, tags for my car, or where my next meal is going to come from. I really don't see how my employer, or society benefits from treating people like this. I realize that I made a choice to do drugs on my time, and I knew that I worked at a "Drug Free Workplace." I was drug free at my workplace and unless they have a more accurate way of determining when a person is not drug free, they should leave law enforcement to the police.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by GONorman

The state I live in uses private-sector employers as drug police. The federal government signs the "Drug Free Workplace" order, making it legal for employers to give random drug test. Then the state turns around and makes it only legal to test state employees if there is an accident, impairment is observed, or there is reason to believe an employee is under the influence. No Random Testing, for their own employees. I guess my right to privacy isn't as important as a government employee's.

I was recently fired from my job of seven years because I failed a random test. I never violated the "Drug Free" policy, because I never went to work under the influence, used at work, or carried drugs with me while at work. I don't have that policy at my home. I spend 16 hours a day away from work, and 8 hours at work. I don't see how my employer can write a company policy that he can enforce in my home, or at another job. What if I have a "Work-free Drug place" policy at my house?

I was at work everyday, did quality work, and never had an accident. I was going to work to do a job, and make a living, not a parole meeting to prove my innocence. Now I am unemployed, my unemployment insurance was denied, and my bills are stacking up. I am not in trouble with the law, but if I was in jail at least I wouldn't have to worry about rent, tags for my car, or where my next meal is going to come from. I really don't see how my employer, or society benefits from treating people like this. I realize that I made a choice to do drugs on my time, and I knew that I worked at a "Drug Free Workplace." I was drug free at my workplace and unless they have a more accurate way of determining when a person is not drug free, they should leave law enforcement to the police.

You worked at a job, that didn't allow you to do drugs . You did drugs, and you got caught. What is the problem here exactly? You apparently found that doing drugs, was more important then paying your bills. Find a job that allows you to do drugs, or don't do drugs. An employer should be allowed to choose the standards as to who works for him.

[garentee]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

You worked at a job, that didn't allow you to do drugs . You did drugs, and you got caught. What is the problem here exactly? You apparently found that doing drugs, was more important then paying your bills. Find a job that allows you to do drugs, or don't do drugs. An employer should be allowed to choose the standards as to who works for him.

What you do in your spare time is none of your employers business *UNLESS* it does affect your performance.. If it does not then they are out of line...

[GONorman]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

An employer should be allowed to choose the standards as to who works for him.

Such as political views, religious beliefs, sexual preference, and race? Why not focus on the employees aptitude and passion for the work he is being paid to perform? He owns the machines in his shop, 24 hours a day. His employees are only his for 8 hours a day, leaving the other 16 for someone else to be responsible for. My personal life should be out of my employers jurisdiction, unless he is going to compensate me for my time, and allow me to stay on the clock 24/7.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by garentee

What you do in your spare time is none of your employers business *UNLESS* it does affect your performance.. If it does not then they are out of line...

If you signed up for a job, where the employer says that the things you do in your spare time, effect him, then it IS their business. They feel drugs are a bad thing, and perhaps do, or could effect your performance. Perhaps one day you'll come in stoned, because you were upset, or cause an accident because or cost him money for which he's not responsible for. It's preventative as well. Just as people who are obese, should pay more towards health care, because that makes the employer more responsible, as well as puts the burden on other employees. Maybe you don't see it, but if you want a job with that particular employer, then what you do in your spare time becomes his business.

[GONorman]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

Perhaps one day you'll come in stoned, because you were upset, or cause an accident because or cost him money for which he's not responsible for. It's preventative as well.

Alcohol would be just as likely to cause an accident and does more damage to the body than many other drugs. Yet this is allowed to be abused in your free time, why? Last I knew alcohol is a drug, therefore making the whole "Drug-free Workplace" B.S. Again, why are employers concerned with law enforcement, and not increasing profits. Why are there laws protecting government employees from random testing, and not private sector employees?

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by GONorman

Alcohol would be just as likely to cause an accident and does more damage to the body than many other drugs. Yet this is allowed to be abused in your free time, why? Last I knew alcohol is a drug, therefore making the whole "Drug-free Workplace" B.S. Again, why are employers concerned with law enforcement, and not increasing profits. Why are there laws protecting government employees from random testing, and not private sector employees?

Well, blame liberal ideology on that one. Alcoholism is a "disease" now and you can't discriminate against something a person has "no control" over .

If an employer could, they would absolutely include alcohol. I'm surprised they are able to do anything about obese employees. So yeah, blame the government once again. And why are there laws protecting government employees? Unions. Unions control everything, and government employees can't get fired for anything it seems. So, we are back to blaming the government.

Private employers get to do a lot more, because that's how the free market is supposed to work.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by GONorman

Such as political views, religious beliefs, sexual preference, and race? Why not focus on the employees aptitude and passion for the work he is being paid to perform? He owns the machines in his shop, 24 hours a day. His employees are only his for 8 hours a day, leaving the other 16 for someone else to be responsible for. My personal life should be out of my employers jurisdiction, unless he is going to compensate me for my time, and allow me to stay on the clock 24/7.

ABSOLUTELY they should be able to hire or fire a person based on those things. And, if a person is dumb enough to work for a guy like that, then that says a lot about the employee, as well as the employer. But, once again, you can't tell a business what they should do. If they only want to hire atheist liberal cross dressing drug addicts, then they should. If they don't want to hire anyone who doesn't believe in god, or thinks Bush is amazing, and doesn't want to carry a gun to work, then they should.

I don't think you or anyone else on here is getting this point. FREE MARKET. It's how it works. If they stay in business doing that, then more power to them. I'd suspect that the more asinine decisions they make, the less chance they'll be in business very long. So if they want to do all those things, and risk alienating most of their customers and future employees, then that's on them. As long as they aren't getting my tax money, or hurting other people, then they can do anything they want with their business. Sink or swim, is how it works.

[GONorman]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

Alcoholism is a "disease" now and you can't discriminate against something a person has "no control" over .

And alcohol addiction is different than coke, meth, or heroin addiction how?

[garentee]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

If you signed up for a job, where the employer says that the things you do in your spare time, effect him, then it IS their business. They feel drugs are a bad thing, and perhaps do, or could effect your performance. Perhaps one day you'll come in stoned, because you were upset, or cause an accident because or cost him money for which he's not responsible for. It's preventative as well. Just as people who are obese, should pay more towards health care, because that makes the employer more responsible, as well as puts the burden on other employees. Maybe you don't see it, but if you want a job with that particular employer, then what you do in your spare time becomes his business.

There is one more reason why I am self employed....For the record I do not do drugs.. i just feel that any potential employer I may have in the future has no right to tell me what to do when I am not there... If I am ever asked to do a drug test I will walk right out of that interview...