Gotta love FOX

[answin]

A filmmaker from the Netherlands made a video to counter Bill O'Reilly's recent report on Amsterdam. Here was the filmmaker's written response:

"Most people know that the Fox channel isnt the most objective news source on American TV. But in a pretty recent broadcast Amsterdam is so falsely portrayed as a city of crime, drugs and anarchy, that I had to show the facts."

 

 

What are your opinions on Amsterdam and how they're handling things in regards to drug use and addiction?

Personally I agree with their methods and firmly believe that should we decriminalize drugs like pot, not only will we see the prison populations go down to a more manageable level but a lot of the illegal activity that revolves around drugs(trafficking, wars, murder etc...) would decrease to an almost non existent level. We would put drug cartels OUT OF BUSINESS! If we treated drug addiction as a disease(which it is) then you might actually see the numbers of those who are addicted decrease because now they no longer have to hide, will either die from their disease or seek out the help they need without fear of being thrown in jail. The money we would save from all of the previously listed could be used in preventative measures as well as treatments, therapy and detox for those who are addicted to all forms of drugs(even alcoholism). The treatment facilities could not only help those with addiction, but keep people off the streets and out of crack houses and give them a safe(r) place in which to do them, clean needles, place to sleep etc. When people come to realize that there is a line between fun and becoming addicted here will be more of a stigma against it(be labeled as junkies) and just like in the Netherlands you will gradually see the amount of addicts decrease starting with the younger gens. Today in America, because of the war on drugs we are seeing more and more of our young dying because of LEGAL medications that are readily available to them. I have personally witnessed people's lives destroyed over alcoholism and prescription drugs. Why? because they ARE legal and they WILL kill you unlike marijuana which safe and will NOT kill you.

Personally, I don't smoke it... so don't attribute my opinions as those by someone who is a "pot smoker" just as someone who can see past all the brainwash tactics by those who have too much vested to see the drug war end. Think about how much money goes into keeping drugs off the streets, WHAT on earth will the Cops do? Take care of real crimes....

This is just my opinion :)

[MandyOs]

I think you've summed it up pretty well. lol

[caiti]

Yes, I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, America is a judgemental society, and drugs especially are always going to be pushed under the rug, so to speak. I just don't understand how things like opiates and cigarettes and alcohol are legal, but pot is not. The legal drugs are MUCH more dangerous than pot, however it's still criminalized. Too many people in the high up are making money off of it being illegal. But it's true, if pot were legalized, crime would definitely go down, because users wouldn't have to go through shady dealers to get it, and wouldn't be criminalized. It's all such a money racket.

[HeatherMae55]

Bill makes himself look like a complete Moron in this clip.  Anyone with an internet connection can find out how great things are working for those countries who have legalized marijuana.  Heck in Holland the hard drug use has decreased drastically since the legalization....

And I agree with everything you've stated!!!  All the money that can be saved from catching, prosecuting, housing and trying to eliminate a PLANT could be put towards GOOD use, like child services!!!

[Fawn80]

I agree 100%.  My husband and I were just talking about this the other day.  If you go to the NORML website, they give you SO much more information, including REAL numbers.  Very, very informative!