But right now let me introduce -- Sean donegan. I he's a former drug enforcement agency analysts and also a speakerphone organization called law enforcement against prohibition. And we is invited him to weigh in on this topic we're asking you on a pretty opinion polls should marijuana. -- legalized though there is a global commission that his -- saying United States in the war is over we lost that it's time to it to react. And get off of it and legalize it although our Office of National Drug Control Policy response has been. That's statistics showing that there are declines in the United States and drug can be good news compared to thirty years ago. And the more recent 46%. Drop in current cocaine use among young adults over the last five years. -- an indication that maybe we are making some progress in the war on drugs. -- like the commission do you believe. That we should legalize it take advantage of the tax revenues. Create a new industry. And to stop putting people who don't belong in jail in prison 66% of you are saying yes at this point 34% saying no. John donegan joins us now Sean good morning and thanks for joining us this morning. Good morning particularly. Well Sean you certainly have a pretty unique perspective on this question now law enforcement against prohibition if you would tell us a little bit about -- organization and also your thoughts on this topic. Sure actually -- law enforcement against prohibition -- very nonprofit educational organization. And it made up we have about 50000 members altogether it's made up of former law enforcement now former judges former prosecutors. Obviously anybody who's been involved in the drug war in someway along with us citizens supporters so anybody as often become your much -- enjoy your organization. The we are become from the perspective of having worked in the field. Many mr. for a number of years. That it just kind of seen that there are those current policy that we have a prohibition hasn't worked and now it's time to rethink our our nation's policy. And we do advocates for. Rate regulated regulation but decriminalization or legalization of all -- -- one -- it does the strongest arguments in the most frequent arguments we hear against legalizing it is it will promote more use of it because it will be more freely available on any statistics to bear that out. Or disputed. You know really not we look at trends and Portugal which is decriminalized. Small amounts the first national multiple drugs. There's actually bend -- the -- essentially the same level of use there. On that happened several years ago and actually the -- Both of the United States and abroad it's that legalization of drugs doesn't should think really increased drug use among any group. I were talking with Sean done again he's a speaker for the organization call law enforcement against prohibition. Quinn issued a way in and cast your vote at WW all dot com Jocelyn -- would be right back after this breaking continue a conversation. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- John I just got a text message in -- someone wanting to know are you for making all drugs legal -- league draw the line in what is legal what does not. Yeah we really are or making all drugs legal and the reason for that is every just legalize marijuana. That takes care part of the problem that takes care per million or so people a year that we arrests in this country are marijuana charge this. But it doesn't do anything to address the large problems and some of those larger problems but the fact that we have. This multibillion dollar industry that Nintendo virtue filing criminal organizations. So we just legalize marijuana one of those sort of those. Organizations are now focused on marijuana are just gonna -- and -- -- coaching her -- so that would really do anything to address the problems of violence or addiction a disease that just because of our prohibitions can. So if I'm understand you correctly you are supporting net things like cocaine and heroin PPP all of this become legal. Yes that's for -- out we really think. It certainly would some regulation and there's a whole spectrum apology option Gerald from. Complete open. Open legalization or anybody could either solid or more control scheme where people or -- should go to physicians and and get -- but you know most of -- overdose deaths are are certainly caused by like prohibition because or so of the cutting agents that are in there are uncertainties -- purity levels of -- spot on the street. I don't within these and Switzerland has paid enough heroin maintenance program where drug addict can go get -- and from a doctor. Or cherry tipper and music and not in Switzerland the percentage of by the drug users that are HIV positive -- under 3%. In this country it's over fifteen -- -- is that just one example of how. -- entirely created by prohibitions it. So does Leo have a program or an outline of where and how -- these so. Drugs and he sold -- would have been just. An open market I could find a drugstore is a wood shops and drug specialty stop shops open up how do you envision this these products getting out to the consumer. What other number of different ways number different strategies that we can approach them personally I would -- I would want to achieve that distribution from taking care of by the health care system or people or that we go to -- -- location. Receive their structure freer no cost. Which could take the criminal element hardly out of the drug market give people have a better pathway to treatment options again refused to concede that the -- that rookie. -- about the first time cocaine user. -- says Vietnam and completed towards his cocaine now wanna give it a shot what. How would he go about getting it legally. Well I think that it's that's an option which you know I think that percentage of people that would -- used to change this imperative or legalized -- -- and intentionally small and and I don't think got. I don't think too many your listeners are -- and try to go out tried cocaine for the first -- -- a good thing is that our current system prohibition doesn't really do anything to disperse those people at all affecting purchased it because the people on the street when her that are selling. I think -- the perfectly willing to sell cocaine -- heroin which it as well so I the other might -- very very small increasing use but I don't. Think if you looked at stuck in epidemiology and how addiction comes about about I just don't believe that there's a whole -- group of people that are gonna go out for the first time and and she's accused opener. Our Sean do you agree then a reduction in drug use is a good thing. Absolutely so our hottest I've been -- explained to me how to legalizing all types of drugs how would that accomplish a reduction in the use. Well we've seen that in countries that have gone that route you know again Portugal is really no change in its level of drug use but it decreasing heroin. We look at Amsterdam of course where marijuana is there's -- readily available a small percentage of FaceBook it's in Amsterdam smoke are one of them in the United States so. I you know it's just don't see -- you know looking at the alternate strategies they're trying to round world -- don't think that legalization you're gonna entry Schuessel insignificant -- I'm really no evidence that. Prohibitions scheme that we have right now is doing much a cheap. It's -- people pregnant or may not the last government survey. High school students summit more than 80% but that marijuana is readily available and -- school. 35% so that cocaine was little battle. Did the text in Sean what drugs do you use our view we don't wanna discuss sent. -- kind of personal with you don't -- any drugs and invited. All right. Was Sean thanks so much for joining -- we -- take a break here for news I appreciate your your input -- against someone wants to find out more about joined as a -- who you -- what -- stands or what's the best way to find. Sure a great website it's helped shape legalize drugs -- we rise and who believe that the commission report on our site. Great thank you so much John appreciate it thank thank you for having me.
