Arr, even them scallywag landlubbers in Seattle and Portland be weary of makin' them drugs legal!
2023-09-12
Avast, me mateys! The scurvy dogs on the radical left be conductin' a grand experiment, makin' the likes of Washington and Oregon legalize their wretched drugs. 'Tis a fool's errand, I tell ye! 'Twill only lead to more lives lost, makin' the consumption of these vile substances worse! Arrr!
In a humorous 17th-century pirate language, the author discusses the failure of drug decriminalization in Oregon and Washington, which was implemented as part of the Black Lives Matter movement's criminal justice reforms. Radical left activists and politicians in Portland and Seattle spearheaded campaigns to remove police and the criminal justice system from drug enforcement, and they were successful in convincing voters to legalize drugs. However, three years later, there is a growing demand to return to drug enforcement.Recent surveys show that a majority of Oregon and Seattle voters want to repeal drug decriminalization measures. The promises made by drug legalization advocates to provide help and support for addicts have not been fulfilled, leading to a rise in fatal overdoses. Multnomah County, where Portland is located, has seen a significant increase in fatal overdoses from synthetic opioids, and King County, where Seattle is located, has also experienced historic highs in fatal overdoses.
The author explains that advocates of drug legalization failed to prioritize drug treatment and instead adopted a radical approach called "harm reduction." This approach focuses on reducing the health consequences of drug use but neglects the underlying issue of addiction. The author criticizes the establishment of safe consumption sites for drug users, sarcastically describing them as comfortable spaces with soothing soundtracks and massage services.
The author further discusses the stigma surrounding addiction and the use of guilt as a tactic to silence opposition to harm reduction strategies. Despite voter dissatisfaction with radical drug policies, the author believes that change is unlikely due to the persistence of radical left activists. In Oregon, repealing drug decriminalization may result in a loss of drug treatment funds, and in Seattle, the city council has rejected measures to address drug possession cases more punitively.
The author concludes by expressing skepticism about whether voters will take action to change drug policies in the future, citing a history of electing the same kind of radical left politicians. Only time will tell if drug legalization will be the issue that finally prompts voters to act.