"John Stossel 'The Drug Wars' 45 min legalisation special on FOX NEWS

[dextrous]

Hey folks, so I think this aired last Thursday in America. Quite a big leap for the ol' conservative propaganda driven Fox News.

Full 45 minute special is here,

http://usaguns.net/patriots/drugwar.html

 

[Sublimit]

I can't believe the american police just bust into someones house under the suspicion of there being cannabis present and shoot the family dog! They subsequently found a small amount of cannabis... I hope some of those cops have a conscience and lose sleep over that.

watching the rest.... thanks for the link Dextrous

 

[jojo87]

this is a great link loving it, just waiting for it too load

 

[MilliVanilli]

Just watched it then. Pretty interesting stuff. All the guests raise valid points. Thanks for the link

 

[Cornishman]

Great post.

thx

 

[AussieSWIMer]

awesome

 

[Jabberwocky]

thanks for posting, was an interesting viewing

 

[Crankinit]

Really interesting link, thanks for posting.

Personally, I don't buy the 'libertarian' argument for drug legalization. I think it's all very well to say we should have the right to choose what we put in our bodies, but drug addiction harms not just the addict, but the people around them, and puts a lot of strain on the healthcare system.

I do, however, think drug policy needs to be far more liberal, since I think strict prohibition causes more harm than good.

Interesting that there are two very different takes on the same argument.

 

[Sykik]

Yes the issue is very complicated. Any attempt to simplifiy the issue will most likely cause more harm than good, i.e the current everything is illegal approach. I feel a similar everything is legal approach will cause just as much harm, maybe less. I think there needs to be a middle ground.

 

[Crankinit]

Agreed. I think we need to see a slow readjustment of policy while carefully assessing the impact on society. Start out with the basic HR stuff, more education, less scare tactics, shooting centres, remove dogs from festivals, encourage pill testing etc.

Once people realise that they sky won't fall if we don't demonize drugs, take further steps. Decriminalize personal use quantities, maybe legalize weed. Then slowly assess the changes caused by the legalization of different drugs and work towards whatever ends up with the least harm to society as a whole (including the users).

I think there's an optimal middle ground. The system we have now obviously doesn't work, but I think free for all legalization would have disastrous results, particularly in regards to certain chemicals.