Let those dopers be

^ Exactly.

But I have to say, that everything this article talks about is everything that we were told in a lecture about the war on drugs. At university. I kid you not. You take teh money out of drugs, and you are left with very few problems. There have even been areas in GB that trialed free herion for users, and the plan worked brilliantly, immediately reducing crime rates.

The thing is that it wont ever happen, because in America Neo-Conservatives rule, and often are the people that end up voting. If any American president ever wants to be re-elected, he would never ever even suggest such a program.
 
Hmmm, when it comes down to it do you mind that cirtain drugs are illegal? I spoke to a friend recently and he said he wasn't particularly concerned about legalising weed, as he'd rather be giving his friend/dealer money than be giving the governemnt another source of income...

I am in favor of legalisation, as it would hopefully cut out much of the criminal elements (especially drug-trafficing related violence) and would hopefully push down the prices of drugs to some extent. The article doesn't mention the benefit for addicts who could be legally precribed drugs, and treated as "sick" people rather than criminals.

I think even my non-drug taking friends would recognise the benefits of removing organized crime from the equation....
 
I image a reduction in ER visits too with known quality and quantity of a substance. I don't think many folks enjoy OD-ing.

The first step though must be maintenance programs for all addicts regardless of substance which should lead to functioning addicts with better health.
 
Not everyone has the US's approach to drug enforcement (ie at the expense of civil liberties) and eventually you'll have 2 separate camps; those allowing freee use and those prohibiting it. As can be seen, the US is already pissed off at Europe's and Canada's approach to drug use & reduction of penalties. They will end up an island of prohibition among a sea of accepted drug use
 
Being an island and having our citizens see that legalization is actually good is the only way we're going to change in the U.S. There's too much money at stake for it to change anytime before that--and part of this money is what is made by drug cartels who produce and distribute illegal drugs.

When anyone makes progress, the cops-prison guards-prison builders-alcohol companies-bar owners-drug cartels will throw their money behind convincing the public that society will be ruined if legalization progresses. This doesn't even account for the Christian right and ultra-conservatives who live for telling other people how to live their lives, and who currently account for most of the support for keeping drugs illegal. But the people who make money from drugs being illegal are the 800 lb. gorilla sitting in the dark corner. Make any *real* progress and we'll see this gorilla staring us in the face.
 
Why heroin, cocaine, and meth? I agree with legalising most of the rest (excluding stupifying drugs like datura or alcohol), but IMO heroin & cocaine are blasphemic substances isolated from nature allowing a much greater addictive property. Also like similar demanded products from third world countries, the opium poppy and coca leaf destroy the balance of economic choices for regional farmers, which in turn opens them to a bunch of fun social events such as cartel murders, debt-induced kidnappings, and governmental fumigation.

In a similar manner, meth is way too potent of a stimulant to keep it from being abused in some manner. Alcohol is up there in its numbing allure as well.. as half of people who admit to drinking it also admit to binging.
 
^ Stagnant Reaction, I agree with some of what you said, but I think you contradicted yourself. The reason third world countries produce poppies and coca are *because* these drugs are illegal. All the crime and ill effects surrounding the cultivation of these plants is due to the drug war. They must be grown in the third world because it's illegal to grow them anywhere else, and even there they are illegal, hence the negative criminal and government involvement.

If we legalize them, their effects on addicts won't be any improved but the crops themselves will become the same as asparagus or carrots: they'll be grown on normal farms wherever it's economically most advantageous. Most of the third world farmers will return to growing food crops.
 
Out of all the countries in the world I think that the USA is probably the least likely to relax its laws surrounding drug use (except for ephedrine, alcohol and tobacco). I also think that the USA is probably the most violent country in the world althoug in a scientific sense it is also the most advanced.
 
Nothing is going to come of this article, even if it changed a few people's minds.

One can't just petition the authorities for change....you'll just get ignored.

What is needed is some kind of unified social movement with thousands of angry people in the streets, demanding justice. Remember the civil rights movement?

Drug users are truly the last tribe of niggers on the planet.

And gay people think they have it tough.... 8)
 
The real issue here is America foundation of Puritanical ideals. Americans don't like seeing other people in an altered state of mind. It causes them fear. I live in the US and people who know better, I mean they really do know better, still bash pot users and psychedelics. Politicians have effectively been using fear to take away civil liberties for all of time, but once again it has become worse. Well written article. I think medical marijuana laws will be enacted in the US before I die, but I won't be in the US at that point I hope. Long before then I would've taken up residence on the Côte d'Azur surrounded by my friends, family, and trophy wives. Ahh… ce serait la vie.

Paix,
PL
 
Johnny1 said:
^ Stagnant Reaction, I agree with some of what you said, but I think you contradicted yourself. The reason third world countries produce poppies and coca are *because* these drugs are illegal. All the crime and ill effects surrounding the cultivation of these plants is due to the drug war. They must be grown in the third world because it's illegal to grow them anywhere else, and even there they are illegal, hence the negative criminal and government involvement.
Click to expand...

I think there is a added dimension to this contention, which should be considered.

Most third-world farmers cannot compete against western farmers growing normal crops, due in part to the massive subsidies and the technological advantage western farmers enjoy over their third world competition.

When you grow a ton of crop X and have to sell it for less then it cost to grow it in the first place then your either going to run yourself out of business or start looking around for a crop that actually gives a return.

That's where illegal drugs come into it. These plants are the only crops that will actually allow these people to live (and afford all that cheap food that gets dumped in their markets), ironically if we made drugs legal but kept the huge subsidies in place it would do nothing to help these people. Rather it would just fuck em up the ass and leave complety done for.



SheeshKeebab said:
^^ You've been taking too many drugs
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8( 8( 8( 8( yourself
 
chugs said:
Most third-world farmers cannot compete against western farmers growing normal crops, due in part to the massive subsidies and the technological advantage western farmers enjoy over their third world competition.
Click to expand...
If we were sensible enough to legalize drugs we should be sensible enough to remove agricultural subsidies.

And using technology in the farming industry only adds to the price of the product in the last end, so it won't be much of an advantage. Third world countries have much smaller minimum wages (if they even have minimum wages) so first world countries just wouldn't be able to compete with the prices of their products, technologial advanced or not.
 
I doubt the US will change its drug laws. But that doesn't matter since before you know it the American Empire will be a bad memory. Countries like Canada and England, once the US loses its super-power, will make drugs legal because they know its smart and the only reason those countries haven't made pot legal is because of the US' bullying.
 
StagnantReaction said:
Why heroin, cocaine, and meth? I agree with legalising most of the rest (excluding stupifying drugs like datura or alcohol), but IMO heroin & cocaine are blasphemic substances isolated from nature allowing a much greater addictive property. Also like similar demanded products from third world countries, the opium poppy and coca leaf destroy the balance of economic choices for regional farmers, which in turn opens them to a bunch of fun social events such as cartel murders, debt-induced kidnappings, and governmental fumigation.

In a similar manner, meth is way too potent of a stimulant to keep it from being abused in some manner. Alcohol is up there in its numbing allure as well.. as half of people who admit to drinking it also admit to binging.
Click to expand...

As adults don't they have the choice to destroy themselves with drugs if they like?

I really could not justify legalizing the Big Three, but I'd really like to start off my day with some Coca tea and have it be perfectly legal. Greed is what is ruining most things in life and I don't see that changing once drugs are legalized. As of now a huge amount of illicit substances are being poured into the US and when it's legalized I think there could only be an increase. At least in the short term. The most important part of his entire essay was the education part. All of know to differentiate between life and death drugs, but the lay-man doesn't. We need to change the opinions of drugs. Every substance in my opinion is neutral it is only how you use it. That brings me back to the Big Three. These substances are so incredibly powerful that most people cannot use them responsibly and to reduce societal damage mayhaps they should stay illegal? However… treatment should take the place of prison. It's very complicated but I'm still smiling from the original article. Yay that cop. Peace.
 
A former police chief wants to end a losing war by legalizing pot, coke, meth and other drugs.
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Notice emphasis on the word former. Saying this is a good way to get fired.
 
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