LSD legalization

[Fishy80]

if it becomes legal, by itself, it becomes more interesting... and usage goes up, means more people get comfortable with it who know the people who are now doing it because its legal... Salvia usage went up when it was legal, heck made the news when whats her face did it... and then hmm, made illegal again (in places).. and I know lots of people who thought the idea of Salvia was super scary, but because it was legal, they figured it must be safe, if its safe enough to be legal and they tried it... and some of them didn't do anything but smoke pot other than that..

there is really no way to know, you could be right and it could just go on with nothing to worry about... and that would be awesome..

 

[Transform]

The elitist bullshit needs to stop. It's all very well saying that you're a responsible user of drugs, "but here are the guidelines that we shall set in place for Jon Doe down the road because he can't think his way out of a paper bag." You are Jon Doe. And every person, no matter how intelligent you may think they are, has a right to make their own decisions without drug policy reformists breathing down their neck.

I used to think I was a respectable user, and that society would have no problem. Everyone would be able to cope and if use increased, that was fine, everyone could handle it.

Then I realised that I had developed a problem right under my nose, totally snuck up on me. I didn't believe it could happen to me, and I pretended it hadn't for quite a while until it was really ruining things.
I'm no more responsible than any other person, and that's where the problem lies, humans are pretty irresponsible.

I think pretty much anyone who wants any drug that's illegal, can get it anyway... whats the point of spending money trying to enforce some battle they will never win?

Because there is SO much good to be had by ending prohibition. Financial benefits, social benefits, health benefits, crime-reduction benefits. Regulation of the ($400bn/yr) drug trade would be such a powerful force.

Look at heroin use in the UK up until it stopped being prescribed for addicts in the 60s

Exactly, I strongly believe than a prescription model for the most addictive drugs could work, but free access might be a little too far. I know there aren't any physiological harms associated with pharmaceutical heroin use, but no-one wants to be a slave to the chemical and I think it would be too easy for it to just sneak up on people if it was easily available.

 

[Survived Abortion]

I definitely see where you're coming from - you raise some very good points.

 

[Fishy80]

I used to think I was a respectable user, and that society would have no problem. Everyone would be able to cope and if use increased, that was fine, everyone could handle it.

Then I realised that I had developed a problem right under my nose, totally snuck up on me. I didn't believe it could happen to me, and I pretended it hadn't for quite a while until it was really ruining things.
I'm no more responsible than any other person, and that's where the problem lies, humans are pretty irresponsible.

While I agree humans are pretty irresponsible, it doesn't mean that everyone would think the same way as you, or let a problem sneak up on them like that, sure, lots of people would, but its certainly not a reason to say that people shouldn't have the choice... people hate it when companies or governments take away choice "for your own protection" like a software not allowing you to do something because it want's to protect you from yourself...

Because there is SO much good to be had by ending prohibition. Financial benefits, social benefits, health benefits, crime-reduction benefits. Regulation of the ($400bn/yr) drug trade would be such a powerful force.

yes, but its NOT going to happen, its a war they will never win... they won't ever stop everyone, they won't ever achieve regulation. they are wasting money trying, instead of putting that money towards the other things like those health/social/financial benefits, and less police worrying about drug users/sellers, the more police to deal with the actual crime that is caused by the bad ones..

Exactly, I strongly believe than a prescription model for the most addictive drugs could work, but free access might be a little too far. I know there aren't any physiological harms associated with pharmaceutical heroin use, but no-one wants to be a slave to the chemical and I think it would be too easy for it to just sneak up on people if it was easily available.

I agree with you here about the addictive drugs in particular.

 

[Transform]

I know people don't like being protected from themselves, but I do think it is necessary here if harm reduction is truly the goal. If the goal is a libertarian society then there's no doubt they should all be freely available.

I think the fact the drug war can't be won is exactly why prohibition will end eventually. It's not going to be soon, nor will it be abrupt, but gradually we will move towards regulation, ideally gradual enough to prevent making a big deal to stop the mentality that someone mentioned where people think
"Oooh, LSD got made legal yesterday, lets have an LSD party"
leading to those who aren't ready to be pressured into having it, and probably too much at that.

I HIGHLY recommend those reading this thread to get hold of a copy of the blueprint, it's available for the cost of postage, or you could request it in your local library, or see if your local students for sensible drug policy chapter has a copy.