23536
Bluelight Crew
. . .
Steps toward the regulation of drugs would naturally be phased in cautiously over a number of years, with close evaluation and monitoring of impacts and any unintended consequences (like the risks of over unregulated or over-commercialisation leading to an increase in use). A flexible range of tools would also be applied differently for different products, with the more restrictive controls deployed for more risky drugs or drug preparations, and, less restrictive controls for lower risk products.
If implemented intelligently, such an approach holds the potential to not only reduce the harms associated with consuming drugs but, in the longer term, towards safer products, safer behaviours, and safer using environments — the precise opposite of what has happened under prohibition.
Four basic models are proposed:
Regulation cannot produce a 'drug free world' or indeed a harm free world — in the short term it can only seek to reduce the problems that stem from prohibition and the illicit trade it has created. Neither can it address the underlying drivers of why people become drug addicts but it can help us to understand by removing political obstacles and moving to a more rational evidence-based footing where drug-policy resources can be used for proven public health interventions.
full http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/talking-politics/world-look-war-drugs-105803934.html
Steps toward the regulation of drugs would naturally be phased in cautiously over a number of years, with close evaluation and monitoring of impacts and any unintended consequences (like the risks of over unregulated or over-commercialisation leading to an increase in use). A flexible range of tools would also be applied differently for different products, with the more restrictive controls deployed for more risky drugs or drug preparations, and, less restrictive controls for lower risk products.
If implemented intelligently, such an approach holds the potential to not only reduce the harms associated with consuming drugs but, in the longer term, towards safer products, safer behaviours, and safer using environments — the precise opposite of what has happened under prohibition.
Four basic models are proposed:
- medical prescription and supervised using venues for the highest risk drugs and most problematic users;
- a specialist pharmacist sales model, combined with named/licensed user access and volume sales rationing for mid-risk drugs, such as amphetamines, powder cocaine, and ecstasy;
- various forms of licensed retail, and licensed premises for sale and consumption (familiar with pubs and Dutch-style cannabis coffee shops);
- and unlicensed sales for the least risky products such as caffeine drinks, or coca tea.
Regulation cannot produce a 'drug free world' or indeed a harm free world — in the short term it can only seek to reduce the problems that stem from prohibition and the illicit trade it has created. Neither can it address the underlying drivers of why people become drug addicts but it can help us to understand by removing political obstacles and moving to a more rational evidence-based footing where drug-policy resources can be used for proven public health interventions.
full http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/talking-politics/world-look-war-drugs-105803934.html
