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P&S Moderators: JackARoe | Cheshire_Kat
Would you legalise drugs?
- Thread starter basix
- Start date
Archie Funker
Bluelighter
turnandburn said:
I agree (kinda), if the government put all the money they put into the war on drugs into educating youth about drug use there would be a lot less problems. However, I still believe that legalization is the way to go...forget this war on drugs shaith. Check this out:http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm
I rekon all psychoactives should be regulated rather than banned or legalised.
Like a doctor should prescribe a given amount, and every now and then users get psych assessments to be given feedback and see if they can continue. Users have exposure to help as part of the process.
Users should be licenced for each drug they use. This ensures users know the risks they take and they have some idea what to expect.
If they drive or commit crime under the influence the privelege is suspended or cancelled.
The users are entered in a national database, so usage can be monitored.
Like a doctor should prescribe a given amount, and every now and then users get psych assessments to be given feedback and see if they can continue. Users have exposure to help as part of the process.
Users should be licenced for each drug they use. This ensures users know the risks they take and they have some idea what to expect.
If they drive or commit crime under the influence the privelege is suspended or cancelled.
The users are entered in a national database, so usage can be monitored.
SmC
Ex-Bluelighter
turnandburn said:
Well the obvious answer to your question is because I want to legalise them.
As for why I would legalise them, well I don't like the fact that criminals benefit from us having a good time on drugs,it's just complete backwards logic being used by the Government.They want us to feel like criminals while using them and if they were legal, we wouldn't have to even think about that and the gangs who make money out of them would be gone.It's that simple really.I would put an education system about drugs in place before legalising them though.
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![l]evil](/community/data/avatars/m/66/66726.jpg?1554214541){kind=avatar}
l]evil
Bluelighter
legalise SOME drugs, i dont give society enough credit to handle legalisation of all drugs
Neither is sex....can that stay legal?
To me this is how legalization would go down -
For the users:
Serious addicts, those most at risk of overdose, already have access to drugs despite decades of effort from our government. These people would definately be better off if prohibition ended - safer, cheaper, better educated, more resources and emphasis on treating addiction, etc.
To responsible users, legalization would be great - they're no longer criminalized, it's safer, more freedom, fun, trust in the government and law enforcement, etc. They'd be better off.
So we're left with the non users.
Responsible middle american values people - most of these people don't use drugs because it's just not their thing - they don't need or enjoy them and it's not worth the risk. These are responsible people, legalization is no threat to them. In fact, at first it saves billions in government spending, takes away one of the pillars of power of organized crime, reduces gang violence etc. It might even allow them access to better funded treatment programs for relatives that fall into addiction - instead of say, giving them a prison record and denying them student loans. So for these people, the untempted, legalization would at first be a good thing.
So this leaves?
People that don't use drugs under prohibition but would turn into irresponsible users if they were legalized.
^^^^^^
Seriously how many people can that be? Drugs are everywhere i've ever gone in the U.S. How many people are out there that are potential drug addicts but have never gone through the effort of trying to score something? Not too mention anyone has access to alcohol - is that really a preferable addiction? These people do exist, I can clearly imagine some cases, but look what we're justifying all over the health of this particular, strange, imo small, and apparently socially isolated demographic.
Billions a year on the drug war
People serving 15 years for selling an ounce of coke
Almost 1% of the U.S. incarcerated, high percentages of which for drug related crimes.
Cycles of prison for drugs, poverty and probation, more drugs, more prison - instead of treatment to the self destructive individual in the first place.
All of the insane violence across the world related to drug trafficking - some of the highest officials in some nations being corrupted by the trade.
All this to stop some potential drug addict demographic that apparently has been held back by prohibition. Who are these people? I really don't buy that this is all worth our while.
Oh and as for the costs of health care, does a meth addict that has a stroke at 55 really represent more of a strain on our health care system as say, a diabetic that stretches it out to 85? What other freedoms are we going to have to give up in the name of "the cost of health care"?
Cyrus
Bluelighter
Eyeronie said:
Big difference between sex which is a means of reproducing and carrying on the human race than a psychoactive chemical thats ingested for recreational effects.
First of all, what do you think is preventing a drug addict from not listening to the education provided? As far as I know if theres a want to get fucked up, the person will get fucked up. I highly doubt there'd be any type of care.
And yeah, for responsible users I agree, however with more "responsible" users will come more addicts (By lets say the newer people that didn't listen to the education). More addicts come more deaths, more deaths would probably just lead to the re-prohibition of substances again.
Sure, you could say that we could administer tests to see who's educated enough to use and purchase drugs, but thats too much of a hassle. Whats preventing them from going and buying already legal substances through someone else?
I see what you're saying. But I think it's interesting your justification for the right to have sex is that it pertains to the reproduction of the species - not because it's our body and we should be able to do as we please. Could we then ban recreational or gay sex without violating anyone's human rights? What if it made things safer for the teenagers, etc....
I know there are some rights we cannot allow people to have - the right to own a rocket launcher for instance. The example I gave earlier about sex was extreme, but part of me still feels that being told I cannot inebriate myself is as much an affront on my freedom and personal dignity as telling me that I can't have recreational sex anymore. It's clearly my safety and my personal business that's in question.
I agree completely! Education was the wrong word - I didn't mean there would be any type of before purchase care or testing. I meant that basic information on dosage, mixing drugs, and harm reduction would be given with the product. These are all lacking on the street and it kills people (dosage variations alone kill many). I also agree with an earlier poster that lack of education is not what leads to serious addiction - that's another thing altogether. They don't need education as much at that stage (it's the beginners that do), but they do need treatment and detox in some cases. I believe we could make these resources more available with tax revenues and savings on spending if drugs were legalized.
One of my major points is that addicts aren't lost to us once they reach that level, it's something they need to get through, and there's better ways of dealing with this issue than ciminalizing their behavior. They have to come to terms with these things inside themselves, and we are actually much better able to help them get through this with more treatment and safer, cheaper drugs. You will not stop these people economically, the core problem isn't the availability of drugs, it's what these people are trying to self medicate. There's a certain number of people that are going to end up with addiction problems, and i'm willing to bet they're getting fucked up already under prohibition. Like you said, when there's a will to get fucked up, there's a way. Since they're already drug addicts, I do believe they'd be better off post legalization.
Some abuse drugs.
Some responsibly use them.
Some could use but don't.
Some would use responsibly but can't (prohibition)
Some would use irresponsibly but can't (prohibition)
Only that last group needs to fear legalization, and I still say their numbers are smaller than those who's lives have been destroyed by the drug war. Not to mention, post legalization, we could be more prepared than ever (more money, more communication, less stigma) to help these and all people with their addictions.
Cyrus
Bluelighter
Regardless of the sex thing, I must say to you that MOST abuse drugs, some use responsibly. MOST can use responsibly but won't.
I highly doubt that legalisation of drugs would only be a directional step so to say. It'd probably be favorable to the people who use drugs.
I think the bads outweigh the goods in this situation, and though yes I agree I would be more in favor of legalisation I, at the same time, don't want it for other reasons. (As Danny put up a fine example : Health care.)
I highly doubt that legalisation of drugs would only be a directional step so to say. It'd probably be favorable to the people who use drugs.
I think the bads outweigh the goods in this situation, and though yes I agree I would be more in favor of legalisation I, at the same time, don't want it for other reasons. (As Danny put up a fine example : Health care.)
turnandburn
Bluelighter
How is sex not safe? I'm in a monogamous relationship with someone I have been with for over 4 years and we had both been previously tested for HIV and STDs. I mean sex CAN be unsafe, but the act itself isn't unsafe... bad comparison ...
qwedsa
Ex-Bluelighter
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2006
- Messages
- 736
qwedsa said:
how is my drug use not safe? I have tested my pills every time i've gotten them, i drink moderate amounts of water and dont overexert, and take antioxidants to eliminate neurotoxic damage. as far as painkillers, i never go above a dose that would hurt me (dont need to anyway). as for any drug, i use very occasionally, every couple weeks
you could reply that many people use drugs in unsafe ways unlike me. i would reply many people have sex in unsafe ways unlike you. this is not grounds for illegalization of either
turnandburn
Bluelighter
qwedsa said:
How are you so sure
Cyrus
Bluelighter
Well, qwedsa, what applies to you doesn't apply to everyone. You do everything you can to protect yourself, thats great. some others don't.
l]evil
Bluelighter
redeemer said:
yes
socko
Bluelighter
I would legalize all drugs. Not sure if anybody said this yet, but keeping them illegal gives them a kind of romantic image. Prohibition makes them a forbidden fruit. Naturally, people are attracted to this image. Legalize them and that's one less reason to want to try them. Anyway, another reason, I don't think the government should be telling people how to live their private lives.
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DJDannyUhOh
Bluelighter
Free radicals are only one in about one hundred causes of neurotoxicity. Antioxidants alone will not negate nerve damage.