Hard Drugs should be legal

[Jolt]

People suggest the dumbest of things...

First of all, the argument "People should be allowed as long as they don't interfere with other people's lives". As it is known for the past handful of decades, that doesn't happen. Once a person gets too addicted (As people need gradually more and more amount of the same drug to get the same effect) and runs out of money, it WILL start interfering with other people's lives to satisfy that adiction. That argument is simply well beyond null. And since it eventually happens so, then it is forbidden.

Now, soft drugs that another thing. But even there, there needs to be a mentality of responsibility to be allowed legal. Otherwise, we have kids and teenagers doing soft drugs in every corner of the streets. That's an utter lack of respect.

I'm really a prohibition nazi. I drink when I go to parties/discos/whatever, but if I had to vote on alcohol prohibition, I'd do it any day. Same goes (Especially, since it has already wrecked apart my parents lives) for tobacco. It is simply stupid to take something bad for you. I'm against allowing stupid people to make stupid decisions. Some argue it's part of gaining life experience. I argue that those people lose something during that life experience to get to the point where everyone already knew it would be bad to make that stupid decision.

[KukriKhan]

Of course; that works in Europe, where everything not granted is forbidden. They have a history and culture of law being handed down from on high. No problem. Works for you guys.

In America, everything not specifically forbidden, however silly, personally injurious, or bad for your health... is authorized.

We have specifically forbidden the possession, sale, distribution, or ingestion of a few dozen drugs here. I say: why?

What compelling societal interest is there in prohibiting that? Maybe there is a societal interest that trumps an individual interest. But so far, the arguments put forward are little more than a half-hearted D.A.R.E. briefing in elementary school (no offense intended there; but the anti-hard drug argument has basically been: "It's bad for you.")

[Lord Winter]

I heard an interesting perspective off a podcast. Basiclly the host is argueing that even if scientist were to come up with a drug that had the same effects as Cocain, LSD, herion or what not, but with no harmful longterm effects it would still be banned.

[Lemur]

Damn straight it would be. You know why? 'Cause prohibition works. It just does. Imprisoning millions of citizens for possession? Works. Spending billions of dollars feeding, guarding and keeping them warm? Works. Diverting a huge market away from legality and into the arms of criminal gangs? Works.

It just works. Stop arguing about it.

[Xiahou]

Damn straight it would be. You know why? 'Cause prohibition works. It just does. Imprisoning millions of citizens for possession? Works. Spending billions of dollars feeding, guarding and keeping them warm? Works. Diverting a huge market away from legality and into the arms of criminal gangs? Works.

It just works. Stop arguing about it.

The fact that people break a law is no argument for doing away with the law. Our war on rape has also been a total failure- despite years of enforcement and billions spent, people still do it. When will we come to our senses and legalize it? Similarly, the war on theft has also been a miserable failure and should be ended.

I'm all for rethinking how we prosecute illegal narcotics if when can do so more efficiently. But just because the current strategy hasn't been totally successful doesn't mean that the only alternative is legalization.

[Crazed Rabbit]

EDIT: *raises hand for W&F*

I'm really a prohibition nazi. I drink when I go to parties/discos/whatever, but if I had to vote on alcohol prohibition, I'd do it any day. Same goes (Especially, since it has already wrecked apart my parents lives) for tobacco..

You know what the definition of insane is, right? Trying the same thing and expecting different results.

I'm against allowing stupid people to make stupid decisions.

So when do you want your personal government agent to come by and make sure you're getting enough exercise?

The drug war has been a monumental failure. Drugs are not harder to get. Innocent people are dead or robbed by the government. How can it truly be justified that we continue it?

CR

[Samurai Waki]

There is absolutely no justification at the moment to keep many hard drugs illegal. However, it all comes down to personal responsibility, every dollar spent on drugs could be spent on something more important, but people don't realize this. I'm not trying to be preachy (eh' each to their own). When it comes to some drugs the whole "my body is my temple" advert is bollocks, and I don't trust the guy down the street to be responsible enough to keep his body within his temple while on a Cocaine High.

[Jolt]

You know what the definition of insane is, right? Trying the same thing and expecting different results.

What does that setence relate to?

So when do you want your personal government agent to come by and make sure you're getting enough exercise?

The drug war has been a monumental failure. Drugs are not harder to get. Innocent people are dead or robbed by the government. How can it truly be justified that we continue it?

CR

Fortunatly, doing exercise isn't addictive, nor does it cost money. Drugs eventually leads you to stealing (Or doing some other crazy scheme to drain money out something/someone) once you're out of money, because of it's addictedness and cost. Drugs are so, and in such a way this comparison makes little sense.
And how can one say it isn't harder to get? If it was legalized, it would be sold in every major city by shops. With it banned, the only places selling them is only in shifty alleys and in marginalized neighbourhoods.

[rory_20_uk]

Drugs eventually leads you to stealing (Or doing some other crazy scheme to drain money out something/someone) once you're out of money, because of it's addictedness and cost. Drugs are so, and in such a way this comparison makes little sense.
And how can one say it isn't harder to get? If it was legalized, it would be sold in every major city by shops. With it banned, the only places selling them is only in shifty alleys and in marginalized neighbourhoods.

The usual oft used drivel.

Illegal drugs are more expensive, as you're paying for the fact that getting into the country is complicated. Legal ones would be far less expensive - less crime!

It's already dead easy to get! And it is not from marginalised estates. Cocaine is used by many middle / upper class people. They are not going down darkened alleys. True, some do - perhaps it would be safer for all to g to a shop?

Addictive... ever seen people give up cigarettes or alcohol? And how much do they cost? Tens if not more per day.

[Big_John]

With it banned, the only places selling them is only in shifty alleys and in marginalized neighbourhoods.

surely, you jest.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

If it's legal, you give the vibe that it's OK when it isn't.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Ever seen any of the anti-smoking ads we've got in the US?

Somehow we've managed to cut down on smoking without (straight up) banning it (though I dislike the heavy handed taxes and rules against it).

CR

[pevergreen]

I see (in my naive youth) that the government is like a friend, advising that it's not a good thing to take hard drugs, and saying you will be sorry you did. Not by what the drugs do, but by what they do.

See? The government can be a good.

(I still see government and good as an oxymoron though)

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I see (in my naive youth) that the government is like a friend, advising that it's not a good thing to take hard drugs, and saying you will be sorry you did. Not by what the drugs do, but by what they do.

See? The government can be a good.

(I still see government and good as an oxymoron though)

Umm, the government is more like a friend that says "Please jimmy, don't do drugs" and then gets pissed when you do and throws you in jail.

Hehe. Well maybe bad and short lived ideas go both ways. If we are talking about what works vs what doesn't we could legalize most drugs and see if that idea isn't as bad as prohibiting alcohol. Two way street - better try it before I have children.

I think we should go for decriminalization for those over 18 as a start. It's easy to see **** getting out of hand with dumbass teenagers. I think your right in that a sudden legalization would lead to a snap back pretty quickly.

That is true, but it still legitimizes something that should not be legitimized.

Choosing to get high is perfectly legitimate.

In America, everything not specifically forbidden, however silly, personally injurious, or bad for your health... is authorized.

I'm really a prohibition nazi. I drink when I go to parties/discos/whatever, but if I had to vote on alcohol prohibition, I'd do it any day.

Alcohol is very important for our nations happiness.

It's the one thing I dont understand. Why would you want to lose control of your body? I am terrified of being forced into taking something (drugs/alcohol) that will cause me to lose 100% control of my body and how I think.

It's really not scary...don't diss it till you've tried it.

[pevergreen]

Jumping off a cliff into sharp rocks isnt scary. Would you do it?

Umm, the government is more like a friend that says "Please jimmy, don't do drugs" and then gets pissed when you do and throws you in jail.

Yeah, well. *rambles on about reasons how it makes sense in pever's mind*

[Big_John]

Jumping off a cliff into sharp rocks isnt scary.

yes it is.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

If it's legal, you give the vibe that it's OK when it isn't.

There are tons of things which are legal but looked down upon by society, and many which are illegal that no one cares about.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

There are tons of things which are legal but looked down upon by society, and many which are illegal that no one cares about.

That is true, but it still legitimizes something that should not be legitimized.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Hehe. Well maybe bad and short lived ideas go both ways. If we are talking about what works vs what doesn't we could legalize most drugs and see if that idea isn't as bad as prohibiting alcohol. Two way street - better try it before I have children.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Our war on rape has also been a total failure- despite years of enforcement and billions spent, people still do it.

Um, no. Rapists have been imprisoned and stopped from harming others. That has cut down on the number of rapes that would otherwise have occurred. The war on drugs has imprisoned a lot of people, hurting society, for non violent offenses.

The war on drugs is a total failure, with the main causality being our liberties.

Umm, the government is more like a friend that says "Please jimmy, don't do drugs" and then gets pissed when you do and throws you in jail.

LoL!

CR

[AlexanderSextus]

Al capone killed lots of people for money made in the illegal Alcohol trade (i'm drinking a BEER right now, and no i'm not drunk, i only had one, this is #2) and Pablo Escobar killed lots of people for the money made in the illegal cocaine trade.

Alcohol was made Legal, amd Capone went straight to jail. Escobar supplied kilos and kilos of cocaine into the US with the help of Manuel Noreaga, A US ALLY at the time. Cocaine still floods into the US to this day. And i'd bet the CIA profits off of it just so they can bust the dealers they sell it to.
Thats why nothing's been legalized.


Yeah they got those guys but the problem has not been solved yet. i think its about time to change our ideas of what works. Prohibition does not.



Same Problem, Same Solution. Tax and regulate. Illegal markets will diminish, and Kingpins will get arrested.

Pot should be legal, as long as you dont drive or operate heavy machinery high. Especially for people like me who need it medically. Cerebral Palsy, BTW.... Works better for me than the BOTOX injections that really suck.

They have the NHS in England. Dope Junkies get clean needles and product that is not poisoned. Here in the US you have Junkies who get their kids to tie off their arm while they shoot up, not knowing how potent the product is. They end up ODing infront of their kids. This happens here in New Jersey. If they had an NHS-like program, the junkies would get graduated doses that would slowly wean them off of the drug and the potency would be the same every time so they would know exactly how much to use without killing themselves.

It is not the govts job to tell people what to put or not put in their own bodies, but it is the governments job to keep people who are addicted to a drug from dieing a horrible and tragic death that will mentally hurt their families.