Drug thread: GHB: why the hell is it banned?

[Jon Shafer]

Originally posted by Berzerker
He invented explosive artillery shells and predicted it would end war? You've switched from explosive artillery shells to dynamite for some reason... But if he said that about either, it just shows genius is no guarantee of common sense...

He invented dynamite, then collaberated with the arms industries of a couple countries to create explosive shells because he believed the creation of such a destructive weapon would convince countries to never go to war again.

He later realized the err in his ways and dedicated his fortune to try and have people remember his name for something besides death and destruction. It seems he was successful in that end at least.

No they aren't, ever go under the knife? How about the dentist?
Aaaaaand they shouldn't be legal for just those situations...

Yes, because you can slip just any colorless, odorless, tasteless, easily concealable and producable sedative anesthetic into someone's drink...

But why are the people who don't use it to commit rape being punished because of those who do? If that's the principle being employed, we should be punishing people for having guns, knives, cars, and every other thing in life that can be used to commit a crime.

GHB is used for the purpose of facilitating rape far more than a car or a knife is used for the purpose of harming someone. And good luck taking everyone's guns away.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Berzerker
No they aren't, ever go under the knife? How about the dentist?
Aaaaaand they shouldn't be legal for just those situations...

You are being disingenuous, Berz. A knife is not a drug, neither is a dentist.

[laurentius]

EDIT: I found out that at least here in Finland GHB is the number one date-rape or drink spiking drug, next are ketamin and roofies (rohypnol)

[Urban Ranger]

Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) is more potent AFAIK.

[Snotty]

Originally posted by Berzerker


So is booze, "liquer's quicker". So is a blunt instrument over the head, we don't make booze and blunt instruments illegal, we make rape illegal.

The point is that liquors not quicker. I cap full of GHB is all you need to drink to knock you over. Thats too easy to slip into someones drink. Combine that with the fact that GHB is fairly easy to produce and I can see why it was made illegal. Roofies and K are a bit tougher to come by.

GHB does have valid recreational use, if you consider recreational drug use valid that is.

A good site for in depth unbiased information about GHB is http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ghb/ghb.shtml .

[Snotty]

Originally posted by Big Crunch


It still makes sense to make illegal any method, substance or device whose clear and primary reason for existence is the commiting of a crime, with exemptions for reasonable use.

You are completly right, however thats not its main purpose for the vast majority of people who have access to GHB.

From Erowid GHB effects:

Low Dose:
A low dose of GHB (usually from .5 to 1.5 gms) often causes effects similar to those of 1-3 drinks of alchohol.

Would you rather drink a couple of pints of beer, or a couple of drops for the same effect? Supposedly the hangover is also much decreased when compared to alcohol. Bearing this in mind it is easy to understand why people want to use it.

[Berzerker]

Trip -

Yes, because you can slip just any colorless, odorless, tasteless, easily concealable and producable sedative anesthetic into someone's drink...

I'm not getting an answer, why should people who don't slip others this drug w/o their knowledge be punished because of those who do? I can walk up to anyone on the street and slip a knife into them too, that doesn't mean people who own knives should be punished.

GHB is used for the purpose of facilitating rape far more than a car or a knife is used for the purpose of harming someone.

Would you seriously argue more rapes have been facilitated with this drug than weapons like knives? And so what?

UR -

You are being disingenuous, Berz. A knife is not a drug, neither is a dentist.

Re-read the quote, I wasn't comparing GHB to a knife or a dentist, I was pointing out that there are legal drugs that make people unconscience when they are "under the knife" or go to the dentist. I'm sure you've heard of the layman's phrase "going under the knife" for a medical operation.

Snotty -

The point is that liquors not quicker.

And you've never heard the phrase "liquer's quicker"? It's a phrase some guys use in their effort to get laid by getting a woman drunk.

I cap full of GHB is all you need to drink to knock you over. Thats too easy to slip into someones drink. Combine that with the fact that GHB is fairly easy to produce and I can see why it was made illegal. Roofies and K are a bit tougher to come by.

So people who use this drug should be punished because of those who use it to commit rape?

GHB does have valid recreational use, if you consider recreational drug use valid that is.

I certainly do consider it valid because freedom is valid, and people who use it recreationally should not be punished because of people with nefarious motives.

[Az]

And it doesn't damage the liver!

[Cruddy]

Having seen a couple of male friends go psychotic on this... I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

I understand that some MDMA users like GHB as a come down easy solution... they must be crazy.

[rixxe]

GHB has been made illegal because of the public opinion. X date rapes among thousands and they say GHB's dangerous,...
It's just part of this stupid conservative drug policy,...

Anyway, buy GBL (a product to clean carpets). This substance changes to GHB in the body.

[Az]

sshhhhh!

Besides, you don't know the doses and weights of that stuff. it's not pharmaceptical.

Having seen a couple of male friends go psychotic on this... I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

What doses, and did the use alcohol with it?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Berzerker
Re-read the quote, I wasn't comparing GHB to a knife or a dentist, I was pointing out that there are legal drugs that make people unconscience when they are "under the knife" or go to the dentist. I'm sure you've heard of the layman's phrase "going under the knife" for a medical operation.

You are still being disingenuous, Berz. Just because drug A can be used to do one thing, and drug B can also do the same thing, doesn't mean they should be treated the same way.

[centrifuge]

Originally posted by Vince278


What else could it be used for?

Believe it or not, one of the original uses for GHB was as a bodybuilding supplement. The only problem is that instead of helping people gain muscle and lose fat it made them high.

[Urban Ranger]

That's a mighty good idea. So people will keep doing exercises just to take the supplement.

[Az]

It somewhat enhances the release of the growth hormone, IIRC.