decline reported in Afghan poppy crop

[PeteH]

People who sell drugs should be put in prison. That being said the biggest problem is our society in general.

Obviously this is something you aren't looking to debate, you have your mind made up.

But I would say, as food for thought at least, I find it strange to view a certain subset of chemicals as fundamentally different than another set of chemicals simply based on the whims of certain goverment officials. I doubt there is a need to point out the obvious nicotine/alcohol/prescription/otc drug deaths, the harm to the public health of fast food, excessive television watching, gambling, shopping, pick your poison.

However, it is only a certain set of chemicals which get deemed "illegal drugs" that demand the harshest penalties available.

Perhaps you just find selling of items in general offensive, I could probably get behind that, but somehow I don't see that as where you are going in this respect

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by PeteH
Obviously this is something you aren't looking to debate, you have your mind made up.

Like I said. I'm willing to pay a high price to take a little drugs of the street.

But I would say, as food for thought at least, I find it strange to view a certain subset of chemicals as fundamentally different than another set of chemicals simply based on the whims of certain goverment officials. I doubt there is a need to point out the obvious nicotine/alcohol/prescription/otc drug deaths, the harm to the public health of fast food, excessive television watching, gambling, shopping, pick your poison.

Shopping?

Perhaps you just find selling of items in general offensive, I could probably get behind that, but somehow I don't see that as where you are going in this respect

It's not only that it's offensive. I would like to see this type of person in prison.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Kidicious
I'm not a proponent of the way things are done now, but making drugs legal is no good either. People who sell drugs should be put in prison. That being said the biggest problem is our society in general.

Legal, regulated, and taxed. And use the money to fund anti-addiction programs. That's the best solution to the problem.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Sava
Legal, regulated, and taxed. And use the money to fund anti-addiction programs. That's the best solution to the problem.

Making what is immoral legal is never a good solution to the problem. In fact it is not solution to the problem. Not that there is one. Maybe if the govt did the right thing more often people would respect the law.

[Fake Boris]

This will hurt the Afghan economy

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Kidicious
I don't believe that kids buy drugs because they are expensive. I think that preventing a little amount of drugs from being consumed by our kids is worth a high cost.

Here we go again... there is no evidence at all that prohibition limits drug consumption, in fact legalization in the Netherlands has brought a decline in marijuana consumption.

[Kidlicious]

That makes no sense at all.

[Fake Boris]

Why? Semantically it does, and statistically the numbers are there to corroborate. What's your definition of "making sense"?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
Why? Semantically it does, and statistically the numbers are there to corroborate. What's your definition of "making sense"?

The burden is on you. Show me how something that costs more is consumed more. Also, how exactly do you propose to legalize drugs. Please give me specifics.

[MRT144]

drug wars are for losers and republicants

[Dinner]

I prefer the Taliban approach which is to simply shoot everyone who grows poppies.

[chequita guevara]

Prohibition has never worked in a free society. It only increases the resources of organized crime and drives people to use harder stuff, since the penalties are the same. Furthermore, as the European experience has shown, decriminization has led to less problems.

[Fake Boris]

EDIT: re Kid

No. The statistics are there, it's up to the specialists to determine how it was made possible.

There are so many factors that can come into play in a market. Was it that legalization de-glamoured the stuff? That it was accompanied by a sensible prevention policy instead of a repressive one? That people just got tired of it? Maybe the diminution was unrelated to legalization and arose from other causes, I mean how could I know? The point though is that legalization does not entail higher consumption.

[mindseye]

Maybe it would be better if the Afghani farmers diversified their crops? I, for one, would not be the least bit unhappy if the world supply of high quality hashish increased.

warned (...) that drug lords were expanding their influence in the Afghan government

The power of language.

Farmers expanding their influence with the governemnt:
- if the crop is tobacco, he's a "lobbyist"
- if the crop is poppies, he's a "drug lord"

The difference decides who will get your money: subsistance farming families in developing nations ... or large American corporations. So stamp out that butt and fire up your hookah. Globalization starts at home. Light up in solidarity with third world farmers!

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I prefer the Taliban approach which is to simply shoot everyone who grows poppies.