Legalise all drugs

[Spec]

Cheap and/or safe....?

Depends for who and where.

Spec.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by C0ckney
think of the situation with alcohol, i mean how many people drink moonshine or similar stuff? not very many, becasue a legal, cheap and safe alternative is available.

Moonshine might be cheaper but it sure doesn't taste good.

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Anyway, none of you guys really have much experience with the problems the drugs cause, so your opinions are skewed by a lack of consideration of a major part of the equation.

...or the problems (from a medical perspective at least) that cigarettes, alcohol, or fatty foods cause, yet we don't ban those do we.

no one says that drugs don't cause problems, or at least have the potential to cause problems. however, the issue is that making them illegal doesn't address these problems, and in fact, exacerbates them in many ways.

[ColdPhoenix]

I use illicit substances recreationally on occassion; big nights like NYE etc. A large number of my friends do as well and we all have decent jobs and are contributing members of society.

As has been said, they're already very easy to get hold of, and most people who want to use them do so already. The benefits would far outweigh these costs in my opinion.

Benefits:
- Increased goverment income: The drugs themselves are very cheap to produce but there will always have a premium. Currently this goes to organised crime and is closely related to such activities as people trafficking which is just disgusting. I'd rather this went to pay for healthcare, education and let's not forget the folks who just don't feel like working, God bless 'em!
- Decreased government expenditure: The "war on drugs" isn't cheap. Just think about all the extra police, prision space and administration that goes into it.
- Personal safety: I'd rather not meet some criminal who I barely know. The people I buy off seem okay but I'd rather go into an off-licence or whatever.
- Health: If you're buying from a proper shop then you'll be getting good quality merchandise that hasn't been cut with god knows what to increase the dealer's margin.

Costs:
- More addicts: It will happen, there are people who only don't use because it's illegal. This will undoubtedly lead to some ruined lives but it is individual choice about how they run their lives.

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Kidicious
Moonshine might be cheaper but it sure doesn't taste good.

indeed.

the point though is that people don't drink illicit alcohol, becasue legal, cheap and safe alternatives are available.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by ColdPhoenix
Costs:
- More addicts: It will happen, there are people who only don't use because it's illegal. This will undoubtedly lead to some ruined lives but it is individual choice about how they run their lives.

The thing is this isn't about some individuals. This is about a society. The USA is the most addicted society in the world probably. Why are we like that? That is the problem that needs to be solved. That greatly outways problems that keeping drugs illegal causes including the cost of the drug war. Making drugs legal is the wrong way to do on this. I would agree to some changes though.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by C0ckney


indeed.

the point though is that people don't drink illicit alcohol, becasue legal, cheap and safe alternatives are available.

I don't know how good that point is. Alcohol is still a very serious problem.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by Kidicious

Well you don't think like a drug addict. Drug addicts don't think twice about buying crack from their neighbor.

I think like someone who was formerly a regular casual drug user, which the vast majority of drug users are.

The kind of people you are describing need serious help, if someone's that ****ed up I'd rather use my tax money to prescribe them free crack or offer them treatment than have them buy black market crack which they end up funding with street crime, burglary and prostitution.

Would people start taking crack because it wasn't illegal? I tried lots of stuff that was illegal but I'd never try crack.

[Krill]

Alot depends on price and what the long term effects where. IF a drug had no social downsides, wasn't addictive and had decent mind altering propertites and was fairly cheap (compared to student prices for alcohol for example) then I'd definately consider trying it.

[MikeH]

You want LSD or magic mushrooms. Both are cheap.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Kidicious


No you are sick of smoking.

Actually no. I quit enjoy a smoke actually.

Every attempt at quitting was for financial reasons. That is no longer a concern. My last attempt at quitting would have been many years ago now.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by ColdPhoenix
I use illicit substances recreationally on occassion; big nights like NYE etc. A large number of my friends do as well and we all have decent jobs and are contributing members of society.

Almost every drug user I know has a job.

edit: I do know a couple alcoholics who don't work however. Nasty drug.

[Krill]

I don;t want to start halucingating in chem labs though. That might lead to some difficult questions...

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by MikeH
LSD

Hens teeth, in recent times. Or have you found otherwise?

[Berzerker]

Addiction means that you use the substance even if it causes you or someone else harm.

Nonsense, damn near everyone uses something that causes them harm. Its called life... You drink alot of coffee? Are you an addict in "need" of our help? We'll let a rapist out early to make room for your addiction.

That's why I say that simply using drugs like heroine and meth is the sign of addiciton. It's harmfull to yourself and others to do that.

These drugs aren't harmful, people harm themselves. And if you're gonna accuse millions of people of harming others, back it up with proof and not GUILT BY ASSOCIATION... or some ******* stereotype you got rattling around between your ears.