Should drugs be legalized?

Hey peeps,

Do you think drugs should be legalized?

Personally, I do not take any drugs whatsoever (I actually detest them). Except for caffeine (mmmm... late) and the occasional alcoholic drink.

However, I think I'd like them to be legalized. Here's some of my reasons.

1)We could control the quality of the substances and the distribution (thus making it a lot safer).
2)It would pound a huge hole in the black market and organized drug gangs.
3)It would take much of the violent crime off the street (also burglaries, etc).
4)We could try and help people who were hooked on them by offering programs, as opposed to criminalizing them - which does no good whatsoever.
5) It would free up a lot of our resources to go to other places (Police time, legal system, cash).


What do you think?

I do feel drugs should be legalised for all of your points Rob.

There is an argument about kids getting them but they do anyway of the dealer scum, one of which operates in the local play park who I would willingly smite from this planet!!!

Legalise it, tax it, regulate it, make sure its not cut with battery acid, put age rstrictions on it etc and instead of governments wasting millions of pounds on a war that cannot be won, start making a profit via taxes.

I'd prefer if that crap wasn't available but if legal and people are educated, think along lines of cigarettes; then we could allow market forces to do the job the governments and police cant do, control the flow.

Regards,

Den.

Rob im being very nitpickity sorry, wheres your sceptic point? AShould this have not been in the cafe? Or did I miss something? Just observation mate

Some good point there Den.

I really don't like drugs at all, and I hate having them on the street. But I just feel we could gain a measure of control over them if they were legalized. As I don't believe the "war on drugs are working".

I know the career criminals wouldn't suddenly vanish, but i think it would definitely hurt them pretty badly.

I understand the point of kids getting sucked in too - but I'd try and spend some good tax dollars on educating them.

I liked that episode of Bullshit that P&T did.

R.

Which ones that Rob?

Season and episode?

Den

Hey Den,

It's second season vol. one.

Do you have that season?

R.

Yea just been a while, memory and all that,

Den.

History presents us with the perfect example of making substances illegal hands over a tremendous amount of power to organized crime - US Prohibition 1920-1933. This single pious, ill-conceived experiment ensured that we will remember the names Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Bugsy Siegal and all their successors for a very long time. Once Prohibition was lifted it was too late and they were ready to carry on with all the other vices that were rather stupidly outlawed gambling, prostitution and, of course, drugs.

When drugs like opium and cocaine weren't outlawed in the UK there was no widespread drug problem. In fact, only a minority used them. Despite Conan Doyle's depictions of the famous fictitious Victorian cocaine addict Sherlock Holmes visiting opium dens there is no concrete evidence that these places actually existed in the UK!

Good post Jamie... As you said, prohibition caused many more problems. And I'm not down with the whole "slippery slope" notion.

Also, there is a personal freedom issue as well. As much as I detest the use of drugs - I don't see it as any of my business to tell other people what they should or shouldn't do (as long as it doesn't effect other people).

Quote :

Also, there is a personal freedom issue as well. As much as I detest the use of drugs - I don't see it as any of my business to tell other people what they should or shouldn't do (as long as it doesn't effect other people).

I agree. So long as no one is doing anything against their will and children are protected I don't see any rational reason for prohibition. The taboo nature of drug usage is a big part of the attraction. This is not to say I would ever agree to a law that allowed under 18s to buy them - anymore than I would argue a case for the legalization of organized crime revenue like child pornography or child prostitution - but it is that social barrier, which helps create the illegal subcultre where most of the problem occur.

The whole drug abuse thing is not a black and white issue, but what does seem like an overall rule if you ban a vice then you immediately hand it over to those who make vice their business.

True - as long as it doesn't interfere with your personal responsibilities - to be committed to your family and being a good citizen, etc.

Yeah, I'd agree with you there also. Would only be allowed to those who were 18+

It still seems very hypocritical of the governments to allow drugs like alcohol and tobacco, but yet something cannabis is terrible. The amount of cash and resources involved in cleaning up those two drugs is astronomical.

Not to mention what alcohol does to people on a Friday and Saturday night. Now, I like the odd drink, but I know when I've had enough. Unlike the binge culture that's growing in the UK and Ireland.