Communism and Drugs

[sidewriting]

What stance would a communist government take on drug use, would it be similar to the liberal agendas proposed by liberal and social democrat parties?
Ultimately I just want to know whether drug use is incompatible with socialism?

For example would a communist movement end the worldwide, (and lets be frank) ridiculous prohibition of cannabis?

[Raúl Duke]

Ideally yes, a socialist/communist society will create a rational drug policy.

However, some here may want you to believe that a "socialist" war on drugs is necessary and that "real revolutionaries" don't take drugs since they have to focus 24/7 on working towards revolution (i.e. the revolutionary as a monk). A few might even tell you the same conservative sound-bites concerning drugs!

[Bubbles]

Drug use act reactionary in our capitalist society and should not be advocated.

Drug policys in a future communist society would probably be decided by the community and could vary from places and times. Communism/socialism or capitalism in itself is not pro/against drugs.



However, some here may want you to believe that a "socialist" war on drugs is necessary and that "real revolutionaries" don't take drugs since they have to focus 24/7 on working towards revolution (i.e. the revolutionary as a monk).
Some of us socialists don't want to advocate liberal drug policy's since it has fucked up and shattered our families.

[Obs]

"420 smoke weed every day" is my stance on this.

[Widerstand]

Some of us socialists don't want to advocate liberal drug policy's since it has fucked up and shattered our families.

You don't happen to relate to straight edge culture by any chance?

[bcbm]

Some of us socialists don't want to advocate liberal drug policy's since it has fucked up and shattered our families.

given that you live in a country with some fairly harsh drug laws, you sure it is "liberal drug policy" that is to blame?

[Raúl Duke]

Some of us socialists don't want to advocate liberal drug policy's since it has fucked up and shattered our families.

Some of this shattering has occurred due to harsh drug laws.

In nations with liberal drug laws, like Portugal, a lot of problems 'associated' with drug use were reduced.

[Imposter Marxist]

The legalization of weed in a revolutionary country could do wonders. Cannabis was made illegal because the paper Bourgeoisie didn't want to be run out of biz by the easier to produce, stronger, and enviromentally friendly hemp. Hemp can make anything. (EDIT) What I mean, is that hemp could be used not only to fight the Bourgeoisie, but also provide cheap easily produced, yet durable cloths and supplies to a revolutionary society.

[TheSamsquatch]

In my ideal Communist society, you would have complete control over your own body. You would be free to do whatever you want to yourself, as long as it doesn't affect anybody else.

[Glenn Beck]

Depends on the communist government and the cultural and social circumstances it faces. Drug prohibition isn't inherently a communist issue. The policy would likely be close to what most people in the society believe. Expect some hangover from pre-revolutionary attitudes. Cannabis legalization in western countries is likely, things seem to already be headed in that direction under capitalism anyway.

Also, a socialist system has less economic incentive to lock up tons of people. Due to among other things the lack of an open labor market, prisoners are an overall drain on resources.

[Bubbles]

given that you live in a country with some fairly harsh drug laws, you sure it is "liberal drug policy" that is to blame?
I believe that if we would stop trying to control the drug market it would explode. If alcohol gets cheaper, other drugs more obtainable the use I think would increase. Note that I don't have any scientific backup for what I claim. And I don't think harsh drug laws was the problem.


You don't happen to relate to straight edge culture by any chance?
Hell no, and i'm not practicing the ideas of it either. Many sXe's i met is sitting up on their high horse thinking they're better then others.

In our capitalist society i want to shift focus from the crime using drug, to the problem for the individual and offer help, and in longer gone cases force help people to get off addiction depending on drug type. What I've learned is that cannabis is not so harmful as you think, so that should be handled differently from say opiates.

[Agnapostate]

I'm not sure. The only thing I'm sure about is that the majority of people with strong opinions on drug legalization (mainly the pseudo-libertarians), haven't conducted a thorough economic analysis of the issue. The increased prevalence of many drugs can be said to produce increased negative externalities.

[tracher999]

"420 smoke weed every day" is my stance on this.

idd:thumbup1:

[Boboulas]

Drug laws only help those who control the flow of drugs and those who produce it, the drug lords in south america or afganistan for example. Usualy its working class people that suffer from such capitalist policies and makes responsible drug users into criminals.

[Quail]

This topic has been debated to death lately. A quick search would probably bring up quite a few long discussions on drugs.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

A communist education system would use real logic towards drugs so that it is know the real consequences of drugs and how harmful something like cannabis actually is. I think through this misconceptions will be challenged and a more tolerant and open drug policy will be able to develop.

[DaComm]

I see not any reason why it is drugs of all variety cannot be totally legalized in a Communist society. Having said that, I still believe that there should be certain age restrictions devised by the community as a whole to determine when drugs may be used, that is, for the safety and growing health of children. I do not think it is a good idea to allow todlers to smoke, simply because it is a health concern.

[Tablo]

When Communism is achieved you can do anything you want to your body as long as you are a contributing member of society. So, I don't care if you smoke meth a chug battery acid as long as you do some work.

[Kenco Smooth]

Anyone opposed to drug legalisation under capitalism or communism doesn't understand the issue.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

I wonder what this neoliberalistic argument have here to do? the argument about that people should be able to do exact Whatever they want to theire bodies, so if some one wants to commit suicide we shouldnt try to stop him and to give him mental care? I have a mate at my work who is a former alcoholic, he has told me that he was forced against his will to stop drinking and forced to go trough rehabilitation and ofcourse he is just glad about that today. This super individualism is just an idealistic thought that in someway evrything will be allright ore at least you souldnt feel anny responsebility towards other peoples problem, so that you just can contineu with your life. As ´socialists we should not embrace neoliberalism and hard core individualism, but instead talk about collectivism and the importance of se the structures behind whats going on and to analyse it.

About drugs we cant generalize them all, there is a hughe difference betwen heroin and x-tacy ore glue. Cannabis has been proved to be quite harmful and is allready deply rooted in moste industrialized (and in some unindustrilized) countries and should maybe be legalized so that you can get some sort of control over it, but when it comes to opiates they are extreamly adicting and destructive towards its user and will moste likely just cause trubble. We cant ignore that heavy drugs has the biggest effects on the working class and especially the lumpenproletariat, its allso a way to keep the working class splitted and occupied instead of uniting and struggling against the borgeousie. I remember to have heard that both IRA and Black Panther Party chased away drug dealers and other scum frome the workers living area by force, a good example for the rest of the left i think.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

allow toddlers to smoke, simply because it is a health concern.

It's not a health concern with adults for some reason?

[DaComm]

It's not a health concern with adults for some reason?


Smoking at a young age can cause seriously growth hindrances and mental illnesses. The effect of smoke on a 40 yr. old is not nearly as bad as if it was on a young kid who is still growing.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I don't know why I even read these kinds of threads anymore. They just make me more depressed than ever about the possibility of a future egalitarian society that wouldn't make me want to eat a fucking bullet.

Also, way to attribute opposing philosophical schools to your opponents arguments! Suddenly wanting to end a brutal war that has destabilized nations worldwide, from the mountains of Colombia to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, and has cost thousands their lives and millions their freedom is a "neoliberal" idea, likely a byproduct of bourgeois "individualism". "Drugs ruined my life! I've known drug addicts! And drugs are baaaaaad!" I wasn't aware that anecdotal evidence qualified as an argument for or against anything.

I hope that a lot of people on this board never get anywhere close to any kind of powerful position.

[Blackscare]

Cannabis has been proved to be quite harmful and is allready deply rooted in moste industrialized (and in some unindustrilized) countries and should maybe be legalized so that you can get some sort of control over it, but when it comes to opiates they are extreamly adicting and destructive towards its user and will moste likely just cause trubble.

It has not been "proven" in any definitive sense that cannabis is inherently unhealthy. Perhaps you get more lung damage smoking it than, say, tobacco. Fine, but that doesn't rule out the multiple other methods (vaporizers, edibles, etc).


Also, more as a side note than a serious challenge, because it doesn't really matter at the end of the day, but opiate use actually in and of itself has very few adverse effects on the body, aside from extreme addiction and constipation. Most of the health risks associated with opiate use have more to do with the related lifestyle and things like the sharing of needles.

[this is an invasion]

Some of us socialists don't want to advocate liberal drug policy's since it has fucked up and shattered our families.

Appeals to emotion are not legitimate arguments. It sucks when drug use destroys families, and people who push hard drugs (meth, crack, heroin, etc.) should be kicked out of neighborhoods/hurt for making money off of hurting people. But at the same time, people have a choice over what to do with their bodies.



For the record, both my dad and uncle have spent years in prison for drug related offenses. I know first hand what drugs can do to families.

[Agnapostate]

But at the same time, people have a choice over what to do with their bodies.

The nature of negative externalities makes it an issue of how personal drug use can affect third parties.

[this is an invasion]

The nature of negative externalities makes it an issue of how personal drug use can affect third parties.

Not gonna deny that drug use can negatively effect relationships. But I am gonna say that ultimately it is up to an individual if they want to use drugs, and then up to the people close her if they want to support her if she chooses to want to get off drugs, cut her out of their lives, or join her.

I don't think there should be any body that makes drug use "illegal."

[Stranger Than Paradise]

It has not been "proven" in any definitive sense that cannabis is inherently unhealthy. Perhaps you get more lung damage smoking it than, say, tobacco. Fine, but that doesn't rule out the multiple other methods (vaporizers, edibles, etc).

This isn't true tobacco is more harmful to the lungs than Cannabis.

I would also add that there are plenty things consumed everyday which are not considered unhealthy which can have bad effects. I don't think because something is unhealthy access to it should be restricted necessarily.


The DEA's Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young concluded: "In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care."

http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/53

[Bubbles]

Appeals to emotion are not legitimate arguments. It sucks when drug use destroys families, and people who push hard drugs (meth, crack, heroin, etc.) should be kicked out of neighborhoods/hurt for making money off of hurting people. But at the same time, people have a choice over what to do with their bodies.

How is empirics not valid?

Why do people need to have the choice over their own bodies? If the community says it's not allowed to use drugs, you'll just have to conform to that.

[stella2010]

AUSTRALIA Legalization of marijuana WILL be coming into effect. The law pertaining to the drug is a revenue raising scheme. Asis the traffic situation. Adoption of leftist policies in Australia will mean that crime prevention will come into place through new legal reforms on marijuana. This is a must for Australia if we are going to progress this outpost of western libertarianism.

The corruption in Australia runs deep shit into the police force that the drug may as well be legal. The judges down here in Australia are soooo very soft on the drugs in dealing and even in commercial supply, its only a matter of time.

THere is one thing for sure. Legal marijuana is better for crime prevention.

The force here in Australia administers this task now for themselves. Most do not care and would prefer crime prevention.

I spit on their oath. Its a shame.