Drugs - Same argument as prostitution, basically.

[canikickit]

Yes, my premise that all drugs should be legalised is pretty much the same as for prostitution.

If you are an adult, of sound mind and body, who is anybody to tell you what you put into your body?
Who is anybody to tell you anything other than things which have a direct effect on others.

If the government deems alcohol legal, how can they ban cannabis which has far less negitive physical effects than drink?

I'll admit, I am not as subjective about this as prostitution, but nevertheless, I fail to see the right of a gov't to control a persons personal habits.

Also despite all these reasons, it would make more sense to have some form of regulation rather than spending money attempting to rehabilitate through prison.

Look at the Netherlands. There, a cocaine user is treated as a sick person not as a criminal (dealing or pushing is a different matter). Not only does this make a higher degree of sense for a nation which considers itself free, but is also better than having the prison system clogged up with people who have different personal habits than the norm.

[canikickit]

So everyone agrees ith me. That's great.

[RedCeltic]

well I can't speek for everybody... but I agree with you. :)

[Anonymous]

I agree, legalisation could bring it out into the sun were it can be made safe

[killingstars]

i agree with you. both should be legalized. why are they treated as criminals. people will go prison for years just because they had some weed growing in their backyard but a rapist or killer can go free. but at the same time if does become legal, they'll tax the fuck out of it.

[canikickit]

Yes, it would be taxed but you would be able to grow your own.
Also I think the price would not neccessarily be as expensive in the first place, because their would not be the risk at stake.


but a rapist or killer can go free
I don't think this justification is neccesary, I just don't think there is any reason for prison in the case of a drug "offence".

[killingstars]

exactly there really is no reason for them to be in prison.

[antieverything]

That is the point of civil liberties. While regulation is (in theory, not in reality) more cost effective and convenient for society as a whole, that is no excuse to limit our personal freedoms.

We use that excuse here and we don't even have socialized medicine!

[canikickit]

I don't understand you point, antieverything.
How is the fact that it would be cheaper used as an excuse?

[Guest]

I believe Cannabis should be legalised as studies have shown it is less damaging than smoking and it's not addictive and habit forming. The Government could also make alot of money out of taking it. It would also significantly free up police hours so they can tackle more serious crime.

I am strongly agaisnt legalising hard drugs such as heroine thought. These drugs are addictive and can kill you. There are not victimless crimes. Once you are addicted to heroine you will commit crimes to pay for heroine so there are victims if yo take hard drugs so in my opinion hard drugs should stay illegal.

[RedCeltic]

I believe we should Legalize marijuana. Tax weed like alcohol and cigarettes. Decriminalize all drug possession for personal use. Substantially increase substance abuse rehabilitation resources.

This would also free up billions of dollars that states like New York spend on prisons that house mainly non violent criminals. Money that would be better used in education.

[canikickit]

Once you are addicted to heroine you will commit crimes to pay for heroine so there are victims if yo take hard drugs

Yes, but then people should be punished for the crimes they commit, not using heroin.
I believe most heroin users would be glad for some help. Prison doesn't help. Hospitals and detox are the answer.

[antieverything]

My point is that governments try to pass restrictive drug laws because they say that drugs are a social problem and cause social problems so are under jurisdiction of government...I disagree, we should be free to do what we want to ourselves on our time.

Or another example, Libertarians say that having public healthcare gives government a compelling interest to restrict personal freedom (keep people from doing dangerous things) as the government has to pay for the consequenses.

I say we should have public health care and personal freedom.

[todorojo]

YES YES YES A PERSONTHAT HAS AREASSON

YOU FEEL STRONG . TU TIENNE SIENTOS FUERTE I HAVE MUICH AMOR PARA TU. YES LEGALIZE EVERYTHING¡ YOPO HAVE PROBLEMS WIT DRUGZ NO PROBLEMA DAR AYUDA PERO TU DRUGAS Y PROBLEMAS TU OLVIDAR PROBLEMAS¿¿¿¿¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
YES I AGREE .... DRUGS ARE PROBLEMS. BUT YOU FORGET WHY U HAVE PROBLEMAS WIT DRUGS.
ARE YOU HURTING THEM R HELPIN U¡¡¡¡¡
REMEMBER, OUR PEOPLE NEED CHOICE.LLÑ........ DO U KNOW THERE PAIN''''''

[Anonymous]

i agree with canickit by keeping it ilegal we cant help much the people that whant to quit it!

[Pinko]

Easy with the caps-lock Tonto.

I think all drugs should be legalised and it should be done globally. Even with something like heroin, it is the shit that gets cut into it that causes the problems, people tend not to overdose if they hve medically pure heroin (and are used to it).
It is thought that the drugs trade accounts for about 8% of the worlds trade, this is a staggering sum of money. Also international terrorists are relying more and more on drug money to fund their activities, taking that away from them would be alot more effective than waging war on a nebulous enemy.

[todorojo]

now i feel very angry what is differenmce en legal and illegal druggs. a doctors perscription? what about the people wit no dr.s'? arethey wrong ? the shaman of my village is wrong becauase he doesnt know or subscribe to you medicine.'? is he wrong cause he save mya aunts life witout a drug compamy selling miricale. i am happy wit the herb.and wit my familys life wit out u drugs pero wit my life wit oure medicina
use as dericted.... no?

[mentalbunny]

Quote: from RedCeltic on 11:25 pm on Sep. 21, 2002
I believe we should Legalize marijuana. Tax weed like alcohol and cigarettes. Decriminalize all drug possession for personal use. Substantially increase substance abuse rehabilitation resources.

This would also free up billions of dollars that states like New York spend on prisons that house mainly non violent criminals. Money that would be better used in education.



My thoughts exactly. I also think hard drug possesion sentences should be shorter, rehab better and dealing class A should be a very long life sentnce, cos that truly is wrong.

To elaborate, drugs like Heroin and Crack have serious effects on their victims, these people need help to get off these evil substances so instead of jail they should go into rehab if caught. It also means that perhaps people will give themselves up if they are addicted and know they can get help. I can imagine it's tough to be caught in the vicous circle of highs and crime, all that emotional torture.

Enough empathy, but dealers should get a tougher deal. I know many of them are addicts themselves and are just doing it for the money so they can get their fix, but it's not right.

If the police spend more time on finding dealers then drug use will go down eventually, as there will be fewer dealers (this will take a long time) but complete with rehab centres for addicts then drug-related crime will drop. And the police can forget about cannabis if it's legalised, and the government can tax it so (hopefully) we can get better social security etc from it (in an ideal world).

personally i prefer weed to alcohol (except when I'm drinking for the taste). I feel shit when i get drunk, weed feels much nicer.

I have no idea what to do about drugs like acid and ecstacy.

[canikickit]

legalise them
the main problem with ecstasy is the shit people cut into it.

[RedCeltic]

In New York, drug laws are considered to be extremly racist. The jails here are overcrowded with non whites, yet it's been statisticly proven that most drug users (exp pot) are white.

[canikickit]

What does that "exp" mean? Except?

[antieverything]

exp...esp...especially...i guess.

mentalbunny, when drugs are legalized there won't be "drug dealers" in the same way that there are now.

[canikickit]

That is just great, all the capitalists and right wingers agree with me. Just organise a referendum and it will all be made law.

Yeah right. Why did none of those schmucks reply to this? Perhaps because it is far too logical for their small brains to disagree with? Probably (we all know none of them are ever actually going to agree with any of us).

(Edited by canikickit at 12:49 am on Sep. 25, 2002)