All drugs should be legal.
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We have been fighting a fake "war on drugs" for decades and I think it is time we stop.
We love drugs
Drug use has been an epidemic across the United States for basically the entire century. Intoxicants from alcohol to prescription pills. We certainly have drugs deeply rooted into our culture. Teenagers and some adults commonly use drugs for fun in recreational terms. We have a history of drug and alcohol use. Let's face it, as Americans, we love to get fucked up.
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Laws dont really work...or make sense.
Some dangerous drugs in the United States are completely illegal. Such as methamphetamine, heroin , and cocaine. These drugs have devastating effects on their users. These drugs are completely illegal at this point and if we don't hand human beings responsibility they will never learn from their actions. The funny part is we have a system that hands out billions of dollars in dangerous drugs. Its the United States health care system. I have seen many people fall hard to legal prescription drugs such as pain killers, alcohol(completely legal) or Xanax as much as I have seen those who fall to illegal drugs. The fact that laws exist does not stop these drugs from being created. It does not stop people from buying and selling these drugs. It does not stop people from consuming these drugs. That is the bottom line. If we take limitations away from humans the curiosity goes along with it. If these drugs are all legal it will be our responsibility as humans not to consume these drugs, and if we do, to do it in a responsible manor. Restricting drugs only leads to further curiosity.
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Americans will rebel
Humans are rebellious by nature. Especially Americans. If you tell us we cant have something we scream about freedom and go get what we want anyway. So therefore the laws are basically rendered useless when it comes to drugs. I can get drugs just as quickly as I can milk from the corner store and a law wont stop me from consuming. The idea of educating people on drugs will likely slow the consumption. Ignorance is worse than drug addiction, in fact ignorance seems to cause drug addiction. We rebel against society and we are curious beings. We WILL more than likely try drugs in our lives.
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Sympathy is the key
Instead of treating drug abuse like a crime we should be looking at it more sympathetically. Drug abuse is an illness. These people need help. Treating them like criminals will only put them back on the streets and continue the cycle. We need to be putting drug addicts into the right treatment immediately instead of locking them in a cell for three days and letting them back into the world of addiction. We should be handing these addicts clean needles on the street so that disease shouldnt be spread. We should be taking our children out to show them these addicts on the street. Show our children to feed them and give them clean needles. Let our children know this is where you end up if you get addicted to drugs. This kind of hands on education will make the true difference. Laws dont stop shit. Education is the key. We should be free to an open market. If we can buy cigarettes, proven to kill, why cant we snort cocaine? The logic makes no sense.
We know one thing for certain: prohibition doesn't work. The war on drugs was lost before it started.
Putting it in control of private companies and the government is a challenge, but it is the only logical solution. I cannot see one decent argument to keep things as they are.
For starters, because it makes one insane; no arguments here. Even in its purest form, it makes people malfunctioning. For a time, they're able to 'hide' the addiction; but, it soon affects their bottom line.
Most poor people can't afford coke, so they become crack heads, literally debilitating in functioning...forever trying to get their next hit.
Legalizing drugs means taxation. This would still make it cheaper on the street than in the store; because, people will try to avoid the taxes...just like people who buy cigs from people selling them 'illegally' outside stores, etc.
In theory, legalizing drugs 'sounds' like the solution; but, anyone who's ever seen firsthand how 'the crackman's got 'em and their...just drop', I'd rather drugs remain illegal.
I'd also prefer that addicts go to working farms growing foods for shelters while detoxing, than being of little use in prisons. I agree with you on that one. People who are ill need help to heal; not just sit in wait to get back out to do the same thing...that's insanity.
Legalizing drugs would only work to make the street stuff more attractive; because, most people don't want it known that they're an addict. And, lastly, that's what people who use are...whether they accept it or not.
Well, just one more thing: I am 100% for medicinal marijuana in place of the psychotropic drugs and pain meds for people with chronic illnesses. The research is too profound to ignore. I'm even a proponent of allowing people to grow up to 4 plants in their home for personal use. This would keep people from buying it off the streets, often mixed with all kinds of impurities, aka PCP for one.
Best regards.
Peace.
Its just simple to see the chaos of the drug industry when it comes to prediction pills, alcohol, tobacco, and other various legal drugs. They are just as bad except they are within the system. It makes no logical sense at all. They claim these drugs have positive effects but they are still only practicing medicine. We have no idea what tons of these drugs are doing. Its a contradiction. Not to mention the law never stopped anyone from using drugs.
Yes. ...to know someone lost a decent job for being jailed for a joint.
It's sad...the rambunctious (normal!) child (mostly males) placed on Ritalin in 1st grade, etc.
I'm sure you've heard that POTUS is talking about taking a page from Duterte, seeking the death penalty for some dealers. This should spark interesting conversation to say the least.
Peace.
Well I tried plenty of drugs in my youth. I literally had to actively avoid addiction haha. So for those who fall into addiction, I look at it like just a part of society. Its similar to mental illness. In my hood it was normal to try all sorts of drugs as a teenager. Laws never stopped us and it was rarely life threatening. The worst threat was from the laws. I've never actually even snorted coke or done any hard drugs. Might add a little bit of an interesting turn of events in this conversation
Millions would love to know your secret. I will chalk it up to God's Hedge of Protection around you, and a lot of people praying for you! ;+)
Ah, this explains a lot. Many are "addicted" to cannabis; and function well in society as far as raising families and working everyday, which is why I'd rather the government legalize it on some level as opposed to the underground street stuff.
I equate it to smoking regular cigarettes and drinking beer; but, it has more serious health hazards, including eating brain cells (which might explain why most addicts don't have the strongest long-term memory; and, the carcinogens are higher than nicotine). Of course, many could prove this research false; while sharing its benefits. It's even linked to helping children with autism, so medicinally I support its use.
Personally, I deem the body a Holy Temple; and, consider all synthetic drugs more detrimental than good, when used non-medicinally. While marijuana is natural, it, too has its negative affects as a habit; which is why I believe it should be regulated on some level.
You're one of the fortunate ones. Many of those from all areas...the poorest of poor, to richest of rich, have suffered the demise of street drugs. Sadly, the lyrics in music makes it 'cool'; and without a lot of guidance and training to see through this veneer many 'fall'.
Again, it will be interesting to see how much push back the POTUS gets if he uses his power of the pen to go the way of Duterte. Stay tuned.
Peace.
So does alcohol. You can call being high "malfunctioning", but it is just semantics. And you interchange "user" with "addict" all the time. They are not necessarily the same.
Well, that's an assumption, and one that seem to operate with the logic that some people might operate outside of the law, ergo we shouldn't change things. Yes, some people buy dodgy cigarettes, but most don't.
Why? I don't understand your logic here at all.
They wouldn't be in prison, most of them, like most alcoholics, if drugs were legal.
That's a gigantic leap. I don't accept this at all. Why should we let how addicts behave dictate the law? We don't do it with alcohol.
Uh, no. They're not. Unless you want to argue that everyone who likes a beer is an alcoholic.
Alcohol is worse than cannabis on so many levels.
Okay, semantically, users are never addicts; just as drinkers are never alcoholics. Got it.
You’re right about taxation. Most would fall in line, except those who are shady any way, and of course, those who don’t want it known that they use. After all, just as all drugs, there are stigmas attached that keep one's personal life separate from the professional life for obvious reasons.
The logic is complicated. If, let’s say a synthetic version of pure coke, aka crack cocaine, was legalized, there would be more ‘instant addicts’. Those familiar with this attest that one hit and they were forever ruined…I guess like heroin…again….an addiction where all the person wants to do is ‘get high’. Even in its purest form, users/addicts, most often become dependent on it to function.
Yes, I interchanged the two; because the line is so fine, that it becomes semantics. Okay, the ‘user’ may only use on weekends. But, in truth they ‘live’ for the weekend, thus addicted on some level.
Regarding prison, many commit crimes to support their addiction, so of these is whom I speak.
You’re right about addicts not being allowed to define the law; but, I’d just as soon not create laws that would create addicts. If you’re wondering if I wished alcohol was more strongly regulated, you’re right. LOL…but, I know that’s not going to change anytime soon. I can only do what’s right for me.
On the last point, that’s right…as mentioned… anyone who uses regularly is an addict on some level...Of course, this does not speak to the person who drinks once a year, or ‘every blue moon’…that would be ridiculous. I’m speaking of users who, if they were honest, couldn’t imagine life without whatever it is they use; be it daily/weekly, etc.
Addicts come in all stripes…There are millions of food addicts of which I speak. I could go on; but, I’d love food to be regulated on some levels…I mean honestly, some people should not be allowed to buy that double-meat cheeseburger. I’m all for doing things that are beneficial to the well-being of the addict. After all, when people need help, the laws should be there to protect them, even if it is from themselves.
Btw, agree or not, thanks for reading my post and taking the time to dissect it per discussion.
Best regards.
Peace.
Yes, it's nice to have a pleasant, grown-up conversation and be able to disagree comfortably.
I think I understand your opposition to legalisation of all drugs; drugs can be bad and drugs can kill people. It's not an unreasonable position.
I think then the debate comes down to how bad it will be and how many people will die. 37000 Americans die on roads every year. A similar number will die at the hands of gunfire. 50000 die of drug overdoses. Put aside the fact that America will not be banning cars or guns any time soon, the question is would legalisation of drugs affect that last figure?
It seems to me that better regulation of drugs would lower deaths by overdose. If users/addicts (I'll come to this in a minute!) use clean, consistent substances, accidental overdose will significantly reduce.
I don't buy into your loose definition of "addiction". The nature of drug addiction is that the need to feed the addiction is all consuming. It isn't fair to liken someone who goes a bit crazy most weekends to someone who is a junkie. I know lots of people who did the "weekender" lifestyle in their twenties and thirties, who hardly, if ever, go near drugs now they have settled down and had families. None of them were addicts.
I believe that this is apocryphal. Some people are clearly more susceptible to addiction than others, but that one-hit-and-you're-hooked is not a thing.
I take your point, but I am still not sure about the addicts thing. Certainly, there are lots of people who choose to harm to their bodies because they find it pleasurable. And what do we do? We let them. We give them salient, useful information, and they often ignore it in the pursuit of instant gratification. We allow them to make an informed decision.
So why not do it with drugs?
I do understand your discomfort. My position is that some of the problems with drugs are caused by their prohibition. If we controlled them and regulated them like we do tobacco and alcohol, some of these problems would go away.
But some people would still die from drugs, and some people will become addicts, and this seems to be at the crux of your opposition to it. Like I said, it's a fair point.
I can't provide you with stats that will prove that legalisation will have a positive effect; they don't exist. I just think that horse has already bolted with drugs. They're out there, and at the moment they are controlled by very bad men doing very bad things. I am not exactly capitalism's strongest advocate, but I think that strong regulation of the selling and promotion of drugs will be a lot safer than what we have right now.
I have thought on this topic for a long time.
It is not illegal to drive a tractor-trailer truck but it is illegal for me to drive one of these trucks because I do not have a license.
All drugs should be legal but require a license to use.
For safer drug the license conditions would be easy: be 18 or over and that's it.
For more dangerous drugs the license conditions should be stricter, i.e. take a training course.
For really dangerous drugs the license would require you to take it at a facility with health care professionals in the building.
You would lose your license if you sold any to a minor, driving under the influence, committing a crime under the influence, overdosing etc.
I wrote a style guide (link here)for STEM posts that you might find interesting (or not, up to you).
I really like that idea. It is similar to the way drugs already are in the prescription sector.
I think I might do a post on that topic: Legalize Drugs But You Need A License To Take Them.
I think it is problematic, and it is possible that license holders could become de facto dealers. And would people want to be on a database saying that they are a registered drug user?
Yeah, these could be problems and things I will have to consider if I blog about it.
I will definitely read it. Sounds like an awesome post
Good post and I agree.
I actually have argued on my page that getting high is a human rights issue.
Anyway, followed and upvoted.
Coke makes you insane, lol. I must be bat shit then. Coke is shit though, and if an asshole takes it, then you have a coked up asshole, but insain?
I agree with you @johnroomusic it's been proven in many countries that legalisation is the way forward. Drugs won the war. All the laws have done is put people in prison and waste billions.
If that money was used to treat addicts and deal with the mental health crisis in America maybe, just maybe, less people would feel the need to turn hard drugs, and the ones that still do would get some treatment. Peace.
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if something has become an addict tool. lousy to get rid of. and will be lifelong dependence
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I am in remission for 3 yrs, all thanks to Cannabis oil, so all power to the flower and Natural medicine. Interesting read thanks