General Interest > Tacitus' Realm
What illegal drugs would you legalize?
Maximilian:
If the US ends the drug war, which I do believe will happen eventually, then there will be a big increase in the number of treatment centers, and the health aspect of treating addiction will probably receive some of the government funding now going to police, jails, etc. So when we talk about why and how the drug war should end, it's all important to discuss the topic of the impacts that it might have on society, and the solutions that might work at preventing or treating some of the side effects of free access to strong intoxicants. I don't really believe the studies about people saying they won't use illegal drugs if they were made legal. When corporations are allowed to sell these products, it will be in their financial interest in expanding their customer base, which involves heavy marketing. If cocaine and heroin is produced by professionals and companies, then they will probably be much safer to use, and the dosage much easier to predict and overdoses less likely, which is a good thing. But making illegal drugs safer, and easier to access, and acceptable in society will mean that more people use them. To ignore this is to ignore human nature. Will employers still drug test or will that become illegal and an invasion of privacy? What age will someone be able to buy cocaine from the corner store? How many OxyContins would a person be allowed to buy everyday?
With the end of the drug war, will come a boon in the treatment industry, and it will probably be government funded. I do believe the treatment industry is much more effective in dealing with these problems than the justice system, for obvious reasons. But if people here are so anti-treatment and anti-AA, I am curious what they propose to do with the many new people who become addicted to the very addictive drugs listed in this list we all voted on. There will be many unintended side effects that must be dealt with, and failing to address them will mean the continuation of the drug war because people will be afraid of these effects if there is not a rational solution to offer as an alternative to the existing system.
Shadyacres:
I think any negative effects of such a policy would be outweighed by the obvious positive ones, like taking all that money out of the hands of Mexican and American organized crime and putting a big chunk of it (via taxes) into the US Treasury. And getting those drugs off the corner and off the school yards and into a liquor store or drug store, which would only sell to adults. There may be an initial spike in drug use but I think that would equalize when the novelty wore off. And if more people need treatment, let them get it. My main beef is with teen programs from which you CANNOT leave. If all drugs were legal and regulated, teens would have a harder time getting them. And if Mom or Dad could go to the liquor store, buy a joint and smoke it, maybe they wouldn't be so uptight and intolerant. Maybe they would not be so quick to condemn their own children to a thought reform gulag.
Anne Bonney:
--- Quote from: "Maximilian" ---But if people here are so anti-treatment and anti-AA,
--- End quote ---
Wait...who said anything about being "anti-treatment"?
Froderik:
--- Quote from: "none-ya" ---How about over the counter sodium pentathol. 'Cause every body needs to get thier truth on. Especially around here
--- End quote ---
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :rocker: :rofl: :rofl: :cheers: :rasta:
Stonewall:
--- Quote from: "Maximilian" ---If the US ends the drug war, which I do believe will happen eventually, then there will be a big increase in the number of treatment centers, and the health aspect of treating addiction will probably receive some of the government funding now going to police, jails, etc. So when we talk about why and how the drug war should end, it's all important to discuss the topic of the impacts that it might have on society, and the solutions that might work at preventing or treating some of the side effects of free access to strong intoxicants. I don't really believe the studies about people saying they won't use illegal drugs if they were made legal. When corporations are allowed to sell these products, it will be in their financial interest in expanding their customer base, which involves heavy marketing. If cocaine and heroin is produced by professionals and companies, then they will probably be much safer to use, and the dosage much easier to predict and overdoses less likely, which is a good thing. But making illegal drugs safer, and easier to access, and acceptable in society will mean that more people use them. To ignore this is to ignore human nature. Will employers still drug test or will that become illegal and an invasion of privacy? What age will someone be able to buy cocaine from the corner store? How many OxyContins would a person be allowed to buy everyday?
With the end of the drug war, will come a boon in the treatment industry, and it will probably be government funded. I do believe the treatment industry is much more effective in dealing with these problems than the justice system, for obvious reasons. But if people here are so anti-treatment and anti-AA, I am curious what they propose to do with the many new people who become addicted to the very addictive drugs listed in this list we all voted on. There will be many unintended side effects that must be dealt with, and failing to address them will mean the continuation of the drug war because people will be afraid of these effects if there is not a rational solution to offer as an alternative to the existing system.
--- End quote ---
I wonder if that is really true?
The Drug Treatment Part.
Most people who enter drug treatment do so as a result of a Court Order, or some other State sanction.
The negative effects of the War on Drugs far outweigh any benefit.
By any measure.
Check out this site...
http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm
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