Should drugs be legal?

[Dead Rats]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

[djake]

yes and no.

[firky]

No, I see everyday at work the worst of drugs; instead they should be decriminalised for users instead and dealers should face criminal charges.

[feral witchchild]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

[-dubson-]

Make it legal, people will grow up; sooner or later.

The amount of people dying from the illegal drug trafficing is crazy, if it wasn't such a controversial problem then charities all over the place would be protesting for this to stop. A regulated drug system would get away from alot of the problems we have now. Coke with all the rat poisen taken out is gonna stop alot of the OD's surely.. Not to mention the tax the government could get out of it, and all the time police spend doing trivial drugs tasks while they could be tackling REAL problems in society.

To me it seems the only thing holding drugs being legalised held back is this more right wing "drugs are evil, kill people and everyone who ever does them is a homeless crackfeind trying to mug me" veiw.

[Ennayess]

no.

There's too many idiots about, look at all the problems alcohol causes.

[Motorway to Roswell]

No, I see everyday at work the worst of drugs; instead they should be decriminalised for users instead and dealers should face criminal charges.

This really.

[wormcode]

No, I see everyday at work the worst of drugs; instead they should be decriminalised for users instead and dealers should face criminal charges.

This really.

Decriminalisation can be just as bad or worse though. You might not do jail time, but you are branded a criminal by the government. Depending on the countries particular laws, usually it means it goes on your permanent record, and follows you around for life. You can also forget about any sort of government benefits, student loans, a decent job, or similar things.

In my opinion...It comes down to pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists in most cases. They don't want people growing their own medicine, or getting it from other sources, plain and simple.

[magma]

I'm not sure it's the pensioners who are bothered to be honest.

When I'm a pensioner I really fucking hope some decent drugs are legal. I'm not sitting around watching our generation's equivalent of Judy Finnigan without a massive cunting bifter on.

[AntlionUK]

little miss sunshine grandad.

[danoldboy]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

There are some utopian views being expressed in this thread but the reality is that the general populace of this country don't consume anything in moderation. The way alcohol is consumed is ridiculous despite the widespread education of the negative consequences.

Look at the Methadrone abuse at the moment, it's being treated like sherbert.

[magma]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

There are some utopian views being expressed in this thread but the reality is that the general populace of this country don't consume anything in moderation. The way alcohol is consumed is ridiculous despite the widespread education of the negative consequences.

Look at the Methadrone abuse at the moment, it's being treated like sherbert.

Couldn't that be argued to be because of our "ashamed" attitude towards drink and drugs? We seem to have a national bias towards abstinence followed by massive binges where we essentially swing from "Ooh, I'm such a healthy bastard" to "FUCK IT, I want to feel SHIT tomorrow!" in the space of a couple of pints.

I can't help but think the only way for society to have a healthy attitude to drink and drug use is to be entirely open about it all... the more people are ashamed, the less likely they are to look for help if they do have a problem... and is making addicts criminals helping at all? Doesn't that just attach a stigma to them for the rest of their life?

Should we make alcoholics criminals instead of patients?

[sonar]

There are some utopian views being expressed in this thread but the reality is that the general populace of this country don't consume anything in moderation. The way alcohol is consumed is ridiculous despite the widespread education of the negative consequences.

Look at the Methadrone abuse at the moment, it's being treated like sherbert.

[danoldboy]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

There are some utopian views being expressed in this thread but the reality is that the general populace of this country don't consume anything in moderation. The way alcohol is consumed is ridiculous despite the widespread education of the negative consequences.

Look at the Methadrone abuse at the moment, it's being treated like sherbert.

Couldn't that be argued to be because of our "ashamed" attitude towards drink and drugs? We seem to have a national bias towards abstinence followed by massive binges where we essentially swing from "Ooh, I'm such a healthy bastard" to "FUCK IT, I want to feel SHIT tomorrow!" in the space of a couple of pints.

I can't help but think the only way for society to have a healthy attitude to drink and drug use is to be entirely open about it all... the more people are ashamed, the less likely they are to look for help if they do have a problem... and is making addicts criminals helping at all? Doesn't that just attach a stigma to them for the rest of their life?

Should we make alcoholics criminals instead of patients?

That's a fair point, does that shame come from knowing that these actions are harmful to ourselves and yet still continuing with them anyway? In which case to what extent are the authorities responsible for the choices people make?

Addicts criminalise themselves by making the personal choice to take a substance that is illegal.

[magma]

That's a fair point, does that shame come from knowing that these actions are harmful to ourselves and yet still continuing with them anyway? In which case to what extent are the authorities responsible for the choices people make?

Addicts criminalise themselves by making the personal choice to take a substance that is illegal.

I think a lot of the shame is historical... the Victorians and most of Britain pre-WW2 were pretty keen on abstinence from all drugs, drink included. The US even went as far as alcohol prohibition (which led to a mighty similar situation as we have now with illegal drugs - organised crime took over and loads more people got addicted, quality of alcohol dropped to high strength moonshine... equivalent to high strength skunk on the black market?).

We're only 2 or 3 generations removed from that and we're already incredibly liberal compared to those attitudes... as it becomes more and more normal to use different substances, so it'll become more and more expected that you'll do so in moderation.

I don't see any reason why Whisky, Rum, Vodka etc can be sold legally in supermarkets in 1.5 litre bottles (enough to constitute a fatal dose in many) but we can't be trusted to show the same common sense with other substances.

[d_skribe]

ganja, yes. everything else, no

[danoldboy]

That's a fair point, does that shame come from knowing that these actions are harmful to ourselves and yet still continuing with them anyway? In which case to what extent are the authorities responsible for the choices people make?

Addicts criminalise themselves by making the personal choice to take a substance that is illegal.

I think a lot of the shame is historical... the Victorians and most of Britain pre-WW2 were pretty keen on abstinence from all drugs, drink included. The US even went as far as alcohol prohibition (which led to a mighty similar situation as we have now with illegal drugs - organised crime took over and loads more people got addicted, quality of alcohol dropped to high strength moonshine... equivalent to high strength skunk on the black market?).

We're only 2 or 3 generations removed from that and we're already incredibly liberal compared to those attitudes... as it becomes more and more normal to use different substances, so it'll become more and more expected that you'll do so in moderation.

I don't see any reason why Whisky, Rum, Vodka etc can be sold legally in supermarkets in 1.5 litre bottles (enough to constitute a fatal dose in many) but we can't be trusted to show the same common sense with other substances.

Interesting article in relation to your point about historical alcohol consumption:

http://www.historyandpolicy.org/papers/ ... er-62.html

[NilsFG]

Not in this day or age. People are too stupid, especially young people.

This. And even if they weren't stupid they should still be illegal imo.

[magma]

Interesting article in relation to your point about historical alcohol consumption:

http://www.historyandpolicy.org/papers/ ... er-62.html

That was a great read, thanks!!

It is tempting to dismiss all this unfortunate behaviour as simply young and inexperienced people acting under the influence of alcohol. Remove the substance and youth will return to the normality that pervades the majority of their lives. But this ignores the fact that young people are choosing to drink heavily, in all likelihood knowing the consequences of doing so. They are investing a substantial portion of their personal wealth, not just in the drink but also the package of recreational props that accompany it - music, dancing, clothing, etc - because it gives them a tangible and considered return. We need to understand more about the thrill and excitement of the occasion, the frisson generated by engaging in what is essentially carnivalesque behaviour in which the social norms are challenged and inverted. We need to look more at the performative aspects of binge drinking.

Bang on! The existance of the drug industry doesn't force drugs down people's necks. People drink, smoke, snort and otherwise imbibe for their own reasons. Countries should look to tackle the problem (if it is really a problem) by looking at reasons for demand, not supply...

[.onelove.]

The thing is, you can't really trust people. I mean, I'm not sure I can trust myself. If Opiates or Benzos were freely available down the local corner shop or whatever, how hard would it to restrain yourself when you're going through a rough time in your life not to use them regularly enough for them to come a problem.