Time To Reform Drug Laws?

[EastMed]

The global war on drugs has failed and will continue to fail.
The Global Commission On Drugs report published this week urges an open debate on the issue. It recommends, in addition to other measures:

* Replacing the criminalization of people who use drugs with medical help and advice.
* Legalising certain drugs in order to undermine the power of organised crime.

Report here

http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report

Comment here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/01/ease-human-misery-legalise-drugs?INTCMP=SRCH

Your views?

 

[pinkballoons]

^ pretty much sums up my views

 

[kallipolis]

Portugal has been experimenting with new policies that have decriminalised marijuana, which appear to have contributed to a decline in the numbers of marijuana addicts, and also a reduction in the crime rate associated with drug addiction.

There is an absolute need for a completely fresh approach to dealing with all categories of recreational drugs.

Here in Greece drug addicts convicted of minor offences, such as petty theft are jailed that they may also receive rehabilitation support from a variety of NGO providing such services within the prison system.

Drug rehabilitation in Greece has been over burdened for many years with insufficient funding, and an overload of addicts waiting for suitable treatment.

I lost my lover of some ten years to heroin addiction. His death, one year ago this month restrains any appetite on my part to decriminalise the possession, and/or sale of heroin.

 

[T-Rexx]

There is no answer to this question.

Nothing works.

Drugs used to be legal, and that created all sorts of horrible problems for society.

So, they made drugs illegal.

And that created all sorts of horrible problems for society.

 

[maxpowr9]

As a Libertarian, we have been saying this since that bitch Nancy Reagan declared war on drugs. Just legalize the shit and tax the hell out of it. Use the taxes from it to support treatment.
The hardest thing to get across into people's heads is that when we say "legalize", it would still be criminal to be intoxicated in public, operate under the influence and you can get fired for being high or fail a drug test. The only thing that would be legal about is possession and recreational usage. I would start with marijuana as a launching point and then progress to other drugs if successful.

 

[hotatlboi]

Yes it absolutely is time for this.

It makes no sense to have a huge percentage of our prison population locked up for doing a little pot.

 

[T-Rexx]

Like what?

Like unchecked addiction, destruction of families and family fortunes, unacceptable rates of deaths due to accidental overdoses, and the killing of innocent people by impaired drivers, pilots, train conductors, and equipment operators.

Like unsupervised interactions with other drugs, unmonitored development of dangerous side-effects, and unguided use of drugs for the wrong reasons.

 

[T-Rexx]

^ Why do you think regulation of drugs began in the first place?

 

[T-Rexx]

Like what?

Like fetal birth defects, the problem of life-long addictions developing while yet in utero, and the consequences of attempting to enhance performance in high school athletes.

 

[barnbuddy]

they should

the medical marijuana revolution is showing the way

but most states won't

because they want to look "tough"

tough love, tough on crime

whatever

 

[CowboyBob]

A lot of people believe if you legalize drugs it means you're approving them. That's not true. If something like marijuana were legalized, it would be controlled and strictly regulated by the government, not the drug dealers. Does the drug cartel really want marijuana, cocaine and others legalized and controlled by the government? That would take it out of their hands and they're lose money.

I don't know if legalizing drugs and tightly controlling it is the answer tho. Something has to be done but I'll leave that up to those who know about this kind of thing.

 

[barnbuddy]

^ Why do you think regulation of drugs began in the first place?

The Hearst press has something to do with it - in early 20th century, WR Hearst owned

papers in most big cities, and ran campaign against the "refers, suggesting it was the

evil influence of Mexican-Americans.

today the shell game continues - alcohol and legal drug manufacturers give money

to fund PR campaigns like that "partnership" campaign you see on TV

 

[Glafna]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlxhjQeO0Dc[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_M-H6qOAsc[/ame]


All I'll say

 

[hotatlboi]

I would never support a decriminalising of heroin or crack cocaine however.

Percocet and morphine are basically mild forms of heroin, and have plenty of accepted medical uses.

 

[hotatlboi]

But its not heroin, and its not for recreational purposes.

But you said decriminalizing, not legalizing. Two different things.

Legalizing = accepted for recreational purposes

Decriminalizing = some accepted uses

I wouldn't necessarily support legalization of heroin, but I see no problem decriminalizing it. I don't think that's where criminal prosecutions should be focused.

 

[hotatlboi]

Perhaps i have a narrow view of looking at this situation. To me, if it is not a criminal offence, it is not illegal, and so by default is legal. When 'decriminalising' is used, its done so with a sense of pointlessness in my mind.
Simply decriminalising a drug to be used for 'medicinal' purposes (all that comes to mind when thinking of the 'some accepted uses') is unproductive in a fight against drugs where the primary objective is the recreational usage.

I disagree.

It provides an abundance of legit sources where qualified people can get it for cheap, which dismantles the money to be made in the illegal trade of the substance.

How often do you hear about drug lords that deal in morphine for example? You don't. There is no money to be made in that when plenty of people get it from the pharmacy.

People will use drugs whether you ban them or not. But banning them erects an underground drug trade that also begets a lot of other crimes and violence. The US learning that lesson well from trying to ban alcohol.

 

[hotatlboi]

Decriminalising will not stop an underground drug trade because heroin, as a drug, is purely recreational. The dealers make their cash selling to serve this purpose. Decriminalising to allow 'other uses' (whatever they supposedly are), will not effect the money chain from consumer to dealer.

Actually, yes it does in some cases, because decriminalizing typically increases the supply, so the price will decrease.

But the more important thing is that when a drug is totally illegal, all the money flows through a few high level people that are able to smuggle large quantities of the substance in. That is where the real potential for violence happens. Being a big time drug lord is an occupation that results in considerable wealth, but also significant competition.

When it is available to anyone at a pharmacy with a prescription, it comes from everywhere, so there is nowhere near as much opportunity for a few people to make absurdly large sums. This reduces the crime rate associated with drug wars and gangs that are the sources.

 

[hotatlboi]

The drug barons will remain minted decriminalised or not.

The price might stay the same, but this would not be true, because the number of sources would increase. There would be fewer powerful drug lords dealing it, but more low level dealers.

Decriminalising is just changing the policing laws, its not tackling drug culture.

As far as the culture, I think for that we need to focus more on counseling/treatment instead of just throwing people in jail.

 

[jackoroe]

Take whatever you like. It's your body to do with as you see fit. If you want to take drugs and you destroy your family, that's fine. If you want to wind up destitute in the gutter, I'm all for that. Just don't expect anyone to pay for you to go to rehab, that's all. You make the choice, you accept the consequences.

You may not, however, operate a motor vehicle upon public roadways while high. That should earn you a very lengthy prison sentence. Other than that, rock out with your cock out!

 

[maxpowr9]

Take whatever you like. It's your body to do with as you see fit. If you want to take drugs and you destroy your family, that's fine. If you want to wind up destitute in the gutter, I'm all for that. Just don't expect anyone to pay for you to go to rehab, that's all. You make the choice, you accept the consequences.

You may not, however, operate a motor vehicle upon public roadways while high. That should earn you a very lengthy prison sentence. Other than that, rock out with your cock out!

Isn't that what I basically said a few posts up that went ignored? I see how it is jackoroe. I'm gonna cock block you tonight!