Will the drug war ever stop

[Just Silver]

I have been readying myself for a presentation on the Drug War even the government stopped calling it that in 2009 (supposedly) it is what it is

My question is will it ever stop with what is going on now in America and Afghanistan

as well as Mexico, Columbia and other drug trafficking spots

Random Fact: We spend $600 in tax money every second on the war on drugs

[kevinh]

they just schould make drugs legal

[Just Silver]

they just schould make drugs legal

thats a big debate actually in itself

[Elision]

In order for it to stop, drugs must be made legal.

Obviously, make it so you need some sort of card (like a driver's license) to buy it, and you can only get it in certain quantities.

The world would be fucking crazy for the first year or so.. But I imagine the government would find a pretty smart way to make a smooth ramp for everybody.

Also, make it so that you must only take it/them on your own property. And not in public.

All drugs come in a package with a Surgeon General's Warning, and being caught high (I'm sure they'd make a breathalyzer for a variety of drugs) in public, would be a crazy sentence without parole.


Just my thoughts on the subject.

[RapName]

There is nothing to discuss.
Prohabition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making it legal. That is also a fact.

[mrjizzbomber]

There is nothing to discuss.
Prohabition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making it legal. That is also a fact.

How about rape? Murder? Arson? Robbery?
What should be done about these crimes?

There is nothing to discuss. Prohibition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making them legal. That is also a fact.

- The Bomber

[Sophie]

Sure let's make it all legal

They should stop making em. Obviously that's not gonna happen though. But no. Bullshit that they should be made legal imo.

[RapName]

There is nothing to discuss.
Prohabition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making it legal. That is also a fact.

How about rape? Murder? Arson? Robbery?
What should be done about these crimes?

There is nothing to discuss. Prohibition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making them legal. That is also a fact.

- The Bomber

What kind of argument is that? There is a very big difference, because rape, murder, robbery etc is crimes that effect inocent people, while doing drugs may only harm yourself. I believe in the right to decide over your own body and free will as long as it doesn't harm anybody else. Weather it's selling your body or exposing it to drugs, my body is my body and no one else but me has a saying over it.

The only reason doing drugs is a crime is because the government say it's a crime, so don't put it in the same category as the listed above^^

[mrjizzbomber]

There is nothing to discuss.
Prohabition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making it legal. That is also a fact.

How about rape? Murder? Arson? Robbery?
What should be done about these crimes?

There is nothing to discuss. Prohibition does not work. That's a fact.
The only thing that works is making them legal. That is also a fact.

- The Bomber

What kind of argument is that? There is a very big difference, because rape, murder, robbery etc is crimes that effect inocent people, while doing drugs may only harm yourself. I believe in the right to decide over your own body and free will as long as it doesn't harm anybody else. Weather it's selling your body or exposing it to drugs, my body is my body and no one else but me has a saying over it.

The only reason doing drugs is a crime is because the government say it's a crime, so don't put it in the same category as the listed above^^

So when drugs are legal the healthcare system should handle the burden of drug overdoses, or those who have liver or kidney failure? Or we close hospitals to drug users, making them pay for treatment with their own money, until they go broke, become homeless and become a burden on our police force? And their dependents become a burden on our welfare system?

Sure, the majority of people who are not abusive with drug use now would not abuse drugs if they were legal. But you see how responsible people are with tobacco and alcohol. The increase in burden a drug-legal state would cause on our various (already burdened) civil systems cannot be completely ignored. Theres a good reason drugs are illegal.

The only drug I think should be legal is marijuana. It has a low addiction potential, no overdose potential, non-incapacitating effects and does not cause many serious long term health problems (physical problems, at least).

- The Bomber

[AbramIsaac]

Sure let's make it all legal

They should stop making em. Obviously that's not gonna happen though. But no. Bullshit that they should be made legal imo.

Your sarcasm is misplaced, Sophie.

That's ok, it's not like I don't understand your view. However, your view is no doubt based on your perception of drugs themselves. Drugs are bad? Okay, that's fine. But the issue is this: what's the best way to deal with the drug issue? In theory, it was prohibition. However, prohibition in practice has been a massive failure, with more harm than good done to the citizens of the countries that utilize this practice.

So...what has been shown to work? Legalization, and the health-based approach to drug regulation. Amsterdam is the best example we have for marijuana being legal for recreational use. What has that shown us? Well, percentage-wise, there are lower usage rates than here in the United States. There is obviously less drug-related crime, and people aren't being thrown in prison for essentially a victimless crime.

What about other drugs, though? In the UK, and I believe even Canada, there are heroin clinics. Addicts go to these clinics, and are able to receive their drugs for free in a sanitary setting. If the addicts can't afford to pay for the drugs, they are provided free of charge, up to three times a day. Surely, with one of the hardest drugs, there are grave consequences, right?

Compared to prohibition, no. Heroin use in these countries is lower than in the United States. Transmission of HIV from dirty needles has dropped, and crime is no longer funded by heroin sales--because the dealers can't compete with "free". Users are able to function like normal people, hold jobs, own houses, and raise families. Their use is supervised by health practitioners, and rehabilitation is always an option for them, when they are ready. In practice, health-based approaches work far better than out-right prohibition.

In Portugal, it wasn't too long ago that they decriminalized simple possession of all drugs and drug paraphernalia. The United States government frantically warned of drug tourism, and drug addiction consuming the country. What happened? Not much at all. Usage didn't show a significant rise (if any at all) and the big difference is now there aren't a bunch of people in prison for a victimless crime. Decriminalization is good, but it doesn't take the business away from criminal enterprise, which is still being targeted by police.

So what's the point of all of this? Prohibition is less effective. Sure, you may not want people doing drugs, but the more effective solution is regulation. In the United States, we have 5% of the world population, and 25% of the world's prison population. We have more people in prison for drug charges than all of western Europe has in prison for anything--and they have more people than us. That's a disgrace.

While I don't think people should abuse drugs, I recognize that the facts point towards regulation as the best option--and I think anyone that will have taken the time to read this long (looong) post will have to agree: it's just the facts.

Thank you.

[mrjizzbomber]

Your sarcasm is misplaced, Sophie.

That's ok, it's not like I don't understand your view. However, your view is no doubt based on your perception of drugs themselves. Drugs are bad? Okay, that's fine. But the issue is this: what's the best way to deal with the drug issue? In theory, it was prohibition. However, prohibition in practice has been a massive failure, with more harm than good done to the citizens of the countries that utilize this practice.

So...what has been shown to work? Legalization, and the health-based approach to drug regulation. Amsterdam is the best example we have for marijuana being legal for recreational use. What has that shown us? Well, percentage-wise, there are lower usage rates than here in the United States. There is obviously less drug-related crime, and people aren't being thrown in prison for essentially a victimless crime.

What about other drugs, though? In the UK, and I believe even Canada, there are heroin clinics. Addicts go to these clinics, and are able to receive their drugs for free in a sanitary setting. If the addicts can't afford to pay for the drugs, they are provided free of charge, up to three times a day. Surely, with one of the hardest drugs, there are grave consequences, right?

Compared to prohibition, no. Heroin use in these countries is lower than in the United States. Transmission of HIV from dirty needles has dropped, and crime is no longer funded by heroin sales--because the dealers can't compete with "free". Users are able to function like normal people, hold jobs, own houses, and raise families. Their use is supervised by health practitioners, and rehabilitation is always an option for them, when they are ready. In practice, health-based approaches work far better than out-right prohibition.

In Portugal, it wasn't too long ago that they decriminalized simple possession of all drugs and drug paraphernalia. The United States government frantically warned of drug tourism, and drug addiction consuming the country. What happened? Not much at all. Usage didn't show a significant rise (if any at all) and the big difference is now there aren't a bunch of people in prison for a victimless crime. Decriminalization is good, but it doesn't take the business away from criminal enterprise, which is still being targeted by police.

So what's the point of all of this? Prohibition is less effective. Sure, you may not want people doing drugs, but the more effective solution is regulation. In the United States, we have 5% of the world population, and 25% of the world's prison population. We have more people in prison for drug charges than all of western Europe has in prison for anything--and they have more people than us. That's a disgrace.

While I don't think people should abuse drugs, I recognize that the facts point towards regulation as the best option--and I think anyone that will have taken the time to read this long (looong) post will have to agree: it's just the facts.

Thank you.

The United States also holds themselves to having a different quality of life / higher standards than other countries. Were supposedly the police-men of the world, the standard in capitalism and democracy.

I really can't disagree with anything you've said, but comparing the United States with the rest of the world is just a hard sell on me.

I almost feel like our problems are problems because we make them an issue. If we just turned our backs, we would have less problems... but do we really have less problems just because we are turning our backs?

Oh, and we are very, very conservative. So any attempt to make all drugs legal would never, ever fly. I'll say back-dooring marijuana into legality would be good enough to make a difference.

At least, good for me

- The Bomber

[DrunkenDeath]

states are considering making marijuana a legal drug, like alcohol

[mrjizzbomber]

states are considering making marijuana a legal drug, like alcohol

States are decriminalizing marijuana and making medical marijuana legal.

Anything to do with full legalization is far away.

- The Bomber

[DrunkenDeath]

states are considering making marijuana a legal drug, like alcohol

States are decriminalizing marijuana and making medical marijuana legal.

Anything to do with full legalization is far away.

- The Bomber

Apparently you don't keep up with the news

[DrunkenDeath]

http://www.rantrave.com/Rave/Legalize-M ... rward.aspx