Should drugs be legalized?

Question

Prohibition did not work. We have an underground drug culture that is both destructive, and, violent. We incarcerate more people than any other nation on the face of the earth, including China, and India. Should we sell recreational drugs legally, stop the vilolence, and build a more constructive model for abusers than incarceration?

Answer 1

This supposed 'War on Drugs' is innefectual, distracting from the really important matters, and is a complete waste of time. What a consenting adult does with his life in his own home is his own business. If legalized, it could be taxed...that money could go directly to healthcare for the country. There is the argument that the high cost of treating drug related illnesses would push up the usage and cost...so in that event...you could eliminate treatments for drug related illnesses, if you choose.

Its time the government of the country started acting on the important issues and started providing a better life for the citizens of the country...rather than waging wars that they cannot win!

Answer 2

I take a very hard line on this issue. Either do it or don't do it. I have never seen a half assed effort fix anything.

I think the complete legalization of drugs would do a lot of good for society. If cocaine, heroin, acid and all other "illegal" drugs were available over the counter for a dollar a gallon things would change in damn short order. Funeral directors would do a booming business for a while then retire to a nicer climate. We would thin the herd, virtually emptying the shallow end of the gene pool. Yes, there is a lot to be said for legalizing all drugs.

But only legalizing pot is a half assed attempt. Assuming we do that, what is next? It is the bullfrog syndrome. If you toss a bullfrog into boiling water, he will jump out. But, if you put him a pan of cold water and slowly raise the temperature he will stay there and cook. We saw it in gun legislation. First we say no catalog orders, then waiting periods and finally a complete ban on certain classes of firearms. I grant you that is the opposite direction but the principle applies. There were laws about CB radio, now there are none because the government was either unable or unwilling to enforce them. Now the Citizens Band is useless. We have a flood of illegal aliens. In the 80's President Reagan did the amnesty thing. It didn't stop the flood. A few weeks ago the head of my states high way law enforcement agency was complaining about people speeding on a certain stretch of road. This complaint was coming from the man responsible for law enforcement on that stretch of road. Just a few examples of what happens when laws are ignored or enforcement is selective.

Anyone who believes pot is harmless is simply wrong. I lost a friend while in the service because he thought he could fly and my brother has lost two because they thought they were at the Indianapolis 500. Add to that the fact that pot is a gateway drug and I just can't support a half way effort.

So there are my thoughts. I honestly don't know which way I want to FALL but my point is I don't want to LEAN in either direction. I think we need to do it all or not at all.

Answer 3

That would be the sensible option yes, it would HUGELY reduce crime - which is usually to fund overpriced drugs.

It would massively reduce the prison population which again would be to the benefit of all.

It would greatly reduce the time wasted by the polkice and the courts in dealing with stuff that frankly will carry on occuring to the end of time - exactly like prohibition.

Most politicians if asked privately agree - so do many police chiefs - the problem is that is it is political suicide to state the obvious when so many people (especially oppostion parties) would then scream "soft on drugs, get them out".

Sometimes doing the sensible, practical, realistic thing takes a lot of courage - something that politicians are not usually famous for having.

I guess a good few billion pounds & dollars more will be wasted in detecting/prosecuting/incarcerating before anything will change. And even then only if someone ends up with a PM / president that actually has a spine AND a brain.

Mark

Answer 4

Drugs are legalized,look at your local pharmacy. That is how most kids are getting addicted to hardcore drugs at a younger age,because all they have to do is go to their parents medicine cabinet and take a couple pain pills.
Also look at the ages they give kids ritilin,if they talk back or something the parents think they have emotional problems and go to the doctors and put them on drugs. Also how many people do you think are driving around all messed up on antidepressants and other experimental drugs that have so many side effects,they use half of the commercial just to name a few. You dont think peoples mind and actions are affected by these drugs. The new sleeping pills are a good example..SLEEP DRIVING? SLEEP WALKING? They need to test for those kinds of things also when there is a crash. They could be just as bad as drinking and driving. But since a doctor prescribes it than is fine,Or maybe not. Our government just makes no sense. They are so corrupt they dont know right from wrong.

Answer 5

Although I don't like what happens when people use and abuse drugs - I do believe it all should be legalised for the simple mere fact that they all can be taxed and in taxing them - it overall will help the economy.

What I don't understand however - is that the drugs that have been permitted for medical use by states government - e.g. marijuana - are subject to criminal acts and behaviour according to the feds government. And to further add insult to injury of such passing - now employers who have knowingly had medical marijuana users working for them (most for years doing their jobs well) are now ( said employees) being targeted for disciplinary actions and fired over it. How stupid can people be.

My understanding had always been that the Federal rules cannot govern the rules of the States. Am I wrong? Or did that change, and when?

Nick C - Running across lanes of traffic to see if one can beat the cars before they get there is also dangerous - but it doesn't stop idiots from doing it.

Answer 6

Legalization would put the power and subsequent tax revenue in the governments hands. They in turn would possibly standardize the "street drugs" making them safer? and free up alot of tax dollars that we use to imprison users and dealers. Americans do many things that are just as destructive AND legal. I'm all for legalization. If you're 18 or 21 then you should be able to govern what you put into your body. As far as addiction issues, we deal with them anyway, we pay for treatment, prison, rehabs, halfway houses, insurance, food stamps and welfare, not only for the users and dealers, but for the children that are affected by this epidemic. The tax revenue generated by the legalization would help offset some of this cost.

Answer 7

There is different types of recreational drugs... Alcohol & Cigrettes are legal recreational drugs... I guess my answer would maybe be some drugs... but alot of the hard stuff should not be... As for the locking up abusers, It more depents on the treatment they recieve while locked up!
If they just get put in general population with no real drug treatment program they most likely get out and repeat abuse

Answer 8

Only maryjane should be legalized; the other drugs are just too harmful. The tobacco companies want the legalization of maryjane, but big alcohol companies oppose it as they would lose some customers. The right-wing moralists are against legalization and most politicians are too cowardly to do the right thing and legalize maryjane, so it won't happen soon.

I concur that users of illegal drugs should not be jailed, but given the option to take treatment over jail. However, dealers, smugglers, and pushers should continue to get stiff sentences.

Answer 9

It depends on the kind of drug. For instance if we are talking about Marijuana, then yes, I definately think it should be legal. I personally don't do any drugs of any kind, drink, or smoke, and that is my choice. My friends are a different story. I don't think pot has any more of a negative effect on a person than alcohol does. Actually, it seems to have less. Any one of my friends that I have been around when they've smoked pot have always been more mellow of course! And how about drunk driving? How many times have you heard about someone smoking pot and then going out and getting into an accident? Not many, because they are too busy at home looking for a bag of funyuns and watching "Half Baked" on the couch! Not to make light of DUI or DWI of course, but I really don't hear much of anything on pot smokers killing anyone in a car accident. Plus, how many people do you know that get violent after tokin' it up? Yeah, not alot....Mean drunks on the other hand...hell yeah! If you ask me, they should try to get rid of alcohol and bring on the reefer....people in this world need to just chill!

******EDIT*******
Hey gimpblo or whatever your name is....I don't think your friends were smoking pot....or if they were, it must have been laced with something, because just pot doesn't make you hallucinate or make you think you have special abilities.

Answer 10

I tend to agree that this is extremely similar to prohibition, which did not work. Much of the violence associated with drugs would disappear if they were legalized. Alcohol is addictive, cigarrettes are addictive, yet we allow those. What we are doing isn't working, we have to do something different!