Would it make sense to legalise drugs?

Question

I don't say this just in the sense of yay drugs duh!

I say this in that, if drugs were legalised it probably wouldn't be long until it became another business market, would this really be a bad thing?
If drugs were being sold then generally they'd be monitered etc similar to food stuffs\alcohol\ciggarettes, which would lead to the drugs being controlled so that foreign ingredients would not be present (i.e. talc powder in coke for arguments sake)

the government would earn revenue as they'd probably be taxed in a similar manner current alcohol and ciggerettes.
the drugs would be avaliable to those who wanted them, the cloak and dagger aspect would be removed, no dodgy deals with shiffty types.
and the drugs would be quality regulated, which would really make them safer.

So, would it really be that bad an idea to legalise drugs?

silly gorbie - that wasn't the question,

Paul Hxyz - I don't disagree with you there, but i couldn't say, "we should legalise weed" for argument sakes, I had to base it on the broad base.

Robert S - any medication can be abused, and it could be a seedy little unemployed "yob" abusing the prescription drugs, or it could be a high flying executive that earns double of the gross average,
this question wasn't about prescription drugs.
also what do you mean maybe we should see how much a child can deal with in life? I'm not saying that drugs should be left in bargin bins where kiods could steal them, they'd be behind the counter, strict legisation, similar to the current drugs like alcohol.

Answer 1

I use to think so but not anymore.

I think if you legalised Cocaine & ecstasy I think use would increase massively which would lead to all sorts of social problems as people who wouldnt normally dream of doing such things, suddenly see its ok, and start but they wouldnt be able to handle it.

Alcohol & cigarrettes although legal are causing no end of problems for the govt. thats why we see new smoking laws, and a govt. that is struggling to contain binge drinking.

The only drugs I think should be legalised and given free on the NHS are Crack & Heroin. Lets gets the addicts off the street, into safe houses where the only people they can hurt are themselves. Its estimated 3/4 of all crime is drug related, imagine what the country would be like if crack & skag heads didnt need to mug or rob people?

Answer 2

A few years ago, I would say legalise all drugs. Freedom of individual choice.

However, there would have to be a plan. And some drugs could cause mayhem in the hands of nutters.

Personally, I am not into getting intoxicated. Grown out of that. But I would appreciate being able to buy laudeman for a tummy upset, and something for my hay fever and when I had a cold, or had to work beyond my endurance levels.

Most of the drugs are rubbishy illusions. Impairs performance or harms health. I think the steroids that athletes take must improve performance at the cost of long time health. So does playing sport at a very high level.

Some people are better off on hashish than boozing. Not me, it would just make my head go foggy.

Spirits (alcohol) are pretty dangerous in my book.

However, when it comes down to it, other people are the problem. Also, maybe the solution.

Answer 3

I would, I believe it is the only way to win " the war on drugs." How is that war going anyway?

I think if we did it would save the taxpayers a lot of money. We would crush the sub drug culture and all the gangs that sell drugs would be put out of business.

Many civilized countries have legalized drugs and haven't fallen into a " drug crazed society".



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Answer 4

the illicit use of drugs provides a lot of jobs, court staff, police, social workers, drug dependency unit staff, store detectives and security staff, etc. it also moves a lot of money around that would otherwise lie dormant, eg: court fines, insurance claims, buying replacement items, home security systems, etc. these are all very profitable to the government in VAT and income tax. if the government don't want people to smoke and have 'quit' programmes and bans on smoking in public spaces, why do they allow tobacco to be sold at all if they don't really want you to have it? to generate money, they must hate tobacco being legal. they say don't buy it because it's bad for you, but because it's legal they can only tax you on it, if it was illegal they'd make a hell of a lot more money on it.

Answer 5

By legalizing drugs, there would then be the opportunity to regulate them. This will improve public safety, decrease criminality, and also generate a large revenue stream from the taxation of those drugs.

Answer 6

Above all other reasons... Think of how this would effect kids.

Maybe we should see just how much a child can deal with in life... Sure lets legalize it, as if we don't have enough problems with abused prescription medications now.

There is your answer.

Answer 7

It might make sense to legalize some drugs, but some drugs are far too dangerous to even be considered for this.

Answer 8

No not really most users would still by them illegally from dealers as the government would put a huge amount of tax on them as they do with cigarettes

Answer 9

I think its a great idea to legalise drugs. Not only is there the market for it but it will also make the drugs cleaner and there for safer for users. Im with you on thins one..... if your watching gordan brown make it so :D

Answer 10

many drugs are legal....nicotine and alcohol to name but two