6 replies to this topic

[duke_Qa]

Just thought about something after reading this article about designer drugs and the battle to illegalize new drugs faster than they are created.

So, I think I've made it clear before that I'm all for legalization. As a commentator in that article says: "Legalise, Regulate, Educate and Tax." I see no good reasons to have this strict no-policy when tens of thousands die every year because of alcohol and cigarettes.

But then I figured, one of the main problems with illegal drugs is that they are illegal, thus they support the criminal elements of our societies. What is the consequence of legalizing and institutionalizing the daily bread of these people? It's not like drug-dealers are going to get jobs in the apothecary or as social workers(more likely the latter than the former though). Is it possible that the people in charge have thought about this as well, and found that a crime-caste with reduced conventional income is worse than one in control of illegal drugs?

[Vortigern]

After legalisation of drugs, criminal syndicates would still find ways to generate income through illegal means. But equally, the various policing agencies around the world would still find ways to stop them, and they'd have one fewer thing to worry about with no drug traffic any more. I think that's a null point.

[duke_Qa]

It probably is, but it is interesting to think of the consequences of legalization beyond decriminalization of users. I somewhat doubt that the massive amount of killing going on in Mexico would instantly go away if drugs suddenly got a legal vendor in the USA.

We have to remember that there are criminals, and there are Criminals. The people on the street are one thing, the guys in suits flying private jets a different one. What will they do once their primary money source dries up? I believe it might not just be the politicians themselves that are fans of zero-tolerance. A ban is more or less a import tariff, that instead of sending the surplus tariff to the government sends it to the merchant arranging the trade.

After all, what do we know is the standard "means justify the ends" protocoll for governments around the world? Most police have to prioritize their focus, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are higher-up rules that does the same.

Edited by duke_Qa, 25 October 2011 - 09:01 PM.

[Hostile]

At least legalize weed. That is not a substance someone should go to jail over, especially if it was properly regulated. Enough people in jail for stupid stuff as it is already. Just legalize it and be done with it.

[duke_Qa]

Weed would be the first one to go over, with the heavier drugs coming in the decades afterwards(them opiates and the cocaines and whatnot). Crack cocaine and them drugs made out of battery acid and the likes probably should not get legalized though, better to keep people on the relatively clean but deadly drugs than the dirty and dangerous drugs.

As long as the tax revenues from such legalization is more or less exclusively used on psychological health and social support, there shouldn't be big problems. Most drug abuse is usually self-medication anyway, so might as well spend some of that money on trying to save people in a secular way.

Also, I guess the lack of proper breath-scanners for the different drugs might be another reason they don't want anything but alcohol as the primary abusive substance.

[Vortigern]

Hostile and Qa: I disagree. I would rather weed remain illegal than to just decriminalise it. Under that state it becomes a legal grey area which leads to misunderstandings and difficult situations for people who are unaware that they have broken the law, but the government still doesn't get anything out of it, the police task forces don't get to focus elsewhere and nothing changes. I am a proponent of full legalisation for all recreational narcotics, regardless of strength and current class of illegality.

Over here we had a case in the news last week in which a 60-something university lecturer is awaiting sentencing for having been in possession of a small quantity of MDMA and LSD, which he kept in a drawer in his bedroom. His 15-year-old daughter found them while throwing a house party without her parents' knowledge or consent while they were away for a few nights, and one of her friends ended up taking some MDMA and later going into cardiac arrest, approximately two hours after taking the pills and one hour after she began frothing at the mouth. It wasn't until the girl died that her friends finally called an ambulance, because they were terrified of the consequences of being found to have taken illegal drugs. In short, a young girl died because her friends had no idea how to deal with drugs and didn't dare admit it to the authorities. If the drugs in question were legal, they would have had no hesitation in calling an ambulance and saving their friend's life.

Qa: I'm pretty sure that given a little bit of funding and direction, there are plenty of scientists and researchers out there who could come up with a quick, easy and effective test for whether someone has taken all kinds of drugs. Maybe less convenient than breathalysers at first, but with use comes improvement.

[duke_Qa]

I would rather weed remain illegal than to just decriminalise it. Under that state it becomes a legal grey area which leads to misunderstandings and difficult situations for people who are unaware that they have broken the law, but the government still doesn't get anything out of it, the police task forces don't get to focus elsewhere and nothing changes. I am a proponent of full legalisation for all recreational narcotics, regardless of strength and current class of illegality.
[...]
If the drugs in question were legal, they would have had no hesitation in calling an ambulance and saving their friend's life.
[...]
I'm pretty sure that given a little bit of funding and direction, there are plenty of scientists and researchers out there who could come up with a quick, easy and effective test for whether someone has taken all kinds of drugs. Maybe less convenient than breathalysers at first, but with use comes improvement.

Yeah, decriminalization would just leave the market open for the criminal importers and no money for the government. No legalization without governmental taxes coming out of it.

Indeed, tragic tales that could have been avoided, the chaos of the universe playing with our flaws and fears.

Yeah, they are well on the way, but it seems to have been a hurdle for quite a while. The problem is probably that the breathalyzers are cheap and reliable, while the drugalyzers are unfinished, expensive and unreliable.