Solve The Debt Problem- Legalise All Drugs

nate_dog

Imagine the revenue we'd bring in in tax, the jobs that would be created in the production (we could put a load of factories in areas of high unemployment) and also the dramatic reduction in crime. Drug use would become much safer as there would be less chance of contamination and prison numbers would fall. Win win if you ask me. Also anyone can get there hands on drugs as it is so why not earn some serious cash from taxing it whilst making it safer?

We would also be doing our bit for world peace by removing a revenue stream for the various cartels and gangs around the globe, the locals of Mexico caught up in gang warfare would love us and DC would be awarded a noble peace prize.

Generali

I agree. Drug (ab)use and addiction should be seen as a medical problem not a crime.

If I have a single toke on a spliff I'm a criminal yet I can drink myself near-insensible (as many Britons do) and be on the right side of the law.

wotsthat

Portugal legalised all drugs 10 years ago. At that time I was travelling there a lot and remember that most people were greeting this change with horror.

A quick google (i.e. not extensive research) shows that drug related crime is down and so is drug use. There seems to be no evidence that Portugal's economy has been improved.

However, I'd quite like to ban smoking and full sugar Coke so it won't be getting my vote.

nate_dog

wotsthat wrote: »

A quick google (i.e. not extensive research) shows that drug related crime is down and so is drug use. There seems to be no evidence that Portugal's economy has been improved.

My idea would take things further though. I wasn't aware of the Portugal laws but having just done, as you suggested, a quick google search, it seems that they have only decriminalised drugs.

My proposal would be to decriminalise them but also manufacture, sell and tax them which i don't think Portugal has done, which i guess is why there is no evidence of an improvement in the economy. Even with heavy taxation you would still be able to sell them for cheaper than what people are currently paying for 'illegal' drugs as these are already hugely overpriced compared to what the manufacturing costs are.

Obviously you wouldn't want people smoking crack pipes in children's parks but if you made it legal for users to take drugs in the privacy of their own home but nowhere else then i think it could work.

abaxas

Keeps lots of coppers in work.

nate_dog

abaxas wrote: »

Keeps lots of coppers in work.

Speak to any policeman these days and they'll tell you how overworked and understaffed they are, less crime would mean less work and another problem solved!

Loughton_Monkey

nate_dog wrote: »

......My proposal would be to decriminalise them but also manufacture, sell and tax them .....

Firstly, how are you going to define "drug"? Isn't it a drug that Dignitas uses in their Swiss Clinics for euthenasia? Presumably these would now be fully legal here?

Secondly, are you proposing manufacture by the government? i.e. Nationalised? Or simply allow 'shops' to import them and sell them. Maybe you would say 'only UK manufactured are legal. Importing is illegal' in which case how would you square this with our EEC friends?

Thirdly, please estimate (a) the savings in police time now not having to police drug dealing etc., and compare this to (b) the extra police time required to handle 750,000 young 'clubbers' turning out of the clubs 3 a.m. after Saturday night, all as high as a kite, thinking they can stop a 60 mph car with their bare fist, or 'fly' from the top of Tower Bridge....

Fourthly, how are you going to control the 'fake' tax-free market? Cartons of cigarettes seem difficult enough. Anonymous white powder seems almost impossible to control from a revenue perspective.

My advice? Have another 'smoke' and think again.

Percy1983

I really don't see the problem with many drugs, personally I don't really do any of them as even drinking isn't worth the hangover.

With that I have been in clubs in many clubs in my time I would say I would rather be in a club where everybody is on ecstasy than a club full of drunks.

I do think cannabis and ecstasy could be easily legalised, millions of ecstasy tablets are taken every weekend, manufacture for 50p sell for £2, but clear warnings and instuctions on the back (water consumption mainly).

£1.50 x how many million into the government every week.

Lets be honest if they discovered mdma at the same time as alcohol they would both be the norm now and nobody would think anything of it.

Percy1983

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Thirdly, please estimate (a) the savings in police time now not having to police drug dealing etc., and compare this to (b) the extra police time required to handle 750,000 young 'clubbers' turning out of the clubs 3 a.m. after Saturday night, all as high as a kite, thinking they can stop a 60 mph car with their bare fist, or 'fly' from the top of Tower Bridge....

Sounds like most of the drunks I see.

Gracchus_Babeuf

nate_dog wrote: »

Imagine the revenue we'd bring in in tax, the jobs that would be created in the production (we could put a load of factories in areas of high unemployment) and also the dramatic reduction in crime. Drug use would become much safer as there would be less chance of contamination and prison numbers would fall. Win win if you ask me. Also anyone can get there hands on drugs as it is so why not earn some serious cash from taxing it whilst making it safer?

We would also be doing our bit for world peace by removing a revenue stream for the various cartels and gangs around the globe, the locals of Mexico caught up in gang warfare would love us and DC would be awarded a noble peace prize.

Interesting argument. By legalising it you would certainly get rid of all the sleazebag dealers out there who would not longer be able to make huge profits. The trouble is that drugs do not only harm those who take them, but other people as well.
What would you do when drug addicts think they can take them all the time and then commit assaults and murders as a result? What about drug addicts who drive and cause serious accidents? Drugs cause major personality changes which can lead to serious violent crimes.

My opinion: it's not a solution.

paddyrg

One big problem though - you do that, and every smackhead in Europe will move to the UK. Look at how Amsterdam's tolerance of pot use has made it a centre for drug users.