Drug debate; What is the best course to follow

BertieUK

Legalise and sell at licensed premises such as pharmacies, take the money out of the trade and you will dramatically reduce acquisitive crimes that are commited to pay for addictions, violent crimes in protecting territories.

The money / time saved would allow police to do other things and pay for treatment centres to treat addictions.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20722527

brit1234

How about executing drug dealers. We wouldn't introduce cigarettes onto the market if we knew then what we know now, cannabis is far worse.

Generali

Legalise and licence. It's obvious.

Treat drug addiction as an illness

Prohibition doesn't work and has never worked. Anyone who claims to be a libertarian or even liberal (UK not US definition) should support an end to this ridiculous policy.

System

brit1234 wrote: »

. We wouldn't introduce cigarettes onto the market if we knew then what we know now,

Of course we wouldn't. We would leave that to tobacco barons in South America, and then encourage a massive smuggling and retailing racket, all untaxed and safely in the hands of criminals.

It would become fashionable to smoke illegal cigarettes, and a futile anti-smoking campaign would ensure that young people got into the habit as early as possible.

zaber86

brit1234 wrote: »

How about executing drug dealers. We wouldn't introduce cigarettes onto the market if we knew then what we know now, cannabis is far worse.

Cannabis isn't worse. Nicotine is as addictive as herroin. Cannabis isn't chemically addictive. Also currently there isn't any proof that cannabis has caused a single death. Don't get me wrong it makes sense for it to have the same effects as tobacco but there is no proof.
At least as far as I'm aware.

There is a link to scitsofrenia, when smoked while young. But drug dealers don't ask for proof of age. Legal shops would have to. But then we also know that if you eats lots of cake you can get fat, should we ban cake too?

Even the former head of seattle p.d. said that from beat cop to cheaff of police that he saw the social cost of alcohol. Yet he could not recall anything of the sort that could be attributed to cannabis. Not a single case.

Don't get me wrong if steel to feed a drug habbit then you should be punished for steeling. But morraly why should you punish someone for something that harms noone, possibly bar themselves?

paulmapp8306

Its a drug - it impares drivng and the ability to work and think clearly. Cannabis has been proven to be a cause of paranoia and other mental health problems.

We should make sentences MORE tough for both dealers, and users IMO. Getting slack will lead to more health issues, and further addiction to other controlled substances.

Both Nicotine and alcohol wouldnt be legalised now, if they wernt already. I do get a tad fed up of people saying "this isnt as adictive as tht" - or "it isnt harmfull" etc - there only trying to justify their habbit.

zaber86

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Its a drug - it impares drivng and the ability to work and think clearly. Cannabis has been proven to be a cause of paranoia and other mental health problems.

We should make sentences MORE tough for both dealers, and users IMO. Getting slack will lead to more health issues, and further addiction to other controlled substances.

Both Nicotine and alcohol wouldnt be legalised now, if they wernt already. I do get a tad fed up of people saying "this isnt as adictive as tht" - or "it isnt harmfull" etc - there only trying to justify their habbit.

First of all I don't smoke cannabis, I have tried it but I was never a regular smoker. The facts are the facts, whether or not you you can accept them or not. Also from a moral perspective how can you tell me what I can and cant do to my own body.

Ok Driving, Completely agree with you. They are a MASSIVE danger behind the wheel. But then its the same with alcohol. Then and only then are they risking other peoples lives and THEN they should be punished

If you increase the penalties and you increase the reward for those who dont get caught.

Why dont we just outlaw tobacco and Alcohol now? They tried Alcohol in the US. all it did was lead to widespread corruption, and make organised crime massive. Al Capone wouldn't be a household name if they never banned Alcohol.

paulmapp8306

I didnt say you smoked - and Ive seen scientific evidance that cannabis is addictive. Its not physicallt addictive its mentally addictive - - which is arguably worse.

The fact is, that we, as a society, have a right to stop anyone doing something that impacts on us - and ANY drug taking DOES impact on everyone.

What about the bloke high, who opporating machiery at work? What about the one who wonders into the road causing an accident that kills or maims other people. Many many cases were those taking drugs can harm others not just themselves.

Im not saying its different to Alchohol either. Im saying alcohol wouldnt be legalise now. Just because it IS due to historically being accepted doesnt mean we should legalise other things that jave obvious risks.

The reason for the ganster issues in america was because alchohol was already accepted, and used widly, with people addicted before it was banned. It was aklways going to cause issues, as would banning it or tobacco now. But legalising other drugs now, will lead to more peopl trying the substances, more people getting issues - and you cant go back. Just dont go there in the first place is the best solution.

abaxas

Remove drug classification from the hands of politicians and setup a group of scientists/medical professionals to ban/legalise/etc.

They way 'legal highs' can be banned more quickly but safe drugs can be legal (and not 'cool').

paulmapp8306

Theres no such thing as safe drugs. Any type, be that perscription, legal or otherwise. All drugs carry a risk of some sort.

BertieUK

The Home Office and Downing Street both say there is no need to review Britain's drug laws, pointing out that drug use is falling while numbers in treatment are rising.

Are they on the same planet to say this, to say drug use is falling?