Should all illegal drugs.....

[Charade]

such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc be legalized and have controlled distribution by the government or possibly on the open market like some states allow for alcohol and cigarettes?

It has been reported that only a small percentage of hard drug users (including alcohol) become addicted and that it's a myth that one hit from crack can get you addicted.

Your opinions?

 

[auntpolly]

It doesn't matter whether they are myths or not - it's my body, should be my decision - they should all be legal.

 

[Charade]

It doesn't matter whether they are myths or not - it's my body, should be my decision - they should all be legal.

I respect your opinion (I disagree), but why do we control certain pharmaceuticals by a doctors prescription only?

 

[mrsltg]

Legalize! Let the botton fall out of the market (and it will). I have a hard time believing that anyone says, "I'd give crack a try, but it's illegal." The "War on Drugs" is a gigantic waste of money and is unwinnable. Let's cut our losses, let adults decide what they want to do, cut the crime rate, and free up lots of jail space.

Sadly, it's never going to happen.

Erin

 

[Charade]

I should have added that some believe that it should be legal for you to use the drugs (grow your own pot) but it would be illegal for a private consumer to sell any.

 

[Charade]

AuntPolly, if it's your body.... what about pregnant women?

 

[auntpolly]

I respect your opinion (I disagree), but why do we control certain pharmaceuticals by a doctors prescription only?

So the drug companies can make more money? I don't know. Maybe they shouldn't be either.

 

[auntpolly]

AuntPolly, if it's your body.... what about pregnant women?

If you harm any other person while smoking, drinking, or taking drugs, that's another matter entirely.

Just because drinking is legal doesn't mean it should be legal to get in your car drunk and run over pedestrians.

 

[auntpolly]

Legalize! Let the botton fall out of the market (and it will). I have a hard time believing that anyone says, "I'd give crack a try, but it's illegal." The "War on Drugs" is a gigantic waste of money and is unwinnable. Let's cut our losses, let adults decide what they want to do, cut the crime rate, and free up lots of jail space.

Sadly, it's never going to happen.

Erin

Very well said!!!

(Except that I am waiting for crack to be legal so that I can try it --- JUST KIDDING!!!!)

 

[bubie2.5]

Legalize! Let the botton fall out of the market (and it will). I have a hard time believing that anyone says, "I'd give crack a try, but it's illegal." The "War on Drugs" is a gigantic waste of money and is unwinnable. Let's cut our losses, let adults decide what they want to do, cut the crime rate, and free up lots of jail space.

Sadly, it's never going to happen.

Erin

 

[wvrevy]

So long as you have moralistic hypocrites in this country (and I don't see the Republican Party going away any time soon ), you'll have opposition to allowing people to make their own decisions on a lot of things, this included. The fact that both alcohol and tobacco are worse for your health than marijuana, yet pot is the one that is illegal (and just about the only drug the "war" has had any success in curtailing, by the way) only goes to show that the lobbyists for the alcohol and tobacco industries pay better than do those suggesting legalization.

Sorry...touchy subject with me. Legalizing marijuana would virtually save the american farmer overnight, would go towards helping the environment (the oils from the plant can be used in place of petroleum in a lot of cases, not to mention that everything from textiles to lumber can be made from hemp...and the Declaration of Independance was actually written on hemp parchment), and would be a huge tax boon to states (such as my own) that can use all the help they can get. But moralistic jerks are certain that the devil weed is the root of all evil (despite the fact I have never heard of someone getting stoned and beating up his wife, while someone getting drunk and doing so is cliche), and they insist on imposing their morals on everyone else.

 

[Charade]

So long as you have moralistic hypocrites in this country (and I don't see the Republican Party going away any time soon ),.

That's for keeping this a friendly debate. Couldn't even make it past page one. Nice.

 

[chobie]

That's for keeping this a friendly debate. Couldn't even make it past page one. Nice.

If the shoe fits...

 

[crcormier]

Absolutely yes. Legalize away! Let people make their own decisions! It works in other countries, why not here?

 

[kasar]

Considering the millions (billions?) of dollars being spent to stop the drug flow, the number of lives that have been lost, and the failure of programs such as DARE, I'd say it's worth a try. Legalize drugs, give people back their neighborhoods and stop enriching murderers and crooks.

Of course, the pushers would still be out trying to get kids hooked as I presume there would be an age limit.

 

[MsLeFever]

The fact that both alcohol and tobacco are worse for your health than marijuana, yet pot is the one that is illegal (and just about the only drug the "war" has had any success in curtailing, by the way) only goes to show that the lobbyists for the alcohol and tobacco industries pay better than do those suggesting legalization.

Sorry...touchy subject with me. Legalizing marijuana would virtually save the american farmer overnight, would go towards helping the environment (the oils from the plant can be used in place of petroleum in a lot of cases, not to mention that everything from textiles to lumber can be made from hemp...and the Declaration of Independance was actually written on hemp parchment), and would be a huge tax boon to states (such as my own) that can use all the help they can get. QUOTE]

Plus, this would help end prison overcrowding and subsequent HUGE taxpayer expense.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

The libertarian in me says yes, they should all be legalized and we should abolish all government programs to assist people who get addicted (except, obviously for children who are born addicted because of stupid, irresponsible parents).

If you choose to mess up your life by smoking crack, go for it. But don't come picking my pocket for money to help you cope with a problem you created. I'm sure private charities could take care of these people if they wanted to and I certainly won't be donating to them.

I don't honestly think we'd see much of a change really in how many people do these drugs because I don't think the people who don't do them now are suddenly going to run out and start.

The jails would be less crowded, and we'd have room for the real criminals (of course, doing something violent or illegal while on one of these drugs would still be a crime (just like drunk driving is a crime) so you better think about that before you pick up that first crackpipe). We'd spend less on court appointed attorneys to defend people picked up for just being high.

We'd have less drug gang related crime because the need for illegal dealers would pretty much go away.

As for marijauna, I am frankly disturbed that this is not legal for medical use already. Whatever the side effects may be, IMHO, if a person is suffering and in pain and this helps them ease that pain, than let them have it.

I believe in personal responsibility. I also believe that with personal responsibility comes choice and consequence. If you want to do something, than go ahead, as long as you are not physically hurting anyone else in the process. But be prepared to face the consequences. If you can't handle the consequences than think long and hard about the choice you make.

flame away...

 

[wvrevy]

That's for keeping this a friendly debate. Couldn't even make it past page one. Nice.

1 - It was tongue in cheek (hence the ). Lighten up.
2 - As a previous poster said, "if the shoe fits". Was anything I said untrue ?

 

[brerrabbit]

I consider myself conservative and moral, however I also firmly believe you cannot legislate morality. I favor the legalization of drugs. As long as every package comes with all the proper warning labels so that no one can come back and sue down the road claiming they did not know the health risks associated with mainlining heroin. An earlier poster complains about the cost associated with the government's drug wars and I think in the end that will have more to do with not legalizing drugs than anything else.

Heree's where I go a little OT but it applies to drugs as well. The federal government will not make a lot of changes to policies simply because of the resulting economic impact. Lets face it something as straightforward as or income tax system could be made really simple and save billions of dollars. Go to a flat tax, no deductions end of story. Why won't the government do it? Because then they loose their ability to stimulate the economy by tweeking certain tax deductions and tax credits to give incentives to control behavior. They claim if there were no mortgage interest deduction none of us would buy houses. Thats bull hockey! Interest deduction or not I would still own a home. The same situation exsists for the drug wars. We employ literally thousands of people in the drug wars and to call those wars off tomorrow would raise unemployment to much. I personally think we should legalize the drugs and transfer all the drug police to Border Patrol and shut down the flow of illieagals into the country to protect our borders. But thats a political hot potato because no politician wants to shut down our source of cheap labor and alienate what has become a large voting block, Hispanics in border states. So many things that seem so clear to the average person who is not encumbered by the mind boggling number of trickle down effects of legislation that might be passed like our politicians are. Maybe we should just vote them all out and vote in average citizen legislators like the original framers of the constitution envisioned and then we could fix all the problems.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Good points Brerrabbit.