Legalize Drugs?

[mido]

I found an article yesterday in the Herald Tribune:

Honduran president calls for legalizing drug use - International Herald Tribune

The president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, suggested to legalize drugs and instead of spending the money to combat drug trafficking to spend it to educate people. He also said in another article that drug users should be treated as patients.

Presidente hondureño propone legalizar consumo de drogas - ElNuevoDiario.com.ni

Do you think drug related violence in Dominican Republic could be detained by legalizing drugs?

[Squat]

I wouldn't mind having marijuana legalized (disclaimer: I don't use any drugs whatsoever...).

Face it, rum or whiskey are stronger drugs than marijuana...

But I think if cocaine was to be legalized, it would ruin the economy, as most police, military and politicians wouldn't be able to organize the "illegal cocaine trade", as they are doing today for a heavy profit.

Suddenly, police officers, high military and politicians would have to find another dirty trick to make fast money on our back...

I think this is a major reason with keeping cocaine illegal: it is much more profitable that way.

[dv8]

profitable but for the few...
i am all for legalizing all drugs, think about those billions of dollars landing in the budget instead of pockets of corrupted politicians.
and as for the drug users, c'mon they do it at their own wish: no free treatments, no clinics, no mercy.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by dv8

think about those billions of dollars landing in the budget instead of pockets of corrupted politicians.

In some countries I could mention that amounts to exactly the same thing.

[catcherintherye]

I agree with dv8. But I doubt it will ever happen, simply because of what has already been stated, it is much too profitable now.
Who benefits by keeping it illegal? The most vocal anti-drug politicians might well be the most connected to the drug trade.

[DRob]

I guess my .02 is that the drug "war" is being fought bass ackwards. The reason it's failing (and has been for many decades) is that we keep going after the suppliers.

They are like the mythological hydra - even if you cut off one head, another grows in it's place. That's because the business is so profitable. Here's the irony: even if you succeed in cutting off one major trafficker, and keeping another from taking their place, the diminished product availability makes the business even more profitable for those remaining businessmen.


Assuming the intent is to keep the trade illegal, the way to deal with it, therefore, is to ignore the sellers, and go after the buyers. I'm not talking about the knuckleheads and stick-up kids in the hood. They're not the real problem. I'm talking about the casual users, namely Brad and Piper from Duke who are looking to have a bit of extra fun this weekend.

Those people, aggregated, are the ones who fuel the business. Therefore, if you aggressively prosecute and persecute them (faces on the news, felony charges, dragged out of homes, pretty much the same coverage you see minorities and poor whites getting on the evening news), I guarantee you'll see a major change in things.

As for outright legalization, I disagree. Controlled drugs - legal or otherwise - aren't benevolent. And people tend to use poor judgment around drugs. Either reason is enough to be against it, but both....

DRob

[Beads]

Originally Posted by DRob

I guess my .02 is that the drug "war" is being fought bass ackwards. The reason it's failing (and has been for many decades) is that we keep going after the suppliers.

They are like the mythological hydra - even if you cut off one head, another grows in it's place. That's because the business is so profitable. Here's the irony: even if you succeed in cutting off one major trafficker, and keeping another from taking their place, the diminished product availability makes the business even more profitable for those remaining businessmen.


Assuming the intent is to keep the trade illegal, the way to deal with it, therefore, is to ignore the sellers, and go after the buyers. I'm not talking about the knuckleheads and stick-up kids in the hood. They're not the real problem. I'm talking about the casual users, namely Brad and Piper from Duke who are looking to have a bit of extra fun this weekend.

Those people, aggregated, are the ones who fuel the business. Therefore, if you aggressively prosecute and persecute them (faces on the news, felony charges, dragged out of homes, pretty much the same coverage you see minorities and poor whites getting on the evening news), I guarantee you'll see a major change in things.

As for outright legalization, I disagree. Controlled drugs - legal or otherwise - aren't benevolent. And people tend to use poor judgment around drugs. Either reason is enough to be against it, but both....

DRob

If someone wants drugs there going to get them one way or another. In the DR and the US its easier than you think and can be done legally.Theres no shortage of doctors willing to prescribe drugs for anyone who wants them.

This is a major hurdle to the war on drugs because drug companies have a legal pipeline through lobbying and usage of doctors to push their crap and make them money.

The drug companies are a major obstacle in legalizing marijuana and other drugs because they know they will lose lots of money if people get get their legal "high" someplace else.

[DRob]

Originally Posted by Beads

If someone wants drugs there going to get them one way or another. In the DR and the US its easier than you think and can be done legally.Theres no shortage of doctors willing to prescribe drugs for anyone who wants them.

This is a major hurdle to the war on drugs because drug companies have a legal pipeline through lobbying and usage of doctors to push their crap and make them money.

The drug companies are a major obstacle in legalizing marijuana and other drugs because they know they will lose lots of money if people get get their legal "high" someplace else.

That's like blaming wall street for forcing you to take out that lousy mortgage on that house that cost far more than you can afford, beads.

Bad decisions at the top are often the result of bad decisions at the bottom. People who use poor judgment elect poor leaders who are susceptible to lobbyists who represent companies that make money off selling poor products to people with poor judgment, and so on.

I know you want to point a finger at some nebulous corporate bogeyman, but the best place to start is usually a mirror. Try using the one attached to your medicine cabinet.

[dv8]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

In some countries I could mention that amounts to exactly the same thing.

sad but true. but i like the idea that you may be able to buy cocaine in wall-mart and maybe even mention: "i would like to sponsor the state police/hospital/PETA with this purchase"...

[Castellamonte]

Although I do not currently use drugs I did when I was much younger and, yes, I definitely inhaled...among other things.

I believe drugs should be legalized, licensed, taxed and sold in WalMart!

Drugs are currently not legalized more out of ignorance than any real desire of the government to protect us. Governments have yet to determine how they can control the flow of drugs from supplier to consumer. Once they figure that out they can license the suppliers, tax the consumer and everyone will be happy.

Cigarettes, for example, are a product that if used as described by the manufacturer will almost certainly kill you. But governments allow them to be sold because they know where they are coming from, where they are going and how to extract revenue from them.

Gambling is a horrible habit that preys upon the weak, poorest and uneducated in society. Yet governments allow it because they can control it sufficiently to license and tax it.

Alcoholic beverages are worse for you that ecstasy and marijuana combined (and probably even more drugs). It ruins peoples lives, eats their livers, causes horrific accidents around the world and more. It's bad stuff. But so long as the governments feel they can adequately license it and tax its consumption they are happy to allow it to be sold.

Drugs are no different except the governments haven't quite figured out how they can prevent people from making them in their bathtub or in the backyard. Just as the 'revenuers' in the Appalachians closed most of the moonshine mills, the government will eventually figure this out as well.

The sooner drugs are legalized the better. Crime will go down. Sales will go up. New jobs will be created and criminal organizations will move on to the next thing, whatever that may be, to sell under the table to us.

Now...where is that blunt I had laying around here... :-)