Exilian

Art, Writing, and Learning: The Clerisy Quarter => Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza => Topic started by: Pentagathus on September 22, 2012, 10:00:43 PM

Title: The war on drugs?
Post by: Pentagathus on September 22, 2012, 10:00:43 PM
Reading some sciency news and I came across this
 http://www.maps.org/media/view/can_ecstasy_help_treat_autism/
MDMA (ecstasy) apparently causes users to feel more empathy and makes it easier for autistic peeps to socialise.
And then I started thinking bout drugs in general and our attitudes to them and I was curious as to what you bitches be thinking. Personally I'm all for legalising most drugs because it would put drug dealers out of a job and tbh if people want to portugal themselves up I feel that is their choice. Also a few currently illegal substances are rather nice.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Jubal on September 22, 2012, 10:35:14 PM
The war on drugs has failed, period.

Legalisation I think is going too far, certainly for nastier drugs - ecstasy can be very nasty indeed, though I can see instances where many drugs could have therapeutic or medicinal uses that's up to doctors really. Decriminalisation is the obvious way forward - legalise a few very common drugs but with taxes on them (Cannabis for example), and treat others as a medical issue not a criminal one for use. So basically a heroin addict gets a rehabilitation programme and treatment for their addiction rather than spending time faffing around with lawyers and jail sentences - leave those for the big suppliers!
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Silver Wolf on September 22, 2012, 11:31:37 PM
Quote from: Pentagathus on September 22, 2012, 10:00:43 PM
Personally I'm all for legalising most drugs because it would put drug dealers out of a job and tbh if people want to portugal themselves up I feel that is their choice. Also a few currently illegal substances are rather nice.

That's not going to happen.
Cigarettes and alcohol are also dangerous, but tolerated. Do you ask yourself why?

Now here's how the politicians see it:
- Marihuana (not even talking about other drugs here) can ruin* younger people who are just starting their school/career. They will become a burden for society = less profit on taxes
- Long term consequences of cigarettes and alcohol will often show on older people. You know what's wrong about old people? They are retired (in most cases). Getting rid of them = profit! (just speeding up natural process in order to get more money)

Don't think that politicians care about something else than money.


* ruin - not really defined, but marijuana is usually considered as a first step in the bigger world of more dangerous drugs. And as we all know that usually happens in the teenage years under peer pressure.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: comrade_general on September 23, 2012, 01:40:47 AM
Alcohol and cigarettes are just as much gateway drugs as Marijuana, but do more health damage.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Pentagathus on September 23, 2012, 11:46:53 AM
I'm pretty sure one of the major reasons for cannabis still being illegal is the fact that the very rich alcohol  industry would probably lose a lot of money as its easy to grow so if it was legal it could be a lot cheaper than alcohol. I think the reasons why alcohol and tobacco are still legal is just because they have always been socially acceptable in the western world.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Othko97 on September 23, 2012, 11:48:37 AM
To be fair, the only reason Tobacco and Alcohol are still legal is for the amount of money the government get from taxes. That and also the huge influx of people needing treatment and the huge amount of dealers of alcohol and tobacco it would cause...
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: comrade_general on September 23, 2012, 01:22:51 PM
I think we (US) are slowly on the way to the legalization of Marijuana.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Jubal on September 23, 2012, 01:33:28 PM
I dunno, I think there's a lot of the more socially conservative elements in the GOP who would happily fight that all the way.

But yeah, decriminalisation is a necessity in the long run, the cost of the "war on drugs" has been insane.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: comrade_general on September 23, 2012, 01:41:54 PM
I said slowly. ;)
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Pentagathus on September 23, 2012, 06:38:42 PM
Quote from: Othko97 on September 23, 2012, 11:48:37 AM
To be fair, the only reason Tobacco and Alcohol are still legal is for the amount of money the government get from taxes. That and also the huge influx of people needing treatment and the huge amount of dealers of alcohol and tobacco it would cause...
And that many members of the government (in western societies) smoke and/ or drink. And even if they didn't, criminalising such popular substances would be massively unpopular and lose them a hell of a lot of public support.
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Doomchild on September 23, 2012, 06:55:01 PM
Something for you all to think about...
(http://cdn.theweedblog.com/wp-content/uploads//cant-we-all-get-a-bong.jpg)
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Othko97 on September 24, 2012, 08:30:21 PM
Speaking of Legalisation... http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/22/relaxation-cannabis-laws-war-on-drugs (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/22/relaxation-cannabis-laws-war-on-drugs)
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Gen_Glory on September 26, 2012, 11:38:28 PM
Can anyone remember the fiasco a few years back when it was found out that Tony Blair and other MPs had apparently smoke pot at uni etc. All defended themselves by saying they didn't inhale
When Obama was asked this by british media his reply was along the lines of well inhaling was the whole idea.

A rule which is currently in place at my uni house is nothing white, powdered or liquid
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Doomchild on September 27, 2012, 12:35:33 AM
so shrooms and peyote are in then?
 
Title: Re: The war on drugs?
Post by: Jubal on September 28, 2012, 11:48:01 AM
But no alcohol?