Drugs in Society

[LeedsRhinos]

What would be the real implications to society if all drugs were legalized?

[Le Chat]

On the plus side... there would be less crime, as druggies have to afford their habit. If drugs were legalised, then the price would drop and they would be more affordable, so not as much thieving. The gangland warfare, which is predominantly drug oriented would obviously be wiped out. The question is though, would more and more people turn to drugs? Well, you have to ask yourself if price is the only thing stopping people using them. I don't think so, but there are many people who are easily led and/or stupid and some who get hooked simply from 'a moment of weakness.'
I would like drugs to be legalised purely from the crime angle alone. If people want to take drugs then, according to the 19 yrs old girls I work with, they are really easy to get hold of anyway. I have been reliably informed that everyone knows someone who can get hold of the goods.
Another point, is that because dealers want to maximize their profits, they often add other stuff to drugs ie, washing powder, so that the consumer is not getting the proper cut. I suppose their is a danger in this from a poisoning point.
I really don't know the implications. I'm sure there will be plenty of AB ers with good points for and against and some excellent links.
Good question LeedsRhinos.

[Theland]

Glue sniffing is sad and bad, and kills people, but people don't have to turn to crime to get the money to buy glue do they?

But, according to Melanie Philips in the Mail recently, Swden went down this road of liberalising drigs and regretted it. Sorry I can't be more specific, the article was written several weeks ago in relation to the five murder victims in Ipswhich.

[beryllium]

Well I love Amsterdam, but it's a very small area and perhaps they regret it? On the plus side, the taxes this government and future governments would be I'm sure substantial. Also? it would make more jobs lol.... coffee shops need staff, growing the products needs staff and I would very much like to see control by an age restriction of 18 the same as cigarettes now.
There seems to be some reports that the street stuff is getting too strong and kids are smoking stuff that is screwing them up mentally.
Some will always break the law though, whether it's legal or not and that includes drink etc.
If it gets brought out into the open there's more control.
There will always be junkies that will take smack, crack and nonsence. There will always be alcoholics.
Yes legalise it and get control.....

[BigDogsWang]

The biggest thing drug dealers fear most is the legalisation of their 'industry'. However, I feel that legalisation would be a short cut to hell.

Cutting crime is about the ONLY benefit legalisation would bring. The 'cons' far outway the 'pros', and i simply haven't got the time to list them.

[beryllium]

this was the debate in 2003 by our current politiians...

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2003-1 1-12a.1468.0&s=cuckoo

Would we end up with a bunch of wasters and no workers? No.
Some will and some wont, no change there then.
Please list your pro's and cons BDW.....

[BigDogsWang]

If smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol were made illegal, there would be far less medical and social problems in this country. True, people would continue to do it, but in the same way people currently use drugs, i.e. out of sight (mostly), and in a relative minority. I myself have partaken in the use of Cannabis, but because of the fact that it is illegal, only in the privacy of my own home. I am also sensible enough to know that what I did should not have been used as a gateway. But unfortunately there are too many people who don�t stop there.

Legalising mind altering drug use would increase the burden on the already overstretched NHS, not to mention an increase in driving, and working in dangerous environments, whilst under the influence of drugs which are far more difficult to detect than booze. In addition to this, I for one do not wish to walk around this country�s town centers witnessing Smack and Crack heads shooting up, or being �legally� high in front of me or my children.

[beryllium]

I dont think making drink and smoking illegal would ease the burden on the NHS. The same people will be doing it illegally and will still end up with the same medical problems plus the guilt.
I do think choosing the right areas for cannabis cafes could still work.
The ones that go onto hard drugs? of course I don't want to see them shooting up, but I used to live at Elephant and Castle, and even though it was private property, when I used to get home I'd find needles in the doorway to my flat, that was 18 yrs ago and nothings changed.
I lived near Kingston, Surrey and the Church had a place called Kaleidoscope where you would drive passed it and all the alckies would be outside with their cans and smoking joints. I suppose it kept them in one place and it did!!! seen and forgotten and perhaps a good lesson to be learnt by pasers by and kids. Oh yes, it was opposite Tiffin Boys school and still is.

[beryllium]

sorry BDW, I have chocolate infused with the green, and it's the best pain killer I would ever want. :-)

[BigDogsWang]

But what I am saying is that if a 'minority' do it when it's illegal, a 'majority' will do it if it's legal. The same problem has happened with Alcohol. It is now a more acceptable passtime, and as a result we are at our peak of Alcohol related problems.

[beryllium]

but would they? the majority I mean? and would that lead to more smack addicts? are we really such a weak nation?
I still think it should be legalised and then maybe the kids getting their hands on the bad stuff will stop.

http://www.rustyzipper.com/pics/74519L.jpg

oh lord!!! is this our future kids....

[Goodsoulette]

I agree with Beryl here. I have and will continue smoke pot probably as long as there is life in me. I have also used numerous other recreational drugs but I never touched heroin. Drugs are readily available anyway, I would be able to get my hands on smack and just about every other drug within 10 minutes if I so chose too, I would have hoped that by decriminalising drugs it would remove some of the stigma and help the subject become more approachable between children and parents, instead of just getting fobbed off with drugs are bad and illegal dont touch them.

I think the use of recreational drugs are heavily misrepresented by the press. Sorry.

[Loosehead]

So drugs are good then Goodsoulette and the nasty old papers are giving them a bad write up, right oh! Cannibis is not a highly addictive brain damaging drug then, right oh! and a nose full of charlie is like a nice bowl of sherbet dab! Must rush down to dope heads R us and get myself a selection box of lovely narcotics. Dunno how I've managed on beer alone this long!

[beryllium]

Hi Loosehead,
Alcohol is also an addictive substance and most definately mind altering. Lets face it, when the news had coverage of 24hr drinking going through all that was shown was fights and stabbings through drink. I cannot ever imagine a bunch of stoners having the energy to do that lol....

[Loosehead]

Yes I admit it I'm binge drinker, I had over 4 pints once!

[beryllium]

4 pints? that'd floor me lol ;-)

[ugly_bob]

I have to object tot just about the first point in this post. If drugs were legalised, the prices would rise, not fall. The government would slap heavy taxes on them. They would, however at least be free of rat poison/talc etc etc and would become in themselves much safer products.
I'm not denying that the drugs themselves are harmful, but the fact that they are always cut with something else means users don't know what they're getting.

You'll always get people buying unregulated, untaxed products, whether they be drugs, alcohol, tobacco, electrical goods, clothes, dvds etc etc, but by legalising them, you'll at least get the majority into the mainstream and improve safety