Legalize and regulate it, that will dramatically reduce the current damage that it is doing to society. See my previous post above for some specifics.



In a country of over 300 million people, regardless of what steps are taken and what punishments are metted out. There will still be people who will distribute it, the rewards at that point regardless of the consequences would be too great for some people to pass up.


I am not going to lie and say I dont agree with this, cause I do to a certain extent. It's all relative like everything in life. It depends on who you discuss the topic with. In my case like I stated above, I dont partake in the useage or distribution of any illegal narcotics.

there is some truth to the idea that people who use drugs would want them legal, thats just common sense. there is also alot of truth to the idea that people who use the harder drugs could really not care less what the legal status of the drugs in question are. there is also some truth to the fact that there is a large group of people who need drugs to remain illegal to remain employed. ivy, this isn't a personal attack against you, but how many of your colleagues would be out of work, or have much less work, if only cannabis was legal?

as most know who follow my posts here, i enjoy a nice smoke from time to time, so i will readily admit i have a "horse in the race", but thats only part of the reason i feel the way i do. there is always the cost/benefit analysis, as well as the personal liberty argument, both of which need to be taken into account no matter what we are talking about. the thought that if we just ramp up the war financially, as well as the idea that we can somehow impose our own sense of right and wrong on the rest of society through force in nothing short of authoritarianism under the cover of morality

As I pointed out before, alcohol and tobacco are both legalized and regulated. And, for that very reason (their availability), they do more damage to society than all the illegal drugs combined. I can't even imagine the damage that would result from heroin, cocaine, marijuana, meth, ecstasy, etc. being legalized.

It is estimated that tobacco causes 40 percent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is involved in more than 50 percent of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. In light of these stats, why should less harmful drugs like ecstasy and LSD be deemed illegal to use. A recent study by academics ranked the most dangerous drugs in order of physical harm to the user, addictive potential of the drug ,and the drug's overall impact on society. Here is the list:

Ranked from most to least dangerous, the ten most dangerous substances were deemed to be:

Heroin - popular street names include smack, skag, and junk.
Cocaine - often referred to as snow, flake, coke, and blow.
Barbiturates - popular slang names include yellow jackets, reds, blues, Amy's, and rainbows.
Street Methadone
Alcohol
Ketamine - a powerful hallucinogen, often referred to as Special K.
Benzodiazepines - a family of sedative drugs.
Amphetamines - known as greenies among baseball players.
Tobacco
Buprenorphine - also called bupe or subbies.

The remaining drugs that were assessed in the were ranked as follows:

Cannabis - includes marijuana.
Solvents - volatile substances that can be inhaled, such as glue, nail polish remover, paints, hair spray, and lighter fuel (gas).
4-MTA - is a derivative of amphetamine and has similar effects to ecstasy.
LSD
Methylphenidate - central nervous system stimulant, commonly sold as ritalin.
Anabolic steroids
GHB - short for Gamma hydroxybutyrate, a powerful central nervous system depressant, most commonly known as the date rape drug.
Ecstasy
Alkyl nitrates - group of drugs commonly referred to as poppers.
Khat - an amphetamine-like stimulant.


Legalizing and regulating illegal narcotics, while using the money raised through its taxation to treatment and prevention is a FAR MORE wiser investment than addressing the supply issue.

This just tells me tobacco should be illegal. Not that ecstasy or LSD should be made legal. But that's the result of hypocrisy on the part of our lawmakers, as well as those who vote for them. Many of them drink and smoke so those things remain legal. But, again, rather than an argument to legalize other drugs, it's an argument to make those illegal as well.

One should only look at the effects of prohibition on society- both in terms of economic cost and its effect on the populace to see what would happen if alcohol (once again) and tobacco are made illegal. Alcohol does MUCH LESS damage today to society than it did when it was illegal, thats a fact.

Not at all, I'm just saying don't put all the blame on the suppliers and pushers.

I'm not entirely opposed to eliminating the cartels, but unfortunately, as soon as you get rid of one, another will pop up. As long as the demand exists, there will be people there to supply it. The key is getting rid of the demand, but I've no idea how to do that.

I'm not sure where you get that idea because it's most certainly not a fact.

Contrary to popular opinion, alcohol use actually did go down during Prohibition. Look at the study below, which says alcohol consumption fell sharply at the beginning of Prohibition, to 30% of it's pre-Prohibition levels. During the next several years, consumption rose sharply, to 60-70% of pre-Prohibition levels. But still a net drop.

With alcohol legalized, the use is much more widespread. Which results in so many problems - alcoholism, domestic abuse, birth defects, car accidents, disease, lost productivity, etc.

http://www.nber.org/papers/w3675.pdf

Every person chooses their path. No-one forces anyone to use alcohol, the same is with drugs. It's just weak people who fell for it.