I was wondering anyone elses opinions on the war on drugs. It is my personal opinion that we are fighting a losing battle with the war on drugs. When I was young (meaning under 21), I had access to anything I could possibly want with the exceptions of alcohol and tobacco. I think all drugs should be legal. Everything from pot to heroine. Here are my reasons: 1. The only drug I've ever done is pot. That stuff about it being a gateway drug is a bunch of crap. The only thing to fear from weed is eating too much junk food. At the very least, pot should be legal. 2. I do not condone hard drug use. While I think substances like cocaine, heroine, etc. are truly dangerous and stupid things, I don't think anyone has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my own body. 3. This is modern day prohibition. Remember history? When we had prohibition in this country for alcohol, crime and gangsters were rampant. While legalizing drugs certainly won't eliminate all crime, it will eliminate the drug dealers, drug kingpins, and drug manufacturers. 4. Legalization will also make drugs safer. If the government regulated drugs and made sure they were manufactured properly, they would be safer. In other words, when you buy from a dealer, you run the risk of buying stuff that is laced with something else. 5. The government spends billions fighting this war. They could be making billions with taxation if drugs were legalized. Extra tax money is always good: more $$$ for the things we love like schools, social security, and basketball arenas . Thats just my take. I think it is painfully obvious that the war on drugs just isn't working, and I think legalization could work to everyones benefit. And no, I'm not some raging pot-head/coke-head/junkie/whatever. I grew out of pot and never did anything else. ------------------ Proud Cheerleader 'til we move to New Orleans 302 [This message has been edited by Lynus302 (edited March 20, 2000).]
I actually wrote a paper on this same exact topic in my first year of college. I agree on your major points of taxation, etc. But I am still not for legalizing drugs. There are some stupid people out there in the world. And I dont want these people driving or doing anything else that might jeopordize the life of someone else. I agree that one should be able to do what they want with his or her own life. But drug usage also impacts the lives of people who keep away from drugs. Plus legalizing drugs would make it more socially acceptable and more accesible to kids. If it was left up to me to fight the war against drugs, I would direct my attention to the countries where these drugs are supplied from. Another thing I would do is have harsher prison sentences for convicted drug trafficers and dealers. ------------------
Our jails are overflowing with minor drug users and sellers. These people spend full terms in prison while rapists and murderers and theives only spend a fraction of their sentence in jail. That's ****ed up. The war on drugs is a losing battle and a waste of money. The government needs to rethink their priorities about who they are trying to make examples of. Fill the jails with violent criminals and get the drug users out of there. The war on drugs is a joke. Amsterdam is proof that an educated society is a smart society. Here's a country that has legalized some drugs and prostitution yet they boast the lowest rate of teen pregnancy, lowest rate of venerial diseases, lowest rate of addiction, and there's more but I can't remember them all.... ...should've laid off the bong! ------------------ SpaceCity of RocketFuel [This message has been edited by SpaceCity (edited March 20, 2000).]
Rockets03: "There are some stupid people out there in the world. And I don't want these people driving or doing anything else that might jeopordize the life of someone else." What makes you think they are not doing this as we speak while drugs are illegal? ------------------ The truth is out there.
I too wrote a paper, and gave a speech, my first semester in college regarding the legalization of mar1juana. To me, the main points would be medicinal and environmentally, but I don't believe weed is any worse than alcohol or smoking tobacco. Plus, getting high and watching Friday is really fun! I get really upset at the prsion thing. During the primary season, all four of the candidates have admitted (or somewhat admitted...Bush) using drugs at some point in their life. Our current President has admitted trying it (hey, I smoked pot for a long time, and I didn't inhale the first time either). But, if a 17 year old is caught with mar1juana or cocaine, they go to jail, or at the very least, pay a fine. If you're in college, and you get caught with it in your room, you get kicked out, no hearing, no nothing. Yet, we have two presidential candidates who have used illegal drugs in the past, but nothing happened to them, while thousands upon thousands of people who weren't so lucky are sitting in jail for the same thing. Also, does anyone really believe that prison will help drug users? I hope not. What they really need is rehab, even though that probably won't work either, at least some space could be reserved for the real criminals. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that we are the only team mentioned in the national anthem? I didn't think so!
A war on anything will never work. I say make drugs legal and at the same time have a task force that promotes health instead. Such as the benifets of having and living with a healthy, mind and body, everyday. The reason I say that is....lets just say nobody in America uses drugs, okay. Not one single individual. Then our goverment knows that millons law officals would most likely lose their jobs, I mean what would they do? That is being selfish an irrational, I might add. See the Goverment will never allow drugs to be legal cause that means less goverment, and more freedom for individuls. If people and children are daily reminded of the benifets of education and being healthy, then the market for drugs would cease to exist. Man belive me I talk from personal experince here. As matter of fact I'm getting the hell out of here right now, I'm going to run about 7miles and No drug beats this feeling. ------------------
I don't think any drugs should be legalized, but the arguments are strong on both sides. Personally, I don't think giving up on the issue is the way to go. All legalization does is make it socially acceptable to use them. But regardless of that argument, there's one simple reason it won't happen for a long time: it's irreversible. If legalization doesn't have the intended consequence, it is almost impossible to undo and you're screwed. For example, if tobacco and alcohol had always been illegal, there wouldn't have been a prohibition issue. A better example might be the gun issue, regardless of your stance on it. In countries where guns have never been legal, no one cares. However, here, any attempt to regulate it is an infringement. Similarly, once drugs are legal, it will be virtually impossible to make them illegal again if things don't work out properly. For that reason, I don't think any vote to legalize drugs would ever pass. ------------------
I don't know about this. To me, alcohol is a drug, yet its legal. You can get butt naked drunk, yet, if you get a little high, you are a criminal? The only difference between alcohol and drugs is law. One is legal. One ain't. Sounds like the government is being hypocritical. But, what else is new? ------------------ Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball.
The government is hypocritical... Not just the Democrats, and not just the Republicans. I tend to agree with more Republican stances than I do Democratic, but there are issues where I totally agree with Democrats. Here's some funny things our government does. Prostitution is legal... But, only in a few select places. Why is that? Why can something be illegal almost everywhere in the U.S., but legal in a few small areas? Abortion is legal... but if a drunk driver hits a pregnant woman and kills her fetus, he can be charged with murder. If the "pro-choice" stance is that it's not a life, then why charge the drunk with murder. If it is a life, then why allow thousands of women and doctors to decide who lives and who dies? Another question about the legality of abortion: Why is it a woman's choice whether her fetus lives or dies, but it's not her choice whether she commits suicide or not? So, the reality is that it's not a question of "choice". It's really a question of "responsibility". People do not want to be responsible for their actions. (i.e. SEX) There are no other natural ways to get pregnant. You have to have sex. And if you have sex, then there is always a possibility of getting pregnant, no matter what sort of precautions people take. If a guy wears a condom, a girl is on the pill, and they use a spermacidal jelly, and the girl has a 'sponge', etc., and the still get pregnant, then DAMMIT they knew there was a chance of that happening. Take responsibility for your actions people. On drugs: If abortion is legal, prostitution is legal, alcohol is legal, tobacco (along with other herbs) are legal, etc., then don't say that drugs shouldn't be legalized. I think drugs should be legalized. People should just take responsibility for what happens to them after taking them. Don't expect the government to use the tax money from drugs to help people that are addicted to drugs. Got dangit, you took the drug, you pay the piper. Just like these idiots who are suing the tobacco companies for cancer. What a CROCK! ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Dang DREAMer, that was an awesome post. I didn't know about the drunk driver thing...is that really true? ------------------
Laws are made to ptotect the citizens. I am totally behind the NOT LEGALIZING camp. I do agree there is a problem with tobacco & alcohol being legal and not other drugs. If drugs are legalized they become more accessible, which is a bad thing. Some of you suggested only legalizing pot, but if pot is legalized how long until the argument is made about Heroin, etc. Also if pot is legalized who pays the additional expenses to equip cops across our country (especially the small towns who have limited funding) to test for equivalents of blood alchol tests for dope, heroin, etc on routine traffic stops. Also if drugs are legalized then they must receive FDA approval. Explain to me how the any of these drugs are considered safe (don't give me the argument of nicotine & alcohol being legal because they are not covered by the FDA) ------------------
No, no, no. You thihnk legalizing drugs would make them MORE accesible? Thats crazy and wrong. I remember in 6th grade, I could get ANYTHING I could possibly want other than alcohol and/or tobacco. If the government legalized drugs, they would be more difficult to acquire. And Chuckie, don't even try to compare pot to heroine. ------------------ Proud Cheerleader 'til we move to New Orleans 302
It's really a moral issue more than anything. Legalization of drugs would indeed make it more accessible as people would not have the fear of being busted. As for mar1juana being the gateway, that is also true, depending on the strength and curiosity of the person. But there is a fact about mar1juana: it contains 7 times the amount of tar a cigarette does. As far as I am concerned, I am strong enough to not be dependent on any drug, whether it is asprin, caffeine, mar1juana, alcohol, nicotine, etc. If a person doesn't want to get hooked, they shouldn't start. The war on drugs is indeed a joke. If the US was really concerned about it there would be much less dealers and runners. You can't do much when your border patrol is bought off by runners. ------------------
Just read an article today in the Houston Chronicle; it's about a woman in Las Vegas who ran over and killed six teenagers. Upon questioning she said how she had just smoked pot. This obviously means that the stupid b!tch was high. Could not think properly and the results were that six children got slaughtered. I know that alcohol is legal and the same problems result from alcohol, but countering one problem(DWI) by legalizing other drugs is not the answer. ------------------
Lynus- I definetely think legalizing drugs would make them more accesible. I don't know a thing about your school where you could get anything you wanted except beer and nicotine. That just sounds flat out strange. I know at my school there was beer, liquor and snuff & cigarettes around by 7th-8th grade, but I never heard of pot or any other drug being used until high school. If drugs were legalized it would be much easier to get because their would be 2 routes, legal & illegal to acquire them. Also if as you said, the government was making $ on selling drugs, do you think they would decrease the supply, when they could make more $. ------------------
Lynus you said "How is it that you think drugs will be easier to get if they were legal? If drugs were legal, there would be little to no need for a black market. How many moonshiners exist when compared to liquor stores?" How much easier is it to get liquor now than during prohibition? Even if a person had a regular supplier of booze during prhobition there is no guarantee that they would make their delivery or get busted themselves. Now you simply drive to the liquor store or carryout or grocery store or gas station, etc. Now virtually every store carries alchohol, whereas there were only a few suppliers during prohibition. Also drugs are not a victimless crime. Taxpayers pay for the unpaid medical bills from drug users that burn all their brain cells, quit or get fired from their jobs and have no insurance. Someone pays their medical bills, someone pays to support them. Now if you agreed to sign a waiver, along with other users who wish to legalize mar1juana and other drugs, that you promise to pay additional taxes to support anyone who becomes reliant on drugs due to legalizing drugs then I am all for it. It is somewhat similar to the seat belt law. The government says you have to do something which alot of us don't like, but it helps reduce victims in auto accidents, therefore lowering insurance premiums and medical bills. The government really has no right to get involved but for the safety of the public they established a law that the states can repeal, albeit if they do they lose state funding dollars. ------------------
4chuckie, The seat belt laws were passed because insurance companies didn't want to pay the medical bills for people injured in car wrecks. I say the government should give NO money to people who get physical ailments from using addictive substances, such as: Alcohol, Tobacco, hell even overweight people. These people should get insurance and pay for their actions them-damn-selves. So, legalize drugs and tell people that if you use them, be prepared to pay for whatever happens to you yourself. Don't say it's a moral issue. This government has done so many damn immoral things it makes me sick. Where do morals come from anyway? RELIGION. And, I here that stupid "seperation of Church and state" argument so much that I want all the church out of it. Take the swearing in of the President on a Bible out. Take "In God We Trust" off the stinking money. Take it all out, and then see what you have left. Ignorant whining %*&#@+$. You'll get what you deserve. DISCLAIMER: The last part of my post was not aimed at anyone in particular here on the BBS. It just my ranting from being bombarded with these issues as of late. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited March 22, 2000).]
The bottom line is that people who want to use drugs are going to use them, whether they are legal or not. Drug use is a victimless crime. If someone gets high and goes off driving, then that is a different situation than someone who has at least enough sense to not endanger others with their habits. How is it that you think drugs will be easier to get if they were legal? If drugs were legal, there would be little to no need for a black market. How many moonshiners exist when compared to liquor stores? I didn't say I had no access to alcohol and tobacco back then, only that I could have gotten illegal drugs easier do to the fact that they are illegal, and no one has to show any kind of ID or be subject to any regulations to obtain or sell them. Space City said: "Amsterdam is proof that an educated society is a smart society. Here's a country that has legalized some drugs and prostitution yet they boast the lowest rate of teen pregnancy, lowest rate of venerial diseases, lowest rate of addiction, and there's more but I can't remember them all...." Admittedly, I don't know what all of their gov't policies are concerning drugs, but it is obvious to me that they have a more realistic and educated approach to this than we do. The "soft" drugs, i.e. pot and hashish are legal. The "hard" drugs like heroine are illegal, but I believe the penalties for hard drug use are relatively mild unless you endanger others in the process. ------------------ Proud Cheerleader 'til we move to New Orleans 302
