NationStates Jolt Archive

An old favourite of mine. If all drugs were legalised you would see:


A reduce in prision costs
A reduce in all crime, not just drug crime
A reduce in drug use
A reduce in drug addiction
An increase in the budget of all countries fighting a drug war
A reduce in the number of drug deaths
A reduce in the power and money of crime bosses
A reduce in the control that the government has over things that don't concern it.

So, can anyone think of a good reason why it shouldn't be done? Or would anyone care to challenge any of my suppostions?

I support the idea of ending the drug war, but to try and be the anti-drug people I will go along.

You shouldn't end the drug war because if you end the drug war, more people will use drugs than normal and thus more people will face thier adverse affects. There are those who don't do drugs simply because they are illegal. There are those who would try them if they were legal.

This has been a half-assed arguement from someone who agrees with you

I support the idea of ending the drug war, but to try and be the anti-drug people I will go along.

You shouldn't end the drug war because if you end the drug war, more people will use drugs than normal and thus more people will face thier adverse affects. There are those who don't do drugs simply because they are illegal. There are those who would try them if they were legal.

This has been a half-assed arguement from someone who agrees with youAnd yet, it sounds just as good as most of the crap they'll come up with.

Studies show that legal status of drugs has no predictible effect on drug use, social education is much more important.

An old favourite of mine. If all drugs were legalised you would see:

A reduce in drug use

Maybe after the fact - and that's a big maybe. Did repealing prohibition make less people drink? But regardless of what happens down the line, you would see an *increase* in drug use at first.

A reduce in drug addiction

I have to disagree here too. Legalizing *all* drugs would mean that drugs such as heroin, which you can become addicted to on the very first try, would be illegal. The increase in people at least trying them would lead to many more addictions and people dependent on either such drugs, or medicinal drugs to keep them from acting on their addiction, for the rest of their lives.

It is silly to lump *all* drugs in together. If you want to legalize marijuana, I think this list applies. But if you want to legalize all drugs, it does not.


A reduce in the number of drug deaths

More addiction to certain drugs means more drug-related deaths.

I think that drugs such as marijuana should be decriminalized but not illegalized. Hard drugs should remain criminal.

There are laws determining what you can and cannot do with your own property/person. Arson is an example of this. Why should drugs be any different?

Also, if you believe in health care, I have another argument for you. Drugs are a major drain on a health care system. If they were legalized, the non-drug using taxpayers would have to pay for them.

An old favourite of mine. If all drugs were legalised you would see:

A reduce in drug use

Maybe after the fact - and that's a big maybe. Did repealing prohibition make less people drink? But regardless of what happens down the line, you would see an *increase* in drug use at first.

A reduce in drug addiction

I have to disagree here too. Legalizing *all* drugs would mean that drugs such as heroin, which you can become addicted to on the very first try, would be illegal. The increase in people at least trying them would lead to many more addictions and people dependent on either such drugs, or medicinal drugs to keep them from acting on their addiction, for the rest of their lives.

It is silly to lump *all* drugs in together. If you want to legalize marijuana, I think this list applies. But if you want to legalize all drugs, it does not.


A reduce in the number of drug deaths

More addiction to certain drugs means more drug-related deaths.No, it doesn't. Long term addiction does not necessarily lead to death, however reducing drug addiction is easier when you have more money to put into treatment than into prisions.

Holland has seen a decrease in marijuana use since it was legalised, American has seen a decrease in marijuana use since penalites were increased. Legal status one way or the other clearly does not effect drug use.

I think that drugs such as marijuana should be decriminalized but not illegalized. Hard drugs should remain criminal.I assume you mean legalized not illegalized. However I completely disagree with you. Decriminalisation is not a good option. The only positive effect is reducing prisioners, however you still keep the money flowing into the pockets of criminals. And you still have the problems of dealers cutting their drugs with dangerous substances, rather than allowing it to be sold in shops with set concentrations etc

There are laws determining what you can and cannot do with your own property/person. Arson is an example of this. Why should drugs be any different?Arson is forbidden against other people's property, I don't think that its necessarily illegal to burn your own belongings, except where that causes pollution etc.

Also, if you believe in health care, I have another argument for you. Drugs are a major drain on a health care system. If they were legalized, the non-drug using taxpayers would have to pay for them.Ah, but currently the non-drug using taxpayers pay anyway. And most drugs are less damaging in controlled doses without dangerous additives, so worse if they're illegal and being cut. AND, if you cut the drug war and started selling and taxing drugs, you'd have more money to put into drug treatment and healthcare.

I want to live in Holland.

More addiction to certain drugs means more drug-related deaths.No, it doesn't. Long term addiction does not necessarily lead to death, however reducing drug addiction is easier when you have more money to put into treatment than into prisions.

Notice the words "certain drugs." Heroin addiction, for instance, generally leads to either life-long treatment, starvation, or overdose. Your problem is that you are not recognizing the distinction between very hard drugs and drugs like marijuana.


Holland has seen a decrease in marijuana use since it was legalised, American has seen a decrease in marijuana use since penalites were increased. Legal status one way or the other clearly does not effect drug use.

Again, you're talking about marijuana here, which is very different from harder drugs. It does not, for instance, cause addiction on the first try (in fact, most people don't even get high the first time they try it). This drug is used quite a bit because of the "taboo" factor - the same reason many teens try binge drinking and smoking. So it makes sense that use would be reduced by legalizing it.

Other points:

Arson *is* illegal against your own property unless you have permits for demolition, etc.

As for the "more money to spend on healthcare" argument, why should I have to pay for someone else's purely stupid decision to "try" heroin?

I definitely agree with you as far as marijuana is concerned. There is absolutely no reason to keep marijuana illegal, and it seems that most people who want to keep it illegal don't have a clear understanding of how (relatively) safe it is.

I'm less sure about harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. I think it could be a disaster if these were readily available (say, next to the Cheetos at your local 7-11), and I think that they should be very heavily regulated if they are made legal. I'm inclined to agree with the basic principle that they should be legal too, however, if only because it's hard to imagine things getting much worse than they already are.

What you do is have weed legal like Holland has it, tax it and stuff (It has to be good weed). Then have the penalties for hard drugs incredibly severe.

I've done weed casually since my sophmore year, I've acutally seen an increase in my grades.

Holland has seen a decrease in marijuana use since it was legalised, American has seen a decrease in marijuana use since penalites were increased. Legal status one way or the other clearly does not effect drug use.

Again, you're talking about marijuana here, which is very different from harder drugs. It does not, for instance, cause addiction on the first try (in fact, most people don't even get high the first time they try it). This drug is used quite a bit because of the "taboo" factor - the same reason many teens try binge drinking and smoking. So it makes sense that use would be reduced by legalizing it.

Other points:

Arson *is* illegal against your own property unless you have permits for demolition, etc.

As for the "more money to spend on healthcare" argument, why should I have to pay for someone else's purely stupid decision to "try" heroin?Well, for a start off, you do already, by paying for prisons. A dollar spent on treatment is worth more than a dollar spend on prisons. I'm suggesting a way you can pay less money. And also, by selling drugs the government can collect taxes on it. So, they're actually making the money on heroin that gets ploughed back into the healthcare system.

I have to disagree here too. Legalizing *all* drugs would mean that drugs such as heroin, which you can become addicted to on the very first try, would be illegal. The increase in people at least trying them would lead to many more addictions and people dependent on either such drugs, or medicinal drugs to keep them from acting on their addiction, for the rest of their lives.

It is silly to lump *all* drugs in together. If you want to legalize marijuana, I think this list applies. But if you want to legalize all drugs, it does not.

Actually studies show heroin addiction generally doesn't begin until there's been several weeks of steady(daily or more often) use.

Even PCP, crack and tobacco aren't usually addictive on their first usages.

I'm less sure about harder drugs like cocaine and heroin.

I still ponder whether or not I approve of the legalization of highly addictive drugs, but ultimately I come back to personal responsibility being the ultimate factor. Now, a drug such as PCP, which can cause a person to become unstoppably violent and possibly harm others, I do not approve of legalizing. I do see a place for a line to be drawn there.

I definitely agree with you as far as marijuana is concerned. There is absolutely no reason to keep marijuana illegal, and it seems that most people who want to keep it illegal don't have a clear understanding of how (relatively) safe it is.

I'm less sure about harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. I think it could be a disaster if these were readily available (say, next to the Cheetos at your local 7-11), and I think that they should be very heavily regulated if they are made legal. I'm inclined to agree with the basic principle that they should be legal too, however, if only because it's hard to imagine things getting much worse than they already are.I support something in the same area of the rules of tobacco and alcohol; age restriction, taxed heavily.

Hey PCP can be fun! I'll stick to the good ole robo though. That reminds me... I have some robotusin gel caps!

Hey PCP can be fun! I'll stick to the good ole robo though. That reminds me... I have some robotusin gel caps!

Hey PCP can be fun! I'll stick to the good ole robo though. That reminds me... I have some robotusin gel caps!

DXM and K are way safer then PCP, with far less negative side effects.

PCP should be legal, because properly educated people would never try it.

Hey PCP can be fun!

I'm sure PCP can be fun, but responsible use isn't really possible when the substance you're on has you in such a spell that you cannot be talked down. You can talk a person on pretty much any other kind of drug down, but that or attempting to physically restrain a person on PCP is nearly impossible. That is why I don't support legalizing that particular drug.

PCP should be legal, because properly educated people would never try it.

:lol:

:shock:

With the number of idiots in the world today, that becomes all the more frightening...

PCP should be legal, because properly educated people would never try it.

:lol:

:shock:

With the number of idiots in the world today, that becomes all the more frightening...

Just to set the record straight: marihuana is not legal in the Netherlands. The law against it is merely not enforced under certain circumstances (i.e. possession of less than a few grams). Recently, those circumstances have been narrowed.

Take it from a Dutchie...

If your heroin is pure, and you only ever use pure heroin, you can be addicted to itt your whole life with zero problems. Bizarrely, heroin has less side effects than cannabis. It's all the other crap that dealers cut it with(e.g sand, concrete dust) that fucks you up.

Just to set the record straight: marihuana is not legal in the Netherlands. The law against it is merely not enforced under certain circumstances (i.e. possession of less than a few grams). Recently, those circumstances have been narrowed.

Take it from a Dutchie...

No, strictly speaking it's not legal. Still, it can be sold under specific circumstances in shops, and it is sold with a bar code. You can even smoke it in full view of the police, who are too busy chasing the people who piss in public anyway, and they will do nothing. I didn't mind that at all. The junkie problem there, though, is getting worse. Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if all countries followed the dutch example, rather than making the netherlands take all of the degenerates from other countries that think of their country as a mecca for drugs.

I personally have no problem with marijuana being legal. That's just my own feelings.

Legalizing all drugs would not in any way, shape, or form improve society; it would only harm it by allowing those already addicted to spiral out of control and induce the rest of society to follow suit.

Legalizing all drugs would not in any way, shape, or form improve society; it would only harm it by allowing those already addicted to spiral out of control and induce the rest of society to follow suit.Thats not true. That is simply not the case in all circumstances that have been studied. Treatment is better for addicts than prision. Making drugs illegal puts money into the pockets of criminals. The substances that drugs are cut with regularly do more damage than the drugs themselves.

Less people in jail, less people dead, less money for organised crime. More civil rights, more time freed up for the police, more treatment centres for drug addicts. Wouldn't all these effects benefit society?

you missed the point about legalisation reducing the ammount of police time wasted chasing drug users. Most cops will agree they have much better things to do

like doing drugs? :D

you missed the point about legalisation reducing the ammount of police time wasted chasing drug users. Most cops will agree they have much better things to do
Thats a good point

Less people in jail, less people dead, less money for organised crime. More civil rights, more time freed up for the police, more treatment centres for drug addicts. Wouldn't all these effects benefit society?

If your heroin is pure, and you only ever use pure heroin, you can be addicted to itt your whole life with zero problems. Bizarrely, heroin has less side effects than cannabis. It's all the other crap that dealers cut it with(e.g sand, concrete dust) that f--- you up.

Actually, overdose is what usually kills heroin users. The reason is that your body builds up a tolerance from the very start and you can never get the same high you got the first time. So people start upping the dose trying to "chase the white rabbit," as it were. Eventually it kills them.

If anything, marijuana should be legalized. It's far less dangerous than alcohol, with about the same side-effects of cigarettes. When was the last time you heard of someone OD'ing on weed?

If your heroin is pure, and you only ever use pure heroin, you can be addicted to itt your whole life with zero problems. Bizarrely, heroin has less side effects than cannabis. It's all the other crap that dealers cut it with(e.g sand, concrete dust) that f--- you up.

Thats umm..a crock.

Opium is made form the same plant.....its addictive as hell.
So is Morphine...so was Laudnum.

All made from the same plant.

Drugs are bad for you, and mostly used by dangerous minorities.

How about we legalize all drugs, then simply ban the dangerous and/or addictive ones?

Legalising all drugs wont reduce crime, but offering cheaper alteratives will. Because these drugs are expensive, people have to steal to feed their habit.

offering cheaper alternatives will mean less people have to steal to feed their habit