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Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

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Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#61

Post by dragonwriter »

lossolo wrote: post #38

What about people that are involved in illegal drug industry after legalizing drugs? Most of them know only how to deal drugs, know only crime, they will need to find new way to make money and probably it will not be a legal one. So i don't know if it's better that someone stay on corner and sell cocaine to people that WANT cocaine, without (in most cases) hurt anyone else in the process OR make that person steal, ex…

That's, to the extent it's an issue at all, a short term problem that you need to accept at some point if you want to stop creating new criminals of that sort through drug prohibition.

And rehabilitating criminals in the criminal justice system becomes easier when drug-war-induced overcrowding of the prison system is reduced.

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#62

Post by tim333 »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #41

The drug problem was studied years ago by the RAND corporation and the US Military - a pure cost-benefit analysis. They found that treatment and education are the most cost effective way to deal with the drug problem, and that prohibition was the most costly and ineffective means of dealing with it. Therefore the government understands that the war on drugs is likely to be unsuccessful, and we have to ask ourselves,…

Nearly all countries have some ban so I doubt full legalization is the answer. I think if you approach it to minimise harm you'd probably have varying policies depending on the drug and the situation. For example cannabis, maybe legalize and tax like cigarettes. Stuff like Heroin and Meth don't legalize private sales but let drug counsellors hand it out to addicts to kill the illegal market, prevent them being harmed by contaminated drugs and stop them breaking and nicking stuff.

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#64

Post by cr1895 »

wfunction wrote: post #30
ZeroGravitas wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it's not all or nothing. If you legalized cannabis for example, you may find that users switch to that from more harmful drugs such as alcohol, or opiates. In particular, by buying from controlled suppliers, rather than the black-market, makes them less likely to be offered worse stuff as alternatives. By then reducing the size of the black market, you drain it of customers and money, and make it easier to poli…

> There's also the fact that horse-riding, backyard pools, gun ownership, rock climbing, not eating well or excercising enough as likely to kill you as some drugs, so a consistent approach to that would be welcome too. Unlike the use of drugs, almost all of the things you mentioned fall under category of "exercise", which (correct me if I'm wrong) I believe is medically accepted to have immense benefits, whereas I'm…

>I believe is medically accepted to have immense benefits, whereas I'm not sure the case is the same with the drugs under consideration here...

Another flaw of your "the dangerous ones" generalization.

Does MDMA count as one of the dangerous ones? It has promising potential for the treatment of depression, PTSD, etc. Or other psychadelics such as mushrooms or LSD.

What about ketamine? It's used recreationally, but it's also commonly administered in hospitals and may also be beneficial for those suffering from depresson.

There are undoubtedly others.

Ironically, good research into these "dangeorus" drugs has been hindered largely because of the widespread perception among the public and policymakers that they are dangerous, whether or not that is actually the case.

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#65

Post by zamalek »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #41

The drug problem was studied years ago by the RAND corporation and the US Military - a pure cost-benefit analysis. They found that treatment and education are the most cost effective way to deal with the drug problem, and that prohibition was the most costly and ineffective means of dealing with it. Therefore the government understands that the war on drugs is likely to be unsuccessful, and we have to ask ourselves,…

> why do they persist with it?

So far as I understand, a treaty[1][2] is the root of this problem. I assume that the validity and efficacy of this treaty will come into question April 19 through 21. Amending this treaty would pave the way for sensible drug control.

[1]: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/single-convention.ht...

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_...

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#66

Post by puranjay »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #41

The drug problem was studied years ago by the RAND corporation and the US Military - a pure cost-benefit analysis. They found that treatment and education are the most cost effective way to deal with the drug problem, and that prohibition was the most costly and ineffective means of dealing with it. Therefore the government understands that the war on drugs is likely to be unsuccessful, and we have to ask ourselves,…

I always wonder what would happen to drug use if it was widely and easily available. Would usage drop because it wouldn't be "rebellious" to get drugs?

That was at least the motivation for a lot of younger drug users I know.

In my country (India), there is a region in the Himalayas - Kasaul - where marijuana grows in the wild. It is so easily accessible that you can literally pluck some on a walk through the forest.

You'd expect with such easy availability, the locals would be all addled on weed/hashish all the time. Yet, most locals tend to be non-users. Most users tend to be tourists and outsiders who come solely for the purportedly "best in the world" hashish

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#67

Post by atemerev »

Here's what we have in Switzerland:

http://www.premiereligne.ch/quai9/

(basically, a drug user's paradise: a "consumption space" injection rooms, clean drugs available, medical attention and reanimation in case of overdose, therapy programs and support programs with the intention to help people quit drugs without stigmatizing them and pushing them to it).

It is immensely successful. Drug crime becoming nonexistent here. The number of drug users is also decreasing, as drugs are now decriminalized, uncool, readily available and coming with friendly doctors and therapists.

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#68

Post by tomp »

tim333 wrote: post #62
Synaesthesia wrote: post #41

The drug problem was studied years ago by the RAND corporation and the US Military - a pure cost-benefit analysis. They found that treatment and education are the most cost effective way to deal with the drug problem, and that prohibition was the most costly and ineffective means of dealing with it. Therefore the government understands that the war on drugs is likely to be unsuccessful, and we have to ask ourselves,…

Nearly all countries have some ban so I doubt full legalization is the answer. I think if you approach it to minimise harm you'd probably have varying policies depending on the drug and the situation. For example cannabis, maybe legalize and tax like cigarettes. Stuff like Heroin and Meth don't legalize private sales but let drug counsellors hand it out to addicts to kill the illegal market, prevent them being harmed…

> Stuff like Heroin and Meth don't legalize private sales but let drug counsellors hand it out to addicts to kill the illegal market, prevent them being harmed by contaminated drugs and stop them breaking and nicking stuff.

That's the worst of both worlds. What will happen is a lot of people will become "addicts", get the drug (legally), then sell it to drug dealers to cash out. Criminals will keep their profits high, but they'll decrease their risk (because the government will be a safe and reliable supplier).

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#69

Post by the_mitsuhiko »

vidarh wrote: post #15
smegel wrote: post #2

It really is a difficult problem. Sweden legalized heroin in the 60s and it was a disaster. On the other hand, enforcement only has a moderate impact, but comes at a huge financial and social cost. And while I don't support it, the only country with a measure of success seems to be Singapore, where you just hang anyone who has more than single dose in their possession. Maybe the grim reality is hanging a few hundred…

> Sweden legalized heroin in the 60s and it was a disaster. I can't find any source for this. What I can find is information about legal prescription from '65 to '67 to a limited number of addicts, who were able to get sufficient doses that they in effect became a source of drugs for drug dealers. So they continued to have the same problem of dealers, but with substantially increased supply. Note that many countries…

Not sure how you're claiming prescription heroin is not a problem in the UK. It is a big one.

Re: Kofi Annan on Why It's Time to Legalize Drugs

#70

Post by mstade »

atemerev wrote: post #67

Here's what we have in Switzerland: http://www.premiereligne.ch/quai9/ (basically, a drug user's paradise: a "consumption space" injection rooms, clean drugs available, medical attention and reanimation in case of overdose, therapy programs and support programs with the intention to help people quit drugs without stigmatizing them and pushing them to it). It is immensely successful. Drug crime becoming nonexistent he…

> The number of drug users is also decreasing, as drugs are now decriminalized, uncool, readily available and coming with friendly doctors and therapists.

I wish this was the norm everywhere.

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