Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs (2016)

Post by microcolonel » Tue, Sep 19, 2017, 12:25 PM UTC

vidarh wrote: post #157

microcolonel wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and it's better to design regimes that prevent commercial actors from abusing vulnerable populations. Unless we're looking to apply the law inconsistently based on some arbitrary prejudice of "vulnerability", this would seem to be basically what we're already doing. Any decriminalization approach which criminalizes access for addicts almost defeats the purpose according to your own rubric.

Consider that some countries have state monopoly stores for wine and stronger alcoholic drinks, and most no longer allow advertising for alcohol. Similarly, consider the option of regulations like those in place for pharmacies in some countries, that e.g. requires the pharmacist to ensure you are aware of certain risks, but doesn't prevent you from buying. Consider the way some countries now requires tobacco to be ou…

Post by microcolonel » Tue, Sep 19, 2017, 12:27 PM UTC

rectang wrote: post #45

microcolonel wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and it's better to design regimes that prevent commercial actors from abusing vulnerable populations. Unless we're looking to apply the law inconsistently based on some arbitrary prejudice of "vulnerability", this would seem to be basically what we're already doing. Any decriminalization approach which criminalizes access for addicts almost defeats the purpose according to your own rubric.

Here's a representative Kleiman article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-kleiman/six-undeniable-fa... The bullet points: 1. Cannabis prohibition is broken and can’t be fixed. 2. Cannabis is an abusable drug, and the rate of problem use has been soaring for two decades. 3. Legalization on the alcohol model is likely to make cannabis extremely cheap. 4. Cheap cannabis is a threat to public health. 5. The interests o…

    7. The market is moving forward despite the law, so 
       current [and likely future] laws are largely irrelevant
      (save for a small and shrinking premium in price).

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 19, 2017, 12:32 PM UTC

otakucode wrote: post #201

Drugs were not made illegal because they're bad for your health and they don't remain illegal because they're bad for your health. Poisons are generally not illegal. Drugs are illegal because they make people feel good or make them happy which offends the Protestant Work Ethic. The Protestant Work Ethic says that the only legitimate route to happiness is through physically difficult labor which causes you to suffer.…

Post by PixelB » Tue, Sep 19, 2017, 12:42 PM UTC

lima wrote: post #151

blubb-fish wrote: post #82

Here in Germany politicians are still stating that Cannabis is a gateway drug, causes psychosis and makes stupid. They will even actively lie and twist statistics. My theory for why many politicians - especially from the right-wing - are so opposed is b/c they didn't like their weed smoking and long-haired fellow students. It's a Pavlov thing. Like many people dislike golf (justly so in my humble opinion) b/c they di…

I'm strongly in favor of legalization, but I still believe Cannabis is dangerous (just like alcohol, tobacco and countless other legal drugs are). It's a well known fact that it can trigger psychosis in susceptible persons and I have even witnessed it happen to a close friend. It also had hugely detrimental effects on some of my weed-smoking friends, to the point that I no longer want to spend time with them since it…

Post by tetrep » Tue, Sep 19, 2017, 12:44 PM UTC

coleifer wrote: post #216

otakucode wrote: post #201

Drugs were not made illegal because they're bad for your health and they don't remain illegal because they're bad for your health. Poisons are generally not illegal. Drugs are illegal because they make people feel good or make them happy which offends the Protestant Work Ethic. The Protestant Work Ethic says that the only legitimate route to happiness is through physically difficult labor which causes you to suffer.…

Dope costs money. When you've got a habit and no job, how are you going to pay? People steal to support their habits. Little children have their childhood stolen because their parents were addicts. People crash cars and kill people. That's why drugs are illegal.