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Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

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Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#91

Fentanyl is a huge problem in Vancouver, where we are usually ground zero for all new opiate trends. Besides killing over 1100 people a year in BC, the money also seeps back into our overheated real-estate market through casino money laundering. It is a crazy cycle. I have no idea why world governments and our own don't say and do more against China. Spineless.

Hey, here's a crazy thought. Why don't we end the drug war? Then people can easily get safe drugs with accurate dosages. The deaths, money laundering. They're not symptoms of drug dealers, they're symptoms of the drug war. We should clean it up, but it's naive to think that we should just "fight the drug war harder".

Hey why don’t we change a few laws and eliminate a few huge government agencies, eliminate the government’s excuse to surveil everyone and the ability to persecute and jail millions of people at will, eliminate the incredibly profitable business of private prisons and eliminate the easy money streams which inevitably end up wetting the pockets of government officials on all levels.

This is a lot of power to give up.

The people whose jobs benefit from prohibition have a lot of say in this matter and they don’t look eager to unemploy themselves.

I think ending the war needs to come with viable solutions for them.

We can see that cannabis prohibition is slowly ending. I’m curious how will the prohibition industrial complex adjust.

Remember how the DEA keeps testifying about cannabis totally deserving a schedule 1 status? (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/31...)

They’re basically answering the question “do you want to stay employed?”

And the answer is “yes, absolutely, without a doubt.”

Similarly, we can’t go to Saudi Arabia/Canada/Russia/Us etc. and say “Hey, let’s stop extracting oil. It’s not good for the environment. Yes, it’s free money for you, but we want you to stop.”

Except that hopefully oil is getting less profitable. Drug prohibition will always be.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#92
post #7
post #2

As an American, the irony of comeuppance isn't lost on me, given that we did have some involvement against them in the Opium Wars.

Don't forget the targeted attack on black communities through pushing crack cocaine and assisting smuggling efforts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_coca... https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/john-ehrlichman-rich...

You made one claim (that the CIA pushed crack cocaine to black communities), but then you referenced 2 links that have nothing to do with that claim.

Your first link discusses the credible claim that Contra groups were involved with smuggling drugs into the US. All that media coverage of this accusation investigated the claim that the CIA was involved and found no evidence of this.

Your second link makes the credible claim that Nixon began the war on drug to discredit hippy and black political opponents (very likely). But nothing to do with the CIA smuggling drugs into the US.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#93

Fentanyl is a huge problem in Vancouver, where we are usually ground zero for all new opiate trends. Besides killing over 1100 people a year in BC, the money also seeps back into our overheated real-estate market through casino money laundering. It is a crazy cycle. I have no idea why world governments and our own don't say and do more against China. Spineless.

But China has THE strictest drug law anywhere on the planet. China doesn't consume those drugs, it is because there is a market so they are creating those drugs. Why didn't Canadian government just ban it? Put those dealers into jail and grab their profit? Stricter law enforcement works.

Nonsense. https://thediplomat.com/2015/05/chinas-growing-drug-problem/

http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/China_and_Substance_Abu...

As for laws, Singapore or Iran probably have stricter ones in practice.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#94
post #83

Not to comment on the politics, but... I had fentanyl during a medical procedure a while back, and I can totally see why it's so addictive. It was wonderful . Both pain and anxiety were totally wiped out, and and the comedown was clean and fast, with no ill effects at all. It's the most pleasant drug I've ever experienced. As long as this kind of high exists, people are going to take it.

As a paramedic, it is absolutely a double-edged sword. It is a phenomenal tool for pain management. Used as intended it much better than other options (historically, morphine).

It is not the least bit uncommon to have weeks that include administering fentanyl therapeutically for acute pain management, and administering Narcan to counteract the effect of Fentanyl taken "recreationally".

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#95
post #57

Fentanyl is a huge problem in Vancouver, where we are usually ground zero for all new opiate trends. Besides killing over 1100 people a year in BC, the money also seeps back into our overheated real-estate market through casino money laundering. It is a crazy cycle. I have no idea why world governments and our own don't say and do more against China. Spineless.

When did this start in Vancouver? I am actually surprised that something like this happens in Canada, usually seems that news report these sorts of "epidemics" mostly from the US.

Vancouver has always been like that. When people talk about drugs and homeless in the streets, Vancouver comes off as even worse than Seattle in many respects.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#96
"Chapman and Muhammad would later get prison sentences of nearly 17 and 120 years, respectively. In interviews, Muhammad, now 45, admitted to selling chemicals but said he did extensive research to remain within the law." - That's the real crime here! 17 years? 120 years? For receiving something in the mail legally, reselling it legally, and nothing else?

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#97
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stealing someone's wealth away from their children just because they happen to die is one of the most repugnant things I can think of.

How about Pablo Escobar's wealth?

Seize his assets for being a mass-murdering, drug dealing shitlord, yes. Seize a portion from Jane Q Publique because she worked hard and invested wisely? No.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But China has THE strictest drug law anywhere on the planet. China doesn't consume those drugs, it is because there is a market so they are creating those drugs. Why didn't Canadian government just ban it? Put those dealers into jail and grab their profit? Stricter law enforcement works.

Nonsense. https://thediplomat.com/2015/05/chinas-growing-drug-problem/ http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/China_and_Substance_Abu... As for laws, Singapore or Iran probably have stricter ones in practice.

> The numbers have only continued to grow since then. In January, Xinhua reported that China handled 52,800 drug cases from late September to December 2014 alone

This is probably including Marijuana uses as well, which is already legalized in much part of West. It is the not on the same ground sadly, so I don't think it is nonsense.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#99
post #28
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that, if you're speaking of the whole category of "research chemicals"—rather than just the psychotropic ones—it's actually easier to get them in North America than in Europe. Many of the actual pharma research companies creating this stuff are in the US, so there's no customs between you and an order of random-drug-sample #91245096. And even when there is, both the US and Canada are basically allow-then-…

I didn't actually know that. I randomly browsed Reddit and wandered onto the 1P-LSD thread and saw that most of the stores mentioned were in Germany, Netherlands, Spain so I just assumed that it was more of a Europe thing. EDIT: Any ideas why I get "You're posting too fast. Please slow down. Thanks."?

It's not true. Research companies aren't going to risk the wrath of the FDA by selling to the public.

Re: Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Is Creating a New Era of Drug Kingpins

#100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nonsense. https://thediplomat.com/2015/05/chinas-growing-drug-problem/ http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/China_and_Substance_Abu... As for laws, Singapore or Iran probably have stricter ones in practice.

> The numbers have only continued to grow since then. In January, Xinhua reported that China handled 52,800 drug cases from late September to December 2014 alone This is probably including Marijuana uses as well, which is already legalized in much part of West. It is the not on the same ground sadly, so I don't think it is nonsense.

I won’t even get into how you’re contradicting your first point about “strictest laws” and just quote from the first article.

It’s apparently spreading north as well – northeastern province Liaoning has been a “major growth area” for drug cases over the past few years, Ma said. Outside analysts believe that North Korea (which borders Liaoning) has become a major source of methamphetamine smuggled into China, although Beijing is reluctant to publicly point the finger at its ally.

So, not pot.

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