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Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

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Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#2
While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year).

A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each other, not from ourselves. Drug use that negatively impacts the lives of someone other than the user should be illegal, much like banning second-hand smoke. Outside of that restriction, we should value personal liberty and freedom to make choices about ourselves.

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#3
post #2

While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year). A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each o…

Who are you to condone what others do or don't do to their own bodies and minds?

That's like not condoning execution-altering software. It's none of your business what I do with my hardware.

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#4
post #2

While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year). A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each o…

    > While I do not condone the use of mind altering
    > substances
Why not?

Also, you should try beer, it's AMAZING.

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#6
post #3
post #2

While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year). A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each o…

Who are you to condone what others do or don't do to their own bodies and minds? That's like not condoning execution-altering software. It's none of your business what I do with my hardware.

It doesn't sound like you read the second part of my post. My point was exactly that while I hold a personal belief about the use and effects of the use of certain substances, that doesn't mean that I have a right to enforce that belief on others.

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#7
post #3
post #2

While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year). A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each o…

Who are you to condone what others do or don't do to their own bodies and minds? That's like not condoning execution-altering software. It's none of your business what I do with my hardware.

Don't attack people who are mostly on your side.

Pro-legalisation needs all people - those who take drugs and those who think taking drugs is stupid - to pull together to work to their common goal - legalisation.

The enemy is not someone who wants to legalise drugs but advises against taking those drugs. The enemy is the police state that imprisons people, at great expense, for very long times for drug crimes.

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#8
post #6
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are you to condone what others do or don't do to their own bodies and minds? That's like not condoning execution-altering software. It's none of your business what I do with my hardware.

It doesn't sound like you read the second part of my post. My point was exactly that while I hold a personal belief about the use and effects of the use of certain substances, that doesn't mean that I have a right to enforce that belief on others.

[deleted]

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#9
Anyone interested in the topic should read the LSE report on the Economics of Drug Policy. The facts are staggering, especially on the human and fiscal cost of internal displacement. I bet not many know that Colombia just a few years ago was only beat by Sudan in terms of internal refugees, and it's all due to the drug war.

It also gives some perspective to the Western debate – we talk about decriminalisation and healthcare. That is a good step, but it won't help the atrocities committed in the rest of the world. We need to talk about legalisation.

http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/Projects/IDPP/The-Expert-Group-on...

Re: Illegal drugs: The wars don’t work

#10
post #2

While I do not condone the use of mind altering substances, I believe that the externalities of the illegal drug trade are far worse than what the drugs do to the users (e.g., the number of murders is Mexico is currently unknown and is somewhere between 20k and 250k a year). A second argument in favor of regulation over an outright ban is personal liberty. Our social contract is about protecting ourselves from each o…

> While I do not condone the use of mind altering > substances Why not? Also, you should try beer, it's AMAZING.

And coffee! Seriously, you don't know what you're missing!
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