If someone is not in control of their senses then they pose a danger to the public. If someone gets drunk then walks on the street and gives me verbal abuse (and this has happened on more than one occassion) why should i be expected to accept this as a consequence of alcohol laws.
If someone is not in control of their senses then they pose a danger to the public.
They can pose a danger, not necessarily.
If someone gets drunk then walks on the street and gives me verbal abuse (and this has happened on more than one occassion) why should i be expected to accept this as a consequence of alcohol laws.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but surely, you can't expect people not to get drunk because some drunkards give other peopel verbal abuse?
I doubt pot smoker gave you verbal abuse, though...
Why are you limiting your argument to just cannabis? Why not make heroin and cocaine legal? If you want to take part in something illegal then thats the risk you take, dont try and feed us bullshit to make it legal.
If tobacco came aroung today, it too would be made illegal but then people like you would fight for the legalisation of it and tell us the benefits.
My personal opinion is that any mind altering substance is wrong, whether it be alcohol or drugs, but i'm not gonna start fighting to make alcohol illegal or drugs legal.
Tobacco is not a mind altering drug, just a fucked up poison that can lead to severe diseases. It is taxed accordingly (at least in the UK) so the government makes a profit on taxes from cigarettes against money spent on helath care from smoking related diseases.
a bit harsh huh? I dont think anything he "fed" us was bullshit. so you think pot is worse then tobacco? pot may have a stronger effect on the mind but nicotine is extremely physically addictive. pot is not. I would rather have something that takes away pain for people who suffer certain conditions or to have it used as occiasionaly high, to take a break from the stress of a tough day or week. which is the same reasons why people drink. and I would also argue the "mind altering" effects are much worse after 8 beers then a bowl.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but surely, you can't expect people not to get drunk because some drunkards give other peopel verbal abuse?
I doubt pot smoker gave you verbal abuse, though...
Yeah sorry, CAN pose a danger.
I'm not advocating that alcohol be banned or tobacco is safer than pot. They all have their pros and cons and these vary depending on which side of the argument they are. Can you be certain that 50 years down the line that their isnt gonna be a class action on the "pot" manufacturers because they didnt warn about the health implications.
If you wanna relax after a hard days work just jerk off, its safer for all of us
Can you be certain that 50 years down the line that their isnt gonna be a class action on the "pot" manufacturers because they didnt warn about the health implications.
Nope.
If you wanna relax after a hard days work just jerk off, its safer for all of us
Of course, I am for legalisation of all other substances too, but this thread is about cannabis - I was merely trying to stay on the topic.
Look what happened in USA in 1920 when they banned alcohol. It had the complete opposite effect. What did it cause? More crime. More alcoholism. More consumation.
Why would the case be different with other drugs? They're never going away.
I beg you to take 12 minutes of your time and watch this video:
If you've seen that video - can you still tell me you're against legalisation? A few good arguments wouldn't hurt either.
I've shared your opinion for many years, until I one day realized how utterly wrong I was. It was a big shock I tell you, realizing how much the government has lied to me during the years, using arguments such as "cannabis is the gateway drug to stronger substances" and so on. The propaganda is endless. In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws. But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
Let me finish off with a few quotes:
"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" - Federal Bureau of Narcotics Chief Harry J. Anslinger
"Marijuana leads to homosexuality ... and therefore to AIDS." - White House Drug Czar Carlton Turner, 1986
"The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people." - Noam Chomsky
Of course, I am for legalisation of all other substances too, but this thread is about cannabis - I was merely trying to stay on the topic.
Look what happened in USA in 1920 when they banned alcohol. It had the complete opposite effect. What did it cause? More crime. More alcoholism. More consumation.
Why would the case be different with other drugs? They're never going away.
I beg you to take 12 minutes of your time and watch this video:
If you've seen that video - can you still tell me you're against legalisation? A few good arguments wouldn't hurt either.
I've shared your opinion for many years, until I one day realized how utterly wrong I was. It was a big shock I tell you, realizing how much the government has lied to me during the years, using arguments such as "cannabis is the gateway drug to stronger substances" and so on. The propaganda is endless. In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws. But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
Let me finish off with a few quotes:
"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" - Federal Bureau of Narcotics Chief Harry J. Anslinger
"Marijuana leads to homosexuality ... and therefore to AIDS." - White House Drug Czar Carlton Turner, 1986
"The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people." - Noam Chomsky
i watched the video, i dont know where you're coming from, but my problem is not with the problems with prohibiton or war on drugs or how you arrest drug users/dealers. My problem is with drugs itself. You may be ok with it and thats fine. But there are people out there that dont touch drugs because it is illegal, they dont try it because its illegal, and i dont want it legalised because i dont want kids to start trying it and having to go into problems that are associated with drug use. I used to have friends that enjoyed a spliff now and again, and i saw the changes in them and at least two of them would admit that pot fucked up their lives at the time. You can give absurd quotes on the dangers of marijuana, and i recgonize them as absurd but i'm not gonna distance myself from those quotes by saying that marijuana is all good.
i watched the video, i dont know where you're coming from, but my problem is not with the problems with prohibiton or war on drugs or how you arrest drug users/dealers. My problem is with drugs itself. You may be ok with it and thats fine. But there are people out there that dont touch drugs because it is illegal, they dont try it because its illegal, and i dont want it legalised because i dont want kids to start trying it and having to go into problems that are associated with drug use. I used to have friends that enjoyed a spliff now and again, and i saw the changes in them and at least two of them would admit that pot fucked up their lives at the time. You can give absurd quotes on the dangers of marijuana, and i recgonize them as absurd but i'm not gonna distance myself from those quotes by saying that marijuana is all good.
No one is saying marijuana is all good, at least I hope not. But we're adults and even when I was a teenager I read a lot on marijuana, and I mean a lot and after reading all that I made a decision as an adult... education is in my eyes, a good start.
i watched the video, i dont know where you're coming from, but my problem is not with the problems with prohibiton or war on drugs or how you arrest drug users/dealers. My problem is with drugs itself. You may be ok with it and thats fine. But there are people out there that dont touch drugs because it is illegal, they dont try it because its illegal, and i dont want it legalised because i dont want kids to start trying it and having to go into problems that are associated with drug use. I used to have friends that enjoyed a spliff now and again, and i saw the changes in them and at least two of them would admit that pot fucked up their lives at the time. You can give absurd quotes on the dangers of marijuana, and i recgonize them as absurd but i'm not gonna distance myself from those quotes by saying that marijuana is all good.
I think we really want the same thing. But you seem to have problems with understanding what effects a legalisation may have on society. Wake up call; kids do use drugs today.
A legalisation does not mean more people would use drugs. You ask where I come from. I come from Norway, one of the worst drug countries in Europe. Norway is considered one of the best countries to live in, we have a fantastic welfare system. Yet we have heroin users everywhere, it's out of control. It's easier for kids getting their hands on ecstasy than alcohol. Why is this? Well, we have very strict drug laws.
Let's take a look at the Netherlands. About 20 years ago, when cannabis was legalized (or decriminalized), the average heroin user was 20 years old. Today, 20 years later, the average age is 40. This means it's the same users, no new ones have been recruited. People smoke less cannabis in the Netherlands than in Norway, even though you basically can smoke it legally on the streets.
Drug-related crime is also not a topic anymore in the Netherlands. In Norway 35% of all crime is related to drugs (not intoxicated people, but collecting debts, robbing people to be able to afford a new shot, smuggling, etc).
If you want a safer society you're contradicting yourself when you want drugs to stay illegal, there's no other solution than to legalize. (We could always eradicate all drugs from Earth but this is, as you might understand, impossible).
I think we really want the same thing. But you seem to have problems with understanding what effects a legalisation may have on society. Wake up call; kids do use drugs today.
A legalisation does not mean more people would use drugs. You ask where I come from. I come from Norway, one of the worst drug countries in Europe. Norway is considered one of the best countries to live in, we have a fantastic welfare system. Yet we have heroin users everywhere, it's out of control. It's easier for kids getting their hands on ecstasy than alcohol. Why is this? Well, we have very strict drug laws.
Let's take a look at the Netherlands. About 20 years ago, when cannabis was legalized (or decriminalized), the average heroin user was 20 years old. Today, 20 years later, the average age is 40. This means it's the same users, no new ones have been recruited. People smoke less cannabis in the Netherlands than in Norway, even though you basically can smoke it legally on the streets.
.
So you're saying that kids in norway are doing drugs because its illegal?
I dont think you can compare countries as you dont take into account cultural differences
a similar study came out a few years back claiming tobacco smoking reduces chances of alzheimers. Problem is you are more likely to die of smoking related diseases before you have a chance to develop alzheimers. Also smoking pot is more carcinognic than tobacco smoking and increases your chances of developing schizophrenia.
Actually marajuana is non-carcinogenic.
Which came first,
the bad idea or me befallen by it?
So you're saying that kids in norway are doing drugs because its illegal?
YES, that it's illegal is one of the reasons many kids choose to try drugs. This is basic human behaviour. Curiosity.
I dont think you can compare countries as you dont take into account cultural differences
Now tell me why I can't compare countries in Western Europe with each other, I'm really curious. There are no significant cultural differences that makes statistical comparison invalid.
But this is not the point! You are avoiding my point mister. Give me an answer to why we should hold on to the current drug prohibition laws. Has there been ANY progress the last 30 years? Please give me some statistics on this. We know the drug problems are growing tremendously every single year in countries with prohibition laws, this is an undeniable fact.
I would rather have my government controlling the drug market than powerful crime organizations.
it may be funny, but ive seen damage caused by decades of smoking that shit. paranoia, breathing problems, amnesia, schizophrenia.... its not really worth it. if you think blazing away will reduce alzheimers, jokes on you.
Ever heard of moderation? What you have seen is abusers, not users. That makes your argument totally irrelevant. Everything can be abused, even apples. I could buy 10 kg apples and eat myself to death in 24 hours. Ban apples?
YES, that it's illegal is one of the reasons many kids choose to try drugs. This is basic human behaviour. Curiosity.
Now tell me why I can't compare countries in Western Europe with each other, I'm really curious. There are no significant cultural differences that makes statistical comparison invalid.
But this is not the point! You are avoiding my point mister. Give me an answer to why we should hold on to the current drug prohibition laws. Has there been ANY progress the last 30 years? Please give me some statistics on this. We know the drug problems are growing tremendously every single year in countries with prohibition laws, this is an undeniable fact.
I would rather have my government controlling the drug market than powerful crime organizations.
Well, strictly that's not true. Singapore has very strict prohibition laws and drug problems are not growing at all there. In fact, they're decreasing every year. And they're prohibiton laws may seem barbaric to many other liberal countries but it seems to work there.
If Pearl Jam was a beer, they'd probably be the best beer in the world!!
Ever heard of moderation? What you have seen is abusers, not users. That makes your argument totally irrelevant. Everything can be abused, even apples. I could buy 10 kg apples and eat myself to death in 24 hours. Ban apples?
Well, that's not strictly true. Even used in moderation, marijuana has been shown to be a significant factor in people developing mental illness. Even in the one off user or people who smoke marijuana less than once a week, there is a higher incidence of later life mental illness.
If Pearl Jam was a beer, they'd probably be the best beer in the world!!
Well, that's not strictly true. Even used in moderation, marijuana has been shown to be a significant factor in people developing mental illness. Even in the one off user or people who smoke marijuana less than once a week, there is a higher incidence of later life mental illness.
Please back this up with links to studies
As I mentioned previously in this thread, people who have a history of mental illness in their family should stay away from all drugs, including alcohol.
Singapore has very strict prohibition laws and drug problems are not growing at all there. In fact, they're decreasing every year. And they're prohibiton laws may seem barbaric to many other liberal countries but it seems to work there.
Comparing Singapore with the West is in my opinion far fetched. I think everyone agrees that a 20000USD fine or 10 years in jail for smoking a joint is a bit extreme. 786,545 people got arrested for pot smoking in the States last year. Making stricter laws would mean that they would have to build hundreds of new prisons, and also locking up normal, working people with families. What consequences this would have for the countrys economy I...well I don't even want to think about it.
During the "Witch Hunt" that went on a couple months ago when AMT was shut down, I was one of the lucky ones who got what appears to be a lifetime ban. Contributing to marijuana related threads was probably my favorite use of the message pit.
Therefore, I'd like to give my support to you and the others who defend what I believe is one of the most important drugs in the world.
Unfortunately due to the narrow-mindedness and financial based legislation of politicians (I'm from the US by the way) the majority of the civilized world is being dealt a severe injustice by keeping marijuana criminal.
Of course, the majority of people on Earth are lemmings who will follow their fellow neighbors off a cliff if Mr. Politician says that's the thing to do, but I digress.
I don't smoke a lot...just a few puffs at night (not every night) after I put the kids to bed and before I sit down on the couch for a little rest and relaxation in front of the television. Is that so wrong?
In my opinion these threads are a one-way conversation, because those who blast the herb are just flat out wrong on every level. They make simply laughable and naive remarks time and time again, and all you can do really is just shake your head.
As you and others have stated...it's all about moderation. Everything in life can be abused...too much water is a bad thing too!
So let's just let the Bible Belters and all the other "good law abiding citizens of the world" go on popping their man made pills, drinking their Budweiser, and smoking their Marlboros...because hey...at least when they die, they'll die knowing that they followed the law.
But this is not the point! You are avoiding my point mister. Give me an answer to why we should hold on to the current drug prohibition laws. Has there been ANY progress the last 30 years? Please give me some statistics on this. We know the drug problems are growing tremendously every single year in countries with prohibition laws, this is an undeniable fact.
I know it's a bit different to compare Singapore with America, but i was just referring to your quote above.
As for statistics on marijuana and mental illness, i'll post a few in a link later on. I think the point i'm trying to make is that, everybody picks on marijuana as a problem when smoking (just regular cigarettes) and drinking alcohol cause more deaths and disability every year. So technically, shouldn't we ban these two things as well. Having said that, I still don't think legalizing marijuana is a good idea. Well, i guess it also depends on the cultural perspsective.
If Pearl Jam was a beer, they'd probably be the best beer in the world!!
YES, that it's illegal is one of the reasons many kids choose to try drugs. This is basic human behaviour. Curiosity.
Now tell me why I can't compare countries in Western Europe with each other, I'm really curious. There are no significant cultural differences that makes statistical comparison invalid.
But this is not the point! You are avoiding my point mister. Give me an answer to why we should hold on to the current drug prohibition laws. Has there been ANY progress the last 30 years? Please give me some statistics on this. We know the drug problems are growing tremendously every single year in countries with prohibition laws, this is an undeniable fact.
I would rather have my government controlling the drug market than powerful crime organizations.
1) - If people try thing because they are illegal then you cant defend stupidity. Do the crime then do the time.
2)- I'd say there is a lot of differnce between people from the UK and say someone from Germany, and a lot of difference between someone from Germany and someone from Italy. I dont think there is a brotherhood of Unity just because one is from Western Europe.
3) The drug law is not there to piss you off. At the end of the day Governments have a social responsibility to protect its citizens. Marijuana is a drug that is taken largely for no therapeutic benefits. There are various side effects from it use. Governments cant on one hand give out warnings about using a drug and then say have a try on the other, unless the benefits outweigh the negatives, and i'm afraid if you wanna get high or chill out or whatever by using Marijuana, then that does not constitute a benefit. Find a hobby or pastime or something.
It's funny, every time I discuss legalization with people, it ends like this. You're on thin ice, obviously avoiding my questions. These answers of yours are completely irrelevant to this discussion.
That a drug may have negative side effects has absolutely nothing to do with this, a legalisation won't change that. Why legalize?
The drug war forces addicts to support their habits by crimes that make the cities more dangerous and less livable. Businesses that might provide jobs and investment, and dedicated teachers and residents with skills that might have contributed to the community have been frightened away.
The drug war puts the blame for the nation's ills on the poor and the dark-skinned, reducing still further society's concern for their plight.
The drug war furthers the spread of AIDS, which is currently decimating inner cities. Clean needle exchanges could help even while drugs remain illegal, but criminalization keeps addicts from health services and forces many into prostitution, both of which spread HIV infection.
The strictest narcotics legislation in the United States was the Rockefeller Drug Law of the early 1970s with high mandatory minimum sentences, including life imprisonment for selling or possessing more than a fraction of an ounce of heroin, even for 16 year olds. As one study summarized the results:
"So far as we can tell, it caused essentially no decrease in heroin activity, but did lead to a drop in the number of heroin offenders arrested and convicted, a considerable increase in the court and correctional resources necessary to process those apprehended, and a significant increase in the overcrowding of the state's prison system"
Please answer my questions:
1. Why should we hold on to the current drug prohibition laws?
2. Considering all the resources governments use on fighting drugs today - with no results - why would this change in the future when it's worsening every year?
Comments
If someone is not in control of their senses then they pose a danger to the public. If someone gets drunk then walks on the street and gives me verbal abuse (and this has happened on more than one occassion) why should i be expected to accept this as a consequence of alcohol laws.
They can pose a danger, not necessarily.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but surely, you can't expect people not to get drunk because some drunkards give other peopel verbal abuse?
I doubt pot smoker gave you verbal abuse, though...
naděje umírá poslední
Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
a bit harsh huh? I dont think anything he "fed" us was bullshit. so you think pot is worse then tobacco? pot may have a stronger effect on the mind but nicotine is extremely physically addictive. pot is not. I would rather have something that takes away pain for people who suffer certain conditions or to have it used as occiasionaly high, to take a break from the stress of a tough day or week. which is the same reasons why people drink. and I would also argue the "mind altering" effects are much worse after 8 beers then a bowl.
naděje umírá poslední
Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
Yeah sorry, CAN pose a danger.
I'm not advocating that alcohol be banned or tobacco is safer than pot. They all have their pros and cons and these vary depending on which side of the argument they are. Can you be certain that 50 years down the line that their isnt gonna be a class action on the "pot" manufacturers because they didnt warn about the health implications.
If you wanna relax after a hard days work just jerk off, its safer for all of us
Well that is a huge difference.
Nope.
Kittens die when you masturbate.
naděje umírá poslední
speedy your a funny guy,.........and polite.
hehehe......
Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
Of course, I am for legalisation of all other substances too, but this thread is about cannabis - I was merely trying to stay on the topic.
Look what happened in USA in 1920 when they banned alcohol. It had the complete opposite effect. What did it cause? More crime. More alcoholism. More consumation.
Why would the case be different with other drugs? They're never going away.
I beg you to take 12 minutes of your time and watch this video:
http://www.leap.cc/Multimedia/LEAPpromo.php
If you've seen that video - can you still tell me you're against legalisation? A few good arguments wouldn't hurt either.
I've shared your opinion for many years, until I one day realized how utterly wrong I was. It was a big shock I tell you, realizing how much the government has lied to me during the years, using arguments such as "cannabis is the gateway drug to stronger substances" and so on. The propaganda is endless. In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws. But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
Let me finish off with a few quotes:
"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" - Federal Bureau of Narcotics Chief Harry J. Anslinger
"Marijuana leads to homosexuality ... and therefore to AIDS." - White House Drug Czar Carlton Turner, 1986
"The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people." - Noam Chomsky
Source: Yale University.
But that's only if you smoke too much. I've had bad weed highs, but I've learned to control it.
i watched the video, i dont know where you're coming from, but my problem is not with the problems with prohibiton or war on drugs or how you arrest drug users/dealers. My problem is with drugs itself. You may be ok with it and thats fine. But there are people out there that dont touch drugs because it is illegal, they dont try it because its illegal, and i dont want it legalised because i dont want kids to start trying it and having to go into problems that are associated with drug use. I used to have friends that enjoyed a spliff now and again, and i saw the changes in them and at least two of them would admit that pot fucked up their lives at the time. You can give absurd quotes on the dangers of marijuana, and i recgonize them as absurd but i'm not gonna distance myself from those quotes by saying that marijuana is all good.
No one is saying marijuana is all good, at least I hope not. But we're adults and even when I was a teenager I read a lot on marijuana, and I mean a lot and after reading all that I made a decision as an adult... education is in my eyes, a good start.
naděje umírá poslední
I think we really want the same thing. But you seem to have problems with understanding what effects a legalisation may have on society. Wake up call; kids do use drugs today.
A legalisation does not mean more people would use drugs. You ask where I come from. I come from Norway, one of the worst drug countries in Europe. Norway is considered one of the best countries to live in, we have a fantastic welfare system. Yet we have heroin users everywhere, it's out of control. It's easier for kids getting their hands on ecstasy than alcohol. Why is this? Well, we have very strict drug laws.
Let's take a look at the Netherlands. About 20 years ago, when cannabis was legalized (or decriminalized), the average heroin user was 20 years old. Today, 20 years later, the average age is 40. This means it's the same users, no new ones have been recruited. People smoke less cannabis in the Netherlands than in Norway, even though you basically can smoke it legally on the streets.
Drug-related crime is also not a topic anymore in the Netherlands. In Norway 35% of all crime is related to drugs (not intoxicated people, but collecting debts, robbing people to be able to afford a new shot, smuggling, etc).
If you want a safer society you're contradicting yourself when you want drugs to stay illegal, there's no other solution than to legalize. (We could always eradicate all drugs from Earth but this is, as you might understand, impossible).
So you're saying that kids in norway are doing drugs because its illegal?
I dont think you can compare countries as you dont take into account cultural differences
Actually marajuana is non-carcinogenic.
the bad idea or me befallen by it?
YES, that it's illegal is one of the reasons many kids choose to try drugs. This is basic human behaviour. Curiosity.
Now tell me why I can't compare countries in Western Europe with each other, I'm really curious. There are no significant cultural differences that makes statistical comparison invalid.
But this is not the point! You are avoiding my point mister. Give me an answer to why we should hold on to the current drug prohibition laws. Has there been ANY progress the last 30 years? Please give me some statistics on this. We know the drug problems are growing tremendously every single year in countries with prohibition laws, this is an undeniable fact.
I would rather have my government controlling the drug market than powerful crime organizations.
Ever heard of moderation? What you have seen is abusers, not users. That makes your argument totally irrelevant. Everything can be abused, even apples. I could buy 10 kg apples and eat myself to death in 24 hours. Ban apples?
Well, strictly that's not true. Singapore has very strict prohibition laws and drug problems are not growing at all there. In fact, they're decreasing every year. And they're prohibiton laws may seem barbaric to many other liberal countries but it seems to work there.
Well, that's not strictly true. Even used in moderation, marijuana has been shown to be a significant factor in people developing mental illness. Even in the one off user or people who smoke marijuana less than once a week, there is a higher incidence of later life mental illness.
Please back this up with links to studies
As I mentioned previously in this thread, people who have a history of mental illness in their family should stay away from all drugs, including alcohol.
Comparing Singapore with the West is in my opinion far fetched. I think everyone agrees that a 20000USD fine or 10 years in jail for smoking a joint is a bit extreme. 786,545 people got arrested for pot smoking in the States last year. Making stricter laws would mean that they would have to build hundreds of new prisons, and also locking up normal, working people with families. What consequences this would have for the countrys economy I...well I don't even want to think about it.
I know it's a bit different to compare Singapore with America, but i was just referring to your quote above.
As for statistics on marijuana and mental illness, i'll post a few in a link later on. I think the point i'm trying to make is that, everybody picks on marijuana as a problem when smoking (just regular cigarettes) and drinking alcohol cause more deaths and disability every year. So technically, shouldn't we ban these two things as well. Having said that, I still don't think legalizing marijuana is a good idea. Well, i guess it also depends on the cultural perspsective.
how?
1) - If people try thing because they are illegal then you cant defend stupidity. Do the crime then do the time.
2)- I'd say there is a lot of differnce between people from the UK and say someone from Germany, and a lot of difference between someone from Germany and someone from Italy. I dont think there is a brotherhood of Unity just because one is from Western Europe.
3) The drug law is not there to piss you off. At the end of the day Governments have a social responsibility to protect its citizens. Marijuana is a drug that is taken largely for no therapeutic benefits. There are various side effects from it use. Governments cant on one hand give out warnings about using a drug and then say have a try on the other, unless the benefits outweigh the negatives, and i'm afraid if you wanna get high or chill out or whatever by using Marijuana, then that does not constitute a benefit. Find a hobby or pastime or something.
That a drug may have negative side effects has absolutely nothing to do with this, a legalisation won't change that. Why legalize?
The drug war forces addicts to support their habits by crimes that make the cities more dangerous and less livable. Businesses that might provide jobs and investment, and dedicated teachers and residents with skills that might have contributed to the community have been frightened away.
The drug war puts the blame for the nation's ills on the poor and the dark-skinned, reducing still further society's concern for their plight.
The drug war furthers the spread of AIDS, which is currently decimating inner cities. Clean needle exchanges could help even while drugs remain illegal, but criminalization keeps addicts from health services and forces many into prostitution, both of which spread HIV infection.
The strictest narcotics legislation in the United States was the Rockefeller Drug Law of the early 1970s with high mandatory minimum sentences, including life imprisonment for selling or possessing more than a fraction of an ounce of heroin, even for 16 year olds. As one study summarized the results:
"So far as we can tell, it caused essentially no decrease in heroin activity, but did lead to a drop in the number of heroin offenders arrested and convicted, a considerable increase in the court and correctional resources necessary to process those apprehended, and a significant increase in the overcrowding of the state's prison system"
Please answer my questions:
1. Why should we hold on to the current drug prohibition laws?
2. Considering all the resources governments use on fighting drugs today - with no results - why would this change in the future when it's worsening every year?