Legalise illicit substances!
Ok lets get this party started. I may attract the wrath of one of my readers with this argument as she is a pharmacist, and hopefully will correct me of any misconceptions I have on my ideals.
All illegal drugs should be made legal. Let me first be clear that I have no vested interest in drugs whatsoever. I have never smoked, nor consumed any illicit substances in any form in my 29 years on this Earth other than at the age of 21 when I tried mull. Yes I inhaled.
It is my belief that a fair percentage of overdoses can be contributed to different purities in the drugs a person was taking, and other unexpected contaminants that were used in the manufacturing process. Although users will invariably end up using more and more of a drug to get the same high, you could argue that they are well aware of their tolerances and many simply make the 'mistake' of OD'ing. It is also my belief that many crimes are committed in an attempt to feed their habit. It is an expensive habit and if you spend all your money on drugs, you will be stealing for food, and other necessities of life. Next that the drug trade is an extremely lucrative trade where many millions, if not billions are made. It is a self-sustaining industry as the money allows large and well targeted bribes and threats to prevent the trade ever forcefully being shut down. Lastly I think we can all agree that illicit substance abuse will ALWAYS occur no matter what governments try to do to prevent it. If somebody wants access, if there is a demand, there will always be someone willing to provide it... for a price.
Now picture this. Legalise drugs. Produce them in government sanctioned labs and sell them through either existing pharmacies with their extensive knowledge of drugs and potential interactions, or specialised places of business. Yes, business. All of a sudden by producing the drug in government sanctioned labs, for the first time there will be drugs provided that can be guaranteed a certain purity, with all other harmful additives kept to a minimum or change out to less harmful substances. Yes my friends drugs will always be dangerous no matter how well made and deaths will still occur, but hopefully less. Additionally drugs will be cheaper. They no longer have to worry about the cost of avoiding detection, paying bribes, inflated transportation costs. It will be legal and local. All other outlets producing or selling these substances will still be liable to fines and imprisonment effectively neutralising competition and groups relying on the income of the illicit drug trade, as it would no longer be profitable enough still having to pay large costs, for a much reduced income, and product that cannot be 100% guaranteed the same quality, and so might not ever sell. Organised crime supported by this trade ends.
With drugs being freely available, cheaper (and somewhat safer), people on the same income will be able to afford their habit AND still eat. The added benefit is that it will bring all the drug users from the underground back out into the glaring sunlight and the drug trade can finally be seen just how large, and how much of the population it truly effected, and to what extent. Forcing this issue into the open would allow the government to introduce laws to monitor and control this situation. Just like we have laws governing how much alcohol we should consume, when and where to consume it, and when it isn't appropriate to be under the influence, the same could easily apply to drug users. I personally couldn't care less what you do in the sanctity of your own home, nor what you are on when you are shopping at your local store. I would have objections if your habit produced anti-social behaviour, which would get you enrolled in a support group just like any alcoholic. Also with greater transparency, health problems that have been caused by drugs can be quickly identified as when your GP asks you what drugs you may have taken lately, the user will simply tell the GP the truth... no harm no foul... just good medical advice.
Obviously this would have to include strict education policies on the drugs used. Any existing, and future, drug users would need to complete a short education session that proves they have been shown the very real potential side effects that may suffer from with the use of the drug of choice.
Now people will argue that this will encourage more people to take drugs. Maybe. But remember anybody that wants drugs has free access to them already. If people really wanted to take drugs that can, will, and do. Go to a rave sometime and honestly tell me that noone there is on E's. And if you want one ask no more than 5 people and either one will sell you one, or direct you to the nearest supplier. Just don't look dodgy like an "undercover" cop. The only real difference this will bring is that those people will be E'ing on standardised, government produced, cheaper, available drugs.
So lets see. Legalise drugs and experience better health services through open communication, less drug related crime, fewer organised crime syndicates, potential fewer fatalities through OD... and hey the Government makes a tidy profit not only through the sale of the drugs (if they so wished) but additional funds to allocate elsewhere away from their less needed drug related crime units.
Problems?
NB: People will always die from drugs. I'm callous enough to say in many instances its simply natural selection reinventing itself. You take it, you pay the consequences if it is so decided that you shall. But until that occurs, take and be merry. I will not impinge on how you wish to live... or not.
All illegal drugs should be made legal. Let me first be clear that I have no vested interest in drugs whatsoever. I have never smoked, nor consumed any illicit substances in any form in my 29 years on this Earth other than at the age of 21 when I tried mull. Yes I inhaled.
It is my belief that a fair percentage of overdoses can be contributed to different purities in the drugs a person was taking, and other unexpected contaminants that were used in the manufacturing process. Although users will invariably end up using more and more of a drug to get the same high, you could argue that they are well aware of their tolerances and many simply make the 'mistake' of OD'ing. It is also my belief that many crimes are committed in an attempt to feed their habit. It is an expensive habit and if you spend all your money on drugs, you will be stealing for food, and other necessities of life. Next that the drug trade is an extremely lucrative trade where many millions, if not billions are made. It is a self-sustaining industry as the money allows large and well targeted bribes and threats to prevent the trade ever forcefully being shut down. Lastly I think we can all agree that illicit substance abuse will ALWAYS occur no matter what governments try to do to prevent it. If somebody wants access, if there is a demand, there will always be someone willing to provide it... for a price.
Now picture this. Legalise drugs. Produce them in government sanctioned labs and sell them through either existing pharmacies with their extensive knowledge of drugs and potential interactions, or specialised places of business. Yes, business. All of a sudden by producing the drug in government sanctioned labs, for the first time there will be drugs provided that can be guaranteed a certain purity, with all other harmful additives kept to a minimum or change out to less harmful substances. Yes my friends drugs will always be dangerous no matter how well made and deaths will still occur, but hopefully less. Additionally drugs will be cheaper. They no longer have to worry about the cost of avoiding detection, paying bribes, inflated transportation costs. It will be legal and local. All other outlets producing or selling these substances will still be liable to fines and imprisonment effectively neutralising competition and groups relying on the income of the illicit drug trade, as it would no longer be profitable enough still having to pay large costs, for a much reduced income, and product that cannot be 100% guaranteed the same quality, and so might not ever sell. Organised crime supported by this trade ends.
With drugs being freely available, cheaper (and somewhat safer), people on the same income will be able to afford their habit AND still eat. The added benefit is that it will bring all the drug users from the underground back out into the glaring sunlight and the drug trade can finally be seen just how large, and how much of the population it truly effected, and to what extent. Forcing this issue into the open would allow the government to introduce laws to monitor and control this situation. Just like we have laws governing how much alcohol we should consume, when and where to consume it, and when it isn't appropriate to be under the influence, the same could easily apply to drug users. I personally couldn't care less what you do in the sanctity of your own home, nor what you are on when you are shopping at your local store. I would have objections if your habit produced anti-social behaviour, which would get you enrolled in a support group just like any alcoholic. Also with greater transparency, health problems that have been caused by drugs can be quickly identified as when your GP asks you what drugs you may have taken lately, the user will simply tell the GP the truth... no harm no foul... just good medical advice.
Obviously this would have to include strict education policies on the drugs used. Any existing, and future, drug users would need to complete a short education session that proves they have been shown the very real potential side effects that may suffer from with the use of the drug of choice.
Now people will argue that this will encourage more people to take drugs. Maybe. But remember anybody that wants drugs has free access to them already. If people really wanted to take drugs that can, will, and do. Go to a rave sometime and honestly tell me that noone there is on E's. And if you want one ask no more than 5 people and either one will sell you one, or direct you to the nearest supplier. Just don't look dodgy like an "undercover" cop. The only real difference this will bring is that those people will be E'ing on standardised, government produced, cheaper, available drugs.
So lets see. Legalise drugs and experience better health services through open communication, less drug related crime, fewer organised crime syndicates, potential fewer fatalities through OD... and hey the Government makes a tidy profit not only through the sale of the drugs (if they so wished) but additional funds to allocate elsewhere away from their less needed drug related crime units.
Problems?
NB: People will always die from drugs. I'm callous enough to say in many instances its simply natural selection reinventing itself. You take it, you pay the consequences if it is so decided that you shall. But until that occurs, take and be merry. I will not impinge on how you wish to live... or not.