Why are certain drugs illegal?

[QuantumJG]

I think one reason is that we don't regulate what goes into the drugs, also it would be ethically wrong to even legalize drugs that are there just to get high off (yes that sounds kind of hypocritical since I drink alcohol).

Personally I would never want illicit drugs to be legalised because of what they do to people. I can tolerate people smoking but I don't really like the act of smoking because when you are out, you inhale the smoke and it's disgusting.

 

[Collin Li]

I don't know really where i stand on the whole political spectrum, i just agree with what i think is right for that correct issue instead of subscribing to a certain ideology and being constrained by it.

If i had to have a label it'd probably be democratic socialism.

Yeah, agree with your non-prescriptivist take on things. I'm not trying to label things, just explaining a commonly-known group's POV.

[/0]

What I meant was, why don't we just punish people who end up doing harm to others, not just because doing drug X has a 90% chance of causing harm to others.

Good example is alcohol. Many can enjoy a few drinks and cause no harm to others. The ones that do cause harm should be charged though.

Absolutely.
Our society is paranoid about things that "might cause harm to others". I think it's this attitude that ultimately restricts our personal freedoms, because it seems we do not even trust ourselves to be responsible.

People should have the freedom to take whatever substances they like, but only when they know the risks and possible consequences. If an innocent bystander is hurt by someone on drugs then the offender would be just as guilty as if he/she were not on drugs, since it was the offender's choice to be in a mentally-altered state.

What is important is that we have the freedom to make the choice. Without the ability to choose, we cannot say we are free.

When they go to hospital you pay for their stupidity with your tax money...let alone their (if they have any) poor children who have to suffer the consequences of their parents fucked up choice.. you really support these things?

Hmmm yeah, if you take drugs in the knowledge that you are risking your health, it shouldn't be up to the taxpayer to pay for you if things go wrong. Perhaps that amendment needs to be made. I'm not generally in favour of privatized healthcare.

As for fucked up parents, it already happens everywhere with alcoholism, and I don't doubt that there are druggy parents who get what they want off the black market. It makes no difference that drugs are illegal. People will still find ways to get them, so the issue of druggy parents isn't a matter of the legality of drugs.

At least if drugs are made legal, people won't need to keep it a secret, and therefore can find help dealing with their addiction.

[QuantumJG]

What I meant was, why don't we just punish people who end up doing harm to others, not just because doing drug X has a 90% chance of causing harm to others.

Good example is alcohol. Many can enjoy a few drinks and cause no harm to others. The ones that do cause harm should be charged though.

Absolutely.
Our society is paranoid about things that "might cause harm to others". I think it's this attitude that ultimately restricts our personal freedoms, because it seems we do not even trust ourselves to be responsible.

People should have the freedom to take whatever substances they like, but only when they know the risks and possible consequences. If an innocent bystander is hurt by someone on drugs then the offender would be just as guilty as if he/she were not on drugs, since it was the offender's choice to be in a mentally-altered state.

What is important is that we have the freedom to make the choice. Without the ability to choose, we cannot say we are free.

What you are saying sounds good in theory, but it is common knowledge that people who take illegal drugs don't comprehend right or wrong. Yes we should be free to make all our decisions, to a certain degree. Humans will mainly act on impulse and we need a group of people who make logical decisions to prevent chaotic behaviour from happening.

I'm happy to give up some (redundant) freedoms, if it means we can live our lives a little safer.

[Collin Li]

Reminds me of the following quote:

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. -- Benjamin Franklin

[slothpomba]

I think one reason is that we don't regulate what goes into the drugs, also it would be ethically wrong to even legalize drugs that are there just to get high off (yes that sounds kind of hypocritical since I drink alcohol).

Personally I would never want illicit drugs to be legalised because of what they do to people. I can tolerate people smoking but I don't really like the act of smoking because when you are out, you inhale the smoke and it's disgusting.

 

I Side with quantum here.

Note: Getting blazed out of your skull isnt an essential liberty

[/0]

I'm happy to give up some (redundant) freedoms, if it means we can live our lives a little safer.

How can there be redundant freedoms? Some people may not choose to exercise particular freedoms, but that doesn't mean that others won't.

[slothpomba]

Do you have the same position for all drugs reguardless of potency? because if you look at the chart on the previous page, while alcohol and cannabis arent that bad some of these are essentially death pills or "im-going-to-fuck-you-up-pretty-bad" pills.

[/0]

Do you have the same position for all drugs reguardless of potency? because if you look at the chart on the previous page, while alcohol and cannabis arent that bad some of these are essentially death pills or "im-going-to-fuck-you-up-pretty-bad" pills.

Yeah. If someone wants to fuck themselves up that's their choice.

[slothpomba]

Heroine and coke are worse

[/0]

Legalising them will reduce the stigma and allow people to seek treatment.

[slothpomba]

Legalising them will reduce the stigma and allow people to seek treatment.

More people will also try it though

[jay1993]

Violence is already on the rise in Melbourne, IMO if there are heaps more people out there who are high, the streets would be even less safe. In other words how can the use of certain drugs that are illegal today be legalised in the future when Alcohol has become such a big problem.

[stonecold]

Nova, you are 100% on the money.  Society is fucked up enough without people on drugs.  I could only imagine how bad it would get if illicit substances were made legal.  I am already considering leaving Melbourne and possibly Australia due to the sharp increase in street violence and drug use.  And you can't just legalize drugs such as marijuana and cannabis, because this simply means that people will get hooked on those for a while, get bored with them, and then look for more potent substances.  I also blame smoking for drugs, simply because every person who I've met that takes drugs also smokes, which means they started off smoking and then moved onto drugs.  It's kind of like a stepping stone.

kingpomba you are also right, people who smoke/take drugs shouldn't have the right to have children.  They are simply playing Russian Roulette with their future children's health.  The way some people think that drugs are socially acceptable is a joke.  Fair enough if you take them, but don't try and act like they are good for society.  Alcohol, which can't even be compared to drugs, is destroying our city.  Imagine the injustices that would occur if drugs were legalized.

Also agree on the healthcare front.  They are wasting taxpayer money, as well as taking ambulances and hospital beds from people who really need them.

The thing I hate most is people who get other people into drugs.  You are the lowest forms of life.  End rant.

Edit: I know there are many, but this video makes me sick.
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-AU&brand=ninemsn&vid=25c8694c-e6ff-4add-9241-8d528482f81c

[/0]

sooo... should alcohol be banned?