[–] Steve_French ago (edited ago)
Yes but at the same time there needs to be some real information being spread about them, no scare tactics just the truth. Combined with a good rehabilitation system, which would cost pennies compared to the drug war, could definitely reduce addiction rates and the amount of OD's,
I think as a society we are going to have to approach drugs better than before though. With the ridiculous alcohol culture in many places it could get pretty messy with easy access to tonnes of great quality drugs.
Also much more research on drugs.
[–] cAMP 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yes, drugs should be decriminalization. If someone wants to use drugs it's their choice, but there should still be penalties to enforce safe use. We should provide clean needles and set up safe places for people to get high and receive medical assistance. That will combat a lot public health problems (Aids, Hepatitis and etc) and a lot the budget used to fight the war on drugs can be used for these programs.
[–] lordnahte2 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yes for some specific reasons. There was a study done by the Department of Health (I believe) in the 1910s before the Marijuana Tax Act, in the 1970s before the Controlled Substances Act, and in 2011 or 2013 I can't remember which. Those studies all found that 3% of our nation is addicted to a nonalchohol drug. We need to stop treating it as a criminal problem which hasn't helped addiction rates and treat it as a health problem. Norway hasn't had a heroin overdose in years and the reason is the government provides it. They get clean needles and regulated doses to ensure they don't overdose. Regulating doses prevents overdoses and also regulating would prevent cutting with other substances. People would have better access to legitamite rehab programs instead of the revolving door ones we have now and we would take a vast majority of the nonviolent people out of jail for an addiction or risk taking personality. Also, we have had a rise in dangerous things like spice trying to provide a legal alternative to weed which is the least deadly of all.
[–] Lilynova 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Sure, why not? Lets try something different. If someone really wants to do a particular drug right now, they're not going to stop just because our government says it's illegal. ya know? War on drugs have failed, so lets try to come up with new ways to deal with drugs and the problems that arise from using them in some users.
[–] LittleBobbyTables 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Some like to point to places like Portugal where you can see the results of such drastic measures. I think there is a difference in culture though here in the States where the results wouldn't necessarily be the same.
With that said, I think it is telling that our system of locking drug users up in a horribly violent and over crowded prison system next to rapists, gang members, and murderers only makes their situation worse. However I do understand why some drugs are illegal for sure - shit like Krokodil are terribly destructive; heavy Amphetamines can cause amphetamine psychosis which can leave a user deranged enough to commit some fucked up crimes; etc...
However it is totally bullshit to have drugs like Marijuana on that list. The LEAs here act like they need to fight Marijuana like they would any other drug equally. By legalizing it they cut out a large chunk of profit for cartels and street gangs, and they can focus their efforts more on removing shit like heroin and coca in from the streets with their same budget if they want. (This does not mean I agree with their budget or tactics but I am saying their arguments are purely bullshit when it comes to Marijuana).
Finally - some of those ass backward southern states have to get rid of their draconian 3-strikes laws with mandatory sentences for just the most minor amount of any drugs.
[–] Eunideen 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
..... I'm all for freedom and shit but ever since my brother's near death due to a bad LSD trip I think most people just can't handle that shit.
[–] FormerDiggUser [S] ago
Do you really think that should be a reason why no-one should be able to use drugs legally?
[–] Eunideen ago
nah, but there should be some sort of regulation to make sure shit like that doesn't happen