Decriminalising Drugs

[nailit]

Is decriminalising drugs a way forward? Was viewing a tv debate about it this morning and inevitably opinion was divided.
Personally I dont understand how criminalising someone for smoking cannabis is helpful when people can legally buy cigarettes and alcohol. Surely if drugs were regulated in some way it would cut crime buy getting rid of the dealers and suppliers?
As long as humans have existed we have used mind altering substances so why not accept the fact that we will never 'fix' the drug situation and instead regulate it like we do with cigs and alcohol?

[Islay]

Does purchasing and smoking cigarettes cause you to (in desperation) break into somebodies house and murder them for money and goods to sell?

[dunnitall]

I can see both sides of this argument and not quite sure which way to fall, maybe it depends on exactly what outcome people are likely to have by taking the ,criminalised' drug as to whether it should be decriminalised. Can't make my mind up on this ATM.

[dunnitall]

I had my mind more on cannabis, so maybe my thoughts fail..!

[Islay]

If you speak to drug addicts they all started out on cannabis before going on to the harder drugs to get their fix.

[dunnitall]

Don't know any drug addicts but I'm sure you're right islay.

[Old_Geezer]

The difference was that communities were too late to criminalise alcohol and nicotine abuse. But yeah, I suspect decriminalisation is likely to be helpful. Brings the trade out of criminal hands and allows issues to be tackled more easily.

[melv16]

Ask anybody who knows someone with psychosis brought on by cannabis use and you may change your mind about decriminalisation.

[Mamyalynne]

That is a statement often put out and I'm sure of the Drug users you know, of the ones I have known some began on cannabis and others never touched it going straight into harder things.

I do agree with decriminalising cannabis but when we look at harder drugs I become less sure of how I feel.

[Old_Geezer]

If you speak to drug addicts they all started out on their mother's milk before going on to the hard drugs to get their fix.

Beware drawing erroneous conclusions.

[Prudie]

I agree with melv. In the vast majority of cases cannabis use is on a par with a few G&Ts but to the susceptible it can bring about mental problems that are a lot harder to manage. I don't think I'll ever agree with the legalisation side. It will certainly become more widely available for starters.

[pixie374]

I agree with melv and especially with how strong it is now.

[Islay]

OK I will rephrase that!

Of the drug addicts I have spoken to they started on cannabis.

[rockyracoon]

A member of my husbands family has serious mental health issues because of cannabis use. I'm on the fence at the moment though, and I don't know which way I could fall with regards to legalising it.

As to the dealers being got rid of, I think that's pie in the sky, they'll be going nowhere and they'll still be selling cheap, adulterated substances.

[nailit]

//Ask anybody who knows someone with psychosis brought on by cannabis use and you may change your mind about decriminalisation.//
I wouldnt argue with that point. But cigs and alcohol are equally dangerous and yet we regulate them. My point is that criminalising drugs does nothing to help. Why give someone a police record (and possible prison sentance) for cannabis possession? Surely more education about the dangers of drugs would be more beneficial than locking people up?

[CrapAtCryptics]

if you keep stepping up what people can have access to why have any legislation at all. The simple answer is because dangerous, reduces your immunities, and gives people the idea that they can drive or whatever while under the influence. If people had to pay for the treatment on their addictions - whichever it is - thye wouldnt be quite so keen.

[melv16]

I used to smoke resin and when this became impossible to get, I tried skunk...never again. It's a very powerful drug and should be used with caution. BTW, I was never tempted to try anything stronger, but I'm not a young man anymore.

[Peter Pedant]

//Does smoking cigarettes cause you to (in desperation) break into somebody's house and murder them for money and goods to sell? //

am I the only one to have seen the film 'Reefer Madness ' ?

[Old_Geezer]

Same erroneous implication islay. That one leads to the other. The reality is that someone inclined to try hard drugs are almost bound to try softer ones beforehand; I don't believe there is any causal connection that one can use to argue against decriminalisation.

[Prudie]

Never heard of it Peter but just looked it up and it was about marijuana smokers so not sure of your point?

[melv16]

If you've got the 'addiction gene', no amount of legislation is going to stop you taking drugs , drinking or gambling. Education is the way forward.