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?

[pixie374]

I think education is a start, but it's more complicated than that. People don't smoke or take drugs because they really believe it's good for them. All these adverts saying it's harmful for slightly missing the psychology of addictions.

[pixie374]

...are... not 'for'

[nailit]

If drugs are regulated then users (whom will use whether legal or not) will at least be taking 'clean' drugs, not those that are cut with god only knows what and they wouldnt have a criminal record that ruins their life even more.
I think this guy gives a compelling arguement to decriminalise drugs

[nailit]

Just for the record my 19 year old son smokes cannabis. I dont like it or what it may do to him (as has been mentioned psychosis etc) but by criminalising it he also runs the risk of obtaining a police record for it and thereby shafting his life in the future. I really dont understand why cigs and alcohol are legal and cannabis is illegal. Either criminalise ALL mind altering substances or decriminalise ALL mind altering substances and offer help/education/support

[Jackdaw33]

The only limitation on alcohol and tobacco is by age at the point of sale and where they can be consumed. It is not illegal to drink or smoke under the age of 18, only to buy them.

[nailit]

^^and?
I fail to see your point?

[Hypognosis]

@naillit (before reading the thread, so hope this is a new thing to say)

//Surely if drugs were regulated in some way it would cut crime buy getting rid of the dealers and suppliers?//

To properly knobble the supply chain, all the way to its roots, we need to know their profit margins and then undercut that for as long as it takes them to go bust and lose all the trappings of their "industry".

We'll probably fail because the desire to tax the stuff at alcohol/tobacco levels would leave the global-scale traffickers a 40% margin in which to undercut.

There should still be a market for it:- people who want to buy "ethically", in the knowledge that they are supporting a UK farmer, not a gun-running, people-trafficking drug lord in South America, or wherever.

[nailit]

//We'll probably fail because the desire to tax the stuff at alcohol/tobacco levels would leave the global-scale traffickers a 40% margin in which to undercut.//

Not much different to the bootlegers of cigs and booze then hypno?

[Hypognosis]

//hypno// ^^^

Mind if I call you nailnit?

Yes, if we legalise and tax it, I reckon there will still be plenty of margin for black marketeers. If it is a smokeable product then expect a rehash (pun, pun) of every ugly rumour about stuff added to tobacco to make it burn more efficiently. No regulation, accountability or opportunity for comebacks.

(Potential side issue about smoking the substance. Just because it isn't tobacco does not mean that the combustion products of vegetation are not going to cause lung diseases (emphysema) or cancer).

The logical extension of what I'm saying it that it will have to be extraordinarily cheap and barely taxed at all, at first, then for as long as it takes to drive the producers under.

** Provided that is, indeed the end goal of legalisation. **

The danger is that it only succeeds in driving them to other sources of income.
They might merely switch from cannabis to coca or opium poppies and that would be very damaging, to the young generations to come.

[nailit]

//Mind if I call you nailnit? //
Not at all. Call me what you want. I WANT to hear different points of view. Its the way forward and you make very good points (as have all contributors to this thread).I might not agree but without discussion there can be no way forward.

[nailit]

forgive me hypo, just realised, its hypo not hypno...sorry

[Hypognosis]

=:O)

[nailit]

;-)

[atalanta]

No, no, no, we mustn't decriminalise drugs which are now illegal here. Just imagine - all those criminals who have been so busy sneaking drugs into this country would start sneaking them out to countries where they remain illegal, and there'd be none left for us.

[retrocop]

//Surely if drugs were regulated in some way it would cut crime buy getting rid of the dealers and suppliers? //

Firearms and ammunition and who is allowed to possess them are strictly regulated now in the UK yet the country is awash with illegal firearms.

[Old_Geezer]

Mesmerising.

This country is hardly awash with guns compared to countries that allow them. And whilst irresponsible countries continue to allow them it will be difficult to prevent a portion smuggled in to the UK, so 100% free is just a dream.

However guns and drugs are not easily comparable since one is used to threaten and harm others whilst the other is used to get oneself high.

[retrocop]

OG
Are you having a laugh?
//However guns and drugs are not easily comparable since one is used to threaten and harm others whilst the other is used to get oneself high.//

How many innocent people have been killed by persons who just want to get high on drugs?. One PC in Liverpool recently who tried to stop a pick up truck.
How many people have been burgled or mugged to feed a drug habit?
I agree there are some who believe they are OK using drugs for harmless highs bit they aren't all harmless for Christ sake.