On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:12:57 +0930, Annoying I am
My thoughts are that they are going about it arse-first. Drugs should be legal to use. They should be supplied by the Government free of charge or, in the first instance, heavily subsidised. Prices can be increased later when the criminal element has turned their attention elsewhere to the point where it is still unprofitable to supply drugs on the black market.
Before you start jumping up and down let me offer the reasons why I feel this should happen.
In 1920 America outlawed the sale of alcohol. This period became known as prohibition. In 1933, and thousands of wasted police man-hours later, the laws were repealed because the criminals were filling the gap and alcohol consumption and drunkenness was rising steadily. I'm sure you've heard of Al Capone and Eliot Ness. After the repeal consumption fell. This is history.
Prohibition did not work in the case of alcohol and it is not working with the current crop of illegal drugs. Consumption of drugs is increasing and the demand is fed by criminals who grow rich on human misery by supplying and pushing drugs on to those who can least resist the allure of illegality and peer pressure.
In the words of Tom Lehrer
"He gives the kids free samples Because he knows full well, That today's young innocent faces. Become tomorrow's clientele."
"The Old Dope Peddler" by Tom Lehrer.
If drugs become legal I see the following benefits.
1. The purity of the drugs can be guaranteed. The number of ends, and required hospital resources will reduce.
2. The supply can be controlled by using the current prescription system and-or a similar distribution system involving hospitals, chemists and tobacconists or we could emulate the control as per alcohol. While drugs are illegal no control can exist.
3. Because they will be unable to make a profit the criminal gangs will move out of the drugs business. It can still be an offence to sell drugs unless you hold a license.
4. Since much petty crime is the result of the user having to pay for his-her next fix the number of hold-ups, break-ins and robberies will fall. When your next fix is free you do not need to steal money to pay for it. This frees up valuable police resources to deal with more serious crimes and might even result in the capture and conviction of some of the more invidious criminals.
5. Since no profit is made from the sale of drugs the number of new addicts is going to fall because there is no reason for anyone to PUSH the product anymore. In addition once taking drugs is legal it loses much of its attractiveness to teenagers, and other rebels, who do it because of the thrill of doing something illegal.
6. Education can ensure that all of the dangers pertaining to these drugs can be made known. Research can be undertaken to ensure we know the long term effects, which is currently blocked because of the illegality of the study subject.
7. The creation of an underclbutt of convicted drug users will be stopped in its tracks.
We will never completely stop the taking of drugs. Some people will continue to become addicted and will require buttistance to be weaned from their dependence. By having legal suppliers, control can be established as control has been established over alcohol. Yes, I know we still get alcoholics but at least they are not clbutted as criminals. Drug Users should not be clbutted as criminals either.
Driving while under the influence of drugs has just been added to the police repertoire here in South Australia. This does not need to change. Testing at random spots, or with alcohol testing. should, in my view, continue. -- David At the bottom of the application where it says "sign here". I put "Sagittarius"
