Legalization of drugs, pros and cons!

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 02:36 PM

Should drugs be legalized?

Yes, no; if yes what are the consequences, benefits. If no, can we continue waging another losing war?

Who gains, who loses?

Opinions, facts, etc, all are welcome as long as cookies are provided for the OP.

Apocalipstic · 04-26-2010, 02:38 PM

Legalize marijuana and mushrooms and use the tax money to pay for health care.

Keep Chrystal Meth and other "hard core" drugs illegal.

Would make for way less people in prison for us to pay for and increase revenues and taxes. No one loses.

Cookies all around!

Corkey · 04-26-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofMfan

Should drugs be legalized?

Yes, no; if yes what are the consequences, benefits. If no, can we continue waging another losing war?

Who gains, who loses?

Opinions, facts, etc, all are welcome as long as cookies are provided for the OP.

From the title you've had one too many already. Yes, legalize pot, tax it and grow it. I am a non drug user BTW. I think it was put here for a reason, it wasn't manufactured.

Jess · 04-26-2010, 02:39 PM

Opinion only...

Legalize pot. Never heard of anyone od'ing on pot or committing homicide in a pot induced haze. Never heard of anyone jonesing so bad for pot they commit larceny or murder or rape. Keep narcotics/ opiate derivitives /methamphetamines etc illegal.

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corkey

From the title you've had one too many already. Yes, legalize pot, tax it and grow it. I am a non drug user BTW. I think it was put here for a reason, it wasn't manufactured.

Dude, where are my cookies?

I agree, and ditto on not being a drug user.

Why do you think people are against this? DO you have an opinion on that?

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Legalize marijuana and mushrooms and use the tax money to pay for health care.

Keep Chrystal Meth and other "hard core" drugs illegal.

Would make for way less people in prison for us to pay for and increase revenues and taxes. No one loses.

Cookies all around!

Did you know that the minimum sentence, according to guidelines, for any drug offense is 5 years?

Let's do the math and see how much money we would save on housing these non-violent offenders and how much we would gain from taxing this stuff.

Thanks for the cookies

SuperFemme · 04-26-2010, 02:49 PM

Legalize ALL drugs and prostitution.
Who gains? Everyone but the criminals.
Who loses? The cartels and the CIA.

But it MUST be done at a Federal Level otherwise you end up with the mess we have here in CA. Medical Marijuana growers being prosecuted by the DEA and a Federal Jury not being told about the state law. Long sentences handed out.

Corkey · 04-26-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofMfan

Dude, where are my cookies?

I agree, and ditto on not being a drug user.

Why do you think people are against this? DO you have an opinion on that?

Dude you ate the cookies, lookie at your title........^
People are always against that which they don't understand.
Oh my I have an opinion on most things LOL

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jess

Opinion only...

Legalize pot. Never heard of anyone od'ing on pot or committing homicide in a pot induced haze. Never heard of anyone jonesing so bad for pot they commit larceny or murder or rape. Keep narcotics/ opiate derivitives /methamphetamines etc illegal.

I think I may have heard of someone breaking into a bakery to steal the brownies, but maybe I am just making that up.

Why keep the hard stuff illegal? Not that I don't agree, I am just curious.

You also forgot the cookies!

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corkey

Dude you ate the cookies, lookie at your title........^
People are always against that which they don't understand.
Oh my I have an opinion on most things LOL

OK I am blind, I ate a freaking G. Where is a mod when you need one?

Mitmo01 · 04-26-2010, 02:56 PM

I agree with Superfemme

make prostitution legal and drugs legal and tax the hell out of both

treat adults like adults let them make thier own choices since we all know that people are going to do both no matter what....

by having drugs and prostituition illegal all that does is make more money for the government and the cartels....

oh and it does create a hell of a lot of jobs and fills up prisons which create more jobs......

betenoire · 04-26-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitmo01

oh and it does create a hell of a lot of jobs and fills up prisons which create more jobs......

But legalizing it would -also- create a tonne of jobs. They would have to go real heavy on education and harm reduction - and they'd have to hire people to do that.

Like I said in that other thread: making it legal doesn't mean that people who don't currently do drugs are going to start. I don't do any currently illegal drugs - at all. I don't even smoke pot. And my not doing drugs has -nothing- to do with it being illegal - legalizing it isn't going to make me start sticking needles in my veins and stuff up my nose. It's just not.

People are going to do what they are going to do. We may as well create an environment where they are less of a danger to themselves.

Apocalipstic · 04-26-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofMfan

Did you know that the minimum sentence, according to guidelines, for any drug offense is 5 years?

Let's do the math and see how much money we would save on housing these non-violent offenders and how much we would gain from taxing this stuff.

Thanks for the cookies

Pot needs to not be an offense at all. It is just dumb. I agree with SF, it need to be legalized at the Federal Level. Mushrooms, Poppies, Peyote, etc.

I do think Chrystal Meth is scary and it makes the entire area it is cooked toxic and can explode easily and kill innocent bystanders. Other than that, I really don't care. Decriminalize away. Yes, prostitution too.

I agree that the government does not need to legislate morality.

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

Legalize ALL drugs and prostitution.
Who gains? Everyone but the criminals.
Who loses? The cartels and the CIA.

But it MUST be done at a Federal Level otherwise you end up with the mess we have here in CA. Medical Marijuana growers being prosecuted by the DEA and a Federal Jury not being told about the state law. Long sentences handed out.

I agree any legalization must be done on a federal level. I also agree that The Cartels and the DEA, CIA and all the other unknown govt. agencies would lose.

But legalize hard core drugs? I am not sure about that yet. It sounds too me too close to legalizing AK47s, but I am still pondering that.

Cyclopea · 04-26-2010, 03:11 PM

I'm "anti-drug". Don't like them, don't do them.
But I think all drugs including pharmaceuticals should be legalized and the taxes put towards treatment for addiction.
The practical problem with this is that there is a massive economy built around drugs which would collapse. If the black market was wiped out and most of the prisons closed by legalizing drugs what would replace this economy? What would happen to all the people who make a living on the black market? Would they sell Avon or what? It's not just "cartels" that make a living in the drug economy but lots of regular people too. There are not enough jobs in the legal economy as it is without displacing the massive underground economy and all the legal jobs that feed off it. Would the average street dealer be re-trained as an addictions counselor in the new "treatment economy"?

Apocalipstic · 04-26-2010, 03:11 PM

Of course for those people who think pot is a gateway drug and leads to Crystal......

I think they need to read up and look a their logic.

SuperFemme · 04-26-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by betenoire

But legalizing it would -also- create a tonne of jobs. They would have to go real heavy on education and harm reduction - and they'd have to hire people to do that.

Like I said in that other thread: making it legal doesn't mean that people who don't currently do drugs are going to start. I don't do any currently illegal drugs - at all. I don't even smoke pot. And my not doing drugs has -nothing- to do with it being illegal - legalizing it isn't going to make me start sticking needles in my veins and stuff up my nose. It's just not.

People are going to do what they are going to do. We may as well create an environment where they are less of a danger to themselves.

We could legalize and treat addicts for the disease of addiction.
Offer a safe place to buy/use and save tons on future medical care costs by taking away the risks of HepC and HIV.
Open up rehabs to ALL who need it, not just the folk that can afford a 30k stay.

And no, nobody is gonna start shooting heroin just because they can. I agree with Betenoire.

SuperFemme · 04-26-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofMfan

I agree any legalization must be done on a federal level. I also agree that The Cartels and the DEA, CIA and all the other unknown govt. agencies would lose.

But legalize hard core drugs? I am not sure about that yet. It sounds too me too close to legalizing AK47s, but I am still pondering that.

Check this out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8255418.stm

UofMfan · 04-26-2010, 03:22 PM

From my personal experience. I don't do drugs and legalizing it is not going to change that. I think most people would fall under that same category.

Anyone who wants to do drugs now does it, the fact that it is illegal is not a deterrent.

As for the economy and jobs. What happened back during prohibition when booze was finally legalized? New economies sprung up. Selling it legally would be a profitable business. I doubt the economic benefits would be negative. I must look for some articles I have read in the financial and economic areas regarding this very topic.

weatherboi · 04-26-2010, 03:32 PM

Legalizing drugs benefits us all for many reasons!!

Here are some off the top of my head.

1-Societal Benefits- Illegal drug sale creates a criminal culture. People, such as myself (recreational user),has to come in contact with not so nice people. It also affects our youths and creating a space to choose a life of crime selling drugs on the street.

2-The Potency Effect- Remember prohibition...more people chose to drink alcohol over wine or beer because it was more potent. Alcohol related deaths skyrocketed. When it comes to drugs if a dealer is gonna take a risk, then the dealer is more likely to risk transporting/selling a more potent product for the public to purchase. Potency does not equate quality!!

3-Health Benefits- Legalizing would ensure market driven high quality substances to purchase. There would be brand name competition and accountablity.

4-Reduction in Crime- four reasons for this thought
1-reduction in market prices from the influx of users that were normally deterred because of criminal laws.
2-substance related crime will decrease because the courts will now be open for companies to settle disputes in court.
3-Profits for cartels = money for terrorists!!!
4-legalizing sale,transport and possession will now be viewed as legal buisness transactions.

This is all I have for now...

04-26-2010, 02:36 PM	#1
UofMfan Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Relationship Status: A very happy Mr. Grumpy Cat Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Neither here or there Posts: 7,987 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 27,733 Thanked 18,937 Times in 4,705 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	Legalization of drugs, pros and cons! Should drugs be legalized? Yes, no; if yes what are the consequences, benefits. If no, can we continue waging another losing war? Who gains, who loses? Opinions, facts, etc, all are welcome as long as cookies are provided for the OP.

04-26-2010, 02:38 PM	#2
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,362 Times in 2,838 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Legalize marijuana and mushrooms and use the tax money to pay for health care. Keep Chrystal Meth and other "hard core" drugs illegal. Would make for way less people in prison for us to pay for and increase revenues and taxes. No one loses. Cookies all around! __________________

04-26-2010, 03:11 PM	#15
Cyclopea Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Lesbian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Exit Zero Posts: 1,267 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,694 Thanked 1,615 Times in 632 Posts Rep Power: 226200	I'm "anti-drug". Don't like them, don't do them. But I think all drugs including pharmaceuticals should be legalized and the taxes put towards treatment for addiction. The practical problem with this is that there is a massive economy built around drugs which would collapse. If the black market was wiped out and most of the prisons closed by legalizing drugs what would replace this economy? What would happen to all the people who make a living on the black market? Would they sell Avon or what? It's not just "cartels" that make a living in the drug economy but lots of regular people too. There are not enough jobs in the legal economy as it is without displacing the massive underground economy and all the legal jobs that feed off it. Would the average street dealer be re-trained as an addictions counselor in the new "treatment economy"? __________________ http://forum.axishistory.com/images/...arious/eye.jpg

04-26-2010, 03:11 PM	#16
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,362 Times in 2,838 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Of course for those people who think pot is a gateway drug and leads to Crystal...... I think they need to read up and look a their logic. __________________

04-26-2010, 02:39 PM	#4
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	Opinion only... Legalize pot. Never heard of anyone od'ing on pot or committing homicide in a pot induced haze. Never heard of anyone jonesing so bad for pot they commit larceny or murder or rape. Keep narcotics/ opiate derivitives /methamphetamines etc illegal.

04-26-2010, 02:49 PM	#7
SuperFemme Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Permanently Banned 10/24/2010 Preferred Pronoun?: She. Relationship Status: Married (one of 18,000) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 4,933 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,309 Thanked 7,108 Times in 2,327 Posts Rep Power: 0	Legalize ALL drugs and prostitution. Who gains? Everyone but the criminals. Who loses? The cartels and the CIA. But it MUST be done at a Federal Level otherwise you end up with the mess we have here in CA. Medical Marijuana growers being prosecuted by the DEA and a Federal Jury not being told about the state law. Long sentences handed out.

04-26-2010, 02:56 PM	#11
Mitmo01 Member How Do You Identify?: Disobedient Thing... Preferred Pronoun?: Rebel Soul in the blood..Heathen as well Relationship Status: Marked and Loved....I Belong to Her.... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Omaha Posts: 984 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,523 Thanked 1,354 Times in 579 Posts Rep Power: 927728	I agree with Superfemme make prostitution legal and drugs legal and tax the hell out of both treat adults like adults let them make thier own choices since we all know that people are going to do both no matter what.... by having drugs and prostituition illegal all that does is make more money for the government and the cartels.... oh and it does create a hell of a lot of jobs and fills up prisons which create more jobs......

04-26-2010, 03:22 PM	#19
UofMfan Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Relationship Status: A very happy Mr. Grumpy Cat Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Neither here or there Posts: 7,987 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 27,733 Thanked 18,937 Times in 4,705 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	From my personal experience. I don't do drugs and legalizing it is not going to change that. I think most people would fall under that same category. Anyone who wants to do drugs now does it, the fact that it is illegal is not a deterrent. As for the economy and jobs. What happened back during prohibition when booze was finally legalized? New economies sprung up. Selling it legally would be a profitable business. I doubt the economic benefits would be negative. I must look for some articles I have read in the financial and economic areas regarding this very topic.

04-26-2010, 03:32 PM	#20
weatherboi Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Owned boy Preferred Pronoun?: Hey boy!!! Relationship Status: counting freckles slowly under Her direction!!! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: i have 2 sets of geographic coordinates!!! Posts: 6,097 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 26,797 Thanked 12,549 Times in 2,993 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Legalizing drugs benefits us all for many reasons!! Here are some off the top of my head. 1-Societal Benefits- Illegal drug sale creates a criminal culture. People, such as myself (recreational user),has to come in contact with not so nice people. It also affects our youths and creating a space to choose a life of crime selling drugs on the street. 2-The Potency Effect- Remember prohibition...more people chose to drink alcohol over wine or beer because it was more potent. Alcohol related deaths skyrocketed. When it comes to drugs if a dealer is gonna take a risk, then the dealer is more likely to risk transporting/selling a more potent product for the public to purchase. Potency does not equate quality!! 3-Health Benefits- Legalizing would ensure market driven high quality substances to purchase. There would be brand name competition and accountablity. 4-Reduction in Crime- four reasons for this thought 1-reduction in market prices from the influx of users that were normally deterred because of criminal laws. 2-substance related crime will decrease because the courts will now be open for companies to settle disputes in court. 3-Profits for cartels = money for terrorists!!! 4-legalizing sale,transport and possession will now be viewed as legal buisness transactions. This is all I have for now...