Q12543 wrote:There is a good-faith argument to be made for decriminalizing drugs - and also a good faith argument for not. It's a worthy topic of civil debate.
Any decriminalization strategy would require a robust government-led policy around how to tax, distribute, and restrict access to the most vulnerable (e.g children) to said illicit drugs. Whatever regulatory scheme is put in place would need to be loose enough to largely eliminate the black market while still tight enough to prevent a serious increase in drug use and the associated societal costs that come with it.
And herein lies the dilemma for WolvesFan in particular. The very key to enabling decriminalization of drugs involves trusting a government to set-up the right regulatory system - a government that he accuses of being in a vast conspiracy to brainwash and program its citizens.
Treat it like alcohol and/or do what Portugal did and hand out certain hard drugs for free but with handing out treatment information along with it too. Maybe if someone is daily getting treatment planted into their heads they might finally do it.
If you are going to strongly advocate for the decriminalization of drugs you better think through it more thoroughly than this. Keep in mind that GOV (as you like to call it) will need to be intimately involved in whatever solution you advocate...unless you'd want private for-profit industry to do it in a 100% unregulated way.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm an alcoholic who has been sober for 26 years. Because of that record I have been around addicts and abusers for a long time. It's just my opinion, but to me there is no lower life form than that of the drug dealer. When you see the perils of addiction and what it does to families, you see there isn't much worse than the affects of illegal drugs on our society. And the slimy bastards who profit from this activity are the root of the problem. I have zero sympathy for those who make their living destroying other peoples lives.
Thanks for sharing Cool and props to you on sobriety.
I was just thinking isn't there an element of prescription drug companies profiting off additive medications destroying their lives too?
Oxycontin and similar pain meds have been and still likely are overprescribed and highly addictive, they are opioids which are similar to heroin. These are "legal" but if you want some go to the right doctor and say you have severe back pain. Boom there is your Oxy/heroin. People that have been prescribed Oxy will have severe withdrawals and many will turn to heroin which is readily available and cheaper on the street.
Doctors and Psychiatrists get "kickbacks" by prescribing medications. They make money and are nothing more then glorified "legalized" drug dealers. Only worse. They say they are helping you and sometimes just doing more LONTERM harm then good. Not saying some drugs can be beneficial but I don't hear doctors mostly say. Hey eat right and exercise, don't take this pill I make money on.
How on one hand do we want all people to wear masks becuz no one has the right to endanger another citizen but then argue that we should be legally even hard core drugs. Which in and of itself endangers the public.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm an alcoholic who has been sober for 26 years. Because of that record I have been around addicts and abusers for a long time. It's just my opinion, but to me there is no lower life form than that of the drug dealer. When you see the perils of addiction and what it does to families, you see there isn't much worse than the affects of illegal drugs on our society. And the slimy bastards who profit from this activity are the root of the problem. I have zero sympathy for those who make their living destroying other peoples lives.
I would assume you feel every Liquor store, Bar, Restaurant or anyone else involved with making alcohol and distributing and selling it is just as bad then. People die themselves and kill others by abusing alcohol too. It's worse then many drugs.
PorkChop wrote:How on one hand do we want all people to wear masks becuz no one has the right to endanger another citizen but then argue that we should be legally even hard core drugs. Which in and of itself endangers the public.
Recreationally. Just as driving drunk or drugged is illegal now, it wouldn't change. What someone does in their own home or while not endangering others has no impact on me. Smoke some weed and do some shrooms, what do I care. Just get a uber or do it in your own home. It's not like it doesn't happen every day for tens of millions of people. I just wouldn't want it advertised I guess if the GOV does anything, I would kill alcohol advertisements too. If we have GOV they should stop promoting alcohol and drugs. You now what, I hate those big pharma commercials too, get rid of those. This medication may cause dizziness, strokes or even death. lol
Q12543 wrote:There is a good-faith argument to be made for decriminalizing drugs - and also a good faith argument for not. It's a worthy topic of civil debate.
Any decriminalization strategy would require a robust government-led policy around how to tax, distribute, and restrict access to the most vulnerable (e.g children) to said illicit drugs. Whatever regulatory scheme is put in place would need to be loose enough to largely eliminate the black market while still tight enough to prevent a serious increase in drug use and the associated societal costs that come with it.
And herein lies the dilemma for WolvesFan in particular. The very key to enabling decriminalization of drugs involves trusting a government to set-up the right regulatory system - a government that he accuses of being in a vast conspiracy to brainwash and program its citizens.
Treat it like alcohol and/or do what Portugal did and hand out certain hard drugs for free but with handing out treatment information along with it too. Maybe if someone is daily getting treatment planted into their heads they might finally do it.
If you are going to strongly advocate for the decriminalization of drugs you better think through it more thoroughly than this. Keep in mind that GOV (as you like to call it) will need to be intimately involved in whatever solution you advocate...unless you'd want private for-profit industry to do it in a 100% unregulated way.
Well yeah I imagined unregulated for profit industry. Like I mentioned in my previous post I would ban advertising all together. Along with ban alcohol advertising too. But other then that you would have for profit drug stores. Over 21. Basically just one step from being in the shadows to outside but not everywhere.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm an alcoholic who has been sober for 26 years. Because of that record I have been around addicts and abusers for a long time. It's just my opinion, but to me there is no lower life form than that of the drug dealer. When you see the perils of addiction and what it does to families, you see there isn't much worse than the affects of illegal drugs on our society. And the slimy bastards who profit from this activity are the root of the problem. I have zero sympathy for those who make their living destroying other peoples lives.
Thanks for sharing Cool and props to you on sobriety.
I was just thinking isn't there an element of prescription drug companies profiting off additive medications destroying their lives too?
Agree, congrats to Cool. One day at a time....
As for the pharmaceuticals profiting off addictive medications, one needs to look at motive. Ethical pharmaceutical companies develop and manufacture drugs that there is a clear medical need for. Yes, some of these medications may be addictive and abused. But that doesn't diminish the countless lives impacted in a positive way when prescribed and used properly (this includes opioids, which has alleviated horrific suffering from millions of people).
I'm not sure the fine folks making fentanyl and distributing into neighborhoods and vulnerable communities across the U.S. is comparable in any way.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm an alcoholic who has been sober for 26 years. Because of that record I have been around addicts and abusers for a long time. It's just my opinion, but to me there is no lower life form than that of the drug dealer. When you see the perils of addiction and what it does to families, you see there isn't much worse than the affects of illegal drugs on our society. And the slimy bastards who profit from this activity are the root of the problem. I have zero sympathy for those who make their living destroying other peoples lives.
I would assume you feel every Liquor store, Bar, Restaurant or anyone else involved with making alcohol and distributing and selling it is just as bad then. People die themselves and kill others by abusing alcohol too. It's worse then many drugs.
True, but at least it's regulated and no cartels are profiting from it.
It all depends on the drug. There are bad illegal and legal drugs, and likewise there are beneficial legal and illegal (in some countries) drugs. The problem with the US system seems to be that they are only interested in legalizing and regulating drugs where there is an opportunity for profit through patents. This is fuelled both by the drug companies and the University's interest in IP.
There have been many societies in the world that have been able to legalize and decriminalize a number of drugs and it has shown much societal benefits. I personally think its more challenging in the USA because there is so much violence embedded in the culture. Colorado seems to be just fine with the pot legalization though. I think most states will realize that marijuana is not a criminal fight worth fighting and perhaps an opportunity.
I personally hope recreational cocaine is never legalized.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm an alcoholic who has been sober for 26 years. Because of that record I have been around addicts and abusers for a long time. It's just my opinion, but to me there is no lower life form than that of the drug dealer. When you see the perils of addiction and what it does to families, you see there isn't much worse than the affects of illegal drugs on our society. And the slimy bastards who profit from this activity are the root of the problem. I have zero sympathy for those who make their living destroying other peoples lives.
Thanks for sharing Cool and props to you on sobriety.
I was just thinking isn't there an element of prescription drug companies profiting off additive medications destroying their lives too?
Agree, congrats to Cool. One day at a time....
As for the pharmaceuticals profiting off addictive medications, one needs to look at motive. Ethical pharmaceutical companies develop and manufacture drugs that there is a clear medical need for. Yes, some of these medications may be addictive and abused. But that doesn't diminish the countless lives impacted in a positive way when prescribed and used properly (this includes opioids, which has alleviated horrific suffering from millions of people).
I'm not sure the fine folks making fentanyl and distributing into neighborhoods and vulnerable communities across the U.S. is comparable in any way.
Q I'm not looking to demonize the entire industry just making the point that Wolves fan's dream of doing away with government isn't going to solve the problems. Unethical stuff with medications does happen and those drugs are regulated by the government and legal. I don't see things like this getting better with less oversight.
There aren't easy solutions (For one thing people are pretty complex) but it's an interesting topic to consider IMHO. What we are doing now doesn't seem to be going all that well. I'd think it would be worthwhile to look even deeper. Like why are people becoming addicted in the first place?
