Illegal drugs - worse than legal ones?

[Kai]

I understand, but you can't nanny people. There's already laws in place for if somebody physically- and in some cases, emotionally- causes damage to somebody else. Does it matter more if they're on drugs than if they aren't? People are unpredictable, period.

Like I said, my experience includes parents who used drugs and who did hurt me, but I still don't feel it's right to impose a blanket morality law because of a few bad eggs.

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

I understand, but you can't nanny people. There's already laws in place for if somebody physically- and in some cases, emotionally- causes damage to somebody else. Does it matter more if they're on drugs than if they aren't? People are unpredictable, period.

Like I said, my experience includes parents who used drugs and who did hurt me, but I still don't feel it's right to impose a blanket morality law because of a few bad eggs.

But if it saves just one person then wouldnt it be worth it? And of course it matters more if they are on drugs, because it could have, maybe, been prevented had the person not been on them. Drugs are capable of completely altering a person. And if the drug itself doesnt do that the consequences of an addiction can.

im not sure making all drugs illegal would stop people doing them, infact im sure it wouldnt but the tougher penalties might deter some ppl or make them rethink their decision.

There are children getting beaten up, malnourished, starved and a whole host of other things on a daily basis and the stats show that the majority of these children come from homes were one or both parents is victim so some kind of drug addiction. Im not saying the drugs cause it, far from it, but they can change a person.

My mum changes drastically is she doesnt a cigarette like once every 15 mins - she becomes angry, irritable, nasty, argumentative, give her a cigarette and that changes. She is controlled by her addiction.

now like i said, it wont stop everyone, but by making things like alcohol, cigarettes and other nasties illegal it will make it a lot harder for users to get a hold of.

Why do we need drugs? We are people so against making them illegal? Cant people relax, chill out, have fun or socialise in other, healthier ways?

The world wouldn't end without them

ETA: that is full of typos but im typing lying down in the dark with a killer headache so apologies

 

[aob1013]

AOB - i think you have missed my point entirely. You said yourself you think alcohol and tobacco should be illegal (which, for the last time, are drugs!!!) but then say the law doesn't need to be changed? The whole issue i have is that the gov seem to be pretending to look after us by making certain drugs illegal, whilst letting us pump our bodies full of toxins from other, legal - but still very much harmful - drugs. Personally I would just quite like the hypocricy to end and for them to pick one side of the fence instead of sitting on it.

It is saddening to see that those people who campaigned to get laws changed are not respected at all by some people. I believe we should all be extremely thankful for what happened in the past, 2010 wouldn't be the same without it.

I dont really get that either. alcohol and tobacco are drugs thats fact. people cant choose to 'believe' something is not a drug. they are by definition, substances that affect the functioning of the mind and body, hence are drugs.

it is extremely sad though that for the sake of the money it brings in tht alcohol and tobacco remain legal - i mean what other reason could there be for not making them illegal? its madness!

I do think alcohol and cigs are drugs ............. because they are. But, i don't believe they are as dangerous as drugs. I do think cigs should be illegal, definately. Alcohol, i'm not too sure as i hardly drink so don't really have an opinion on it.

Again, i don't think the law should be changed in relation to the drugs that are illegal now. I would like to see cigs made illegal though.

Dopeyjopey, i agree with you that they need to make their minds up. The reason why cigs aren't illegal is because they make so much money out of them!

 

[BlackBerry25]

Even with making them illegal though, most people use one or the other.

 

[BlackBerry25]

AND...if a large population of people want them legal, they should be legal. Isn't that what a democracy is?

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

AOB - i think you have missed my point entirely. You said yourself you think alcohol and tobacco should be illegal (which, for the last time, are drugs!!!) but then say the law doesn't need to be changed? The whole issue i have is that the gov seem to be pretending to look after us by making certain drugs illegal, whilst letting us pump our bodies full of toxins from other, legal - but still very much harmful - drugs. Personally I would just quite like the hypocricy to end and for them to pick one side of the fence instead of sitting on it.

It is saddening to see that those people who campaigned to get laws changed are not respected at all by some people. I believe we should all be extremely thankful for what happened in the past, 2010 wouldn't be the same without it.

I dont really get that either. alcohol and tobacco are drugs thats fact. people cant choose to 'believe' something is not a drug. they are by definition, substances that affect the functioning of the mind and body, hence are drugs.

it is extremely sad though that for the sake of the money it brings in tht alcohol and tobacco remain legal - i mean what other reason could there be for not making them illegal? its madness!

I do think alcohol and cigs are drugs ............. because they are. But, i don't believe they are as dangerous as drugs. I do think cigs should be illegal, definately. Alcohol, i'm not too sure as i hardly drink so don't really have an opinion on it.

Again, i don't think the law should be changed in relation to the drugs that are illegal now. I would like to see cigs made illegal though.

Dopeyjopey, i agree with you that they need to make their minds up. The reason why cigs aren't illegal is because they make so much money out of them!

But the majority of deaths in the UK every year are from alcohol/smoking related illnesses?

They are all harmful. If id to put a rank on them id have to say alcohol was one of if not thee worst. Thats just my opinion though

 

[aob1013]

Of course, even if stuff is made illegal there is always ways to access it.

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

AND...if a large population of people want them legal, they should be legal. Isn't that what a democracy is?

Not if a large population want it legal no, it would have to be the majority and I do not believe for one minute that the majority would want that.

 

[aob1013]

AOB - i think you have missed my point entirely. You said yourself you think alcohol and tobacco should be illegal (which, for the last time, are drugs!!!) but then say the law doesn't need to be changed? The whole issue i have is that the gov seem to be pretending to look after us by making certain drugs illegal, whilst letting us pump our bodies full of toxins from other, legal - but still very much harmful - drugs. Personally I would just quite like the hypocricy to end and for them to pick one side of the fence instead of sitting on it.

It is saddening to see that those people who campaigned to get laws changed are not respected at all by some people. I believe we should all be extremely thankful for what happened in the past, 2010 wouldn't be the same without it.

I dont really get that either. alcohol and tobacco are drugs thats fact. people cant choose to 'believe' something is not a drug. they are by definition, substances that affect the functioning of the mind and body, hence are drugs.

it is extremely sad though that for the sake of the money it brings in tht alcohol and tobacco remain legal - i mean what other reason could there be for not making them illegal? its madness!

I do think alcohol and cigs are drugs ............. because they are. But, i don't believe they are as dangerous as drugs. I do think cigs should be illegal, definately. Alcohol, i'm not too sure as i hardly drink so don't really have an opinion on it.

Again, i don't think the law should be changed in relation to the drugs that are illegal now. I would like to see cigs made illegal though.

Dopeyjopey, i agree with you that they need to make their minds up. The reason why cigs aren't illegal is because they make so much money out of them!

But the majority of deaths in the UK every year are from alcohol/smoking related illnesses?

They are all harmful. If id to put a rank on them id have to say alcohol was one of if not thee worst. Thats just my opinion though

Which is why they should be illegal too, they are drugs, they are harmful. They won't be though because too much money is made from them x

 

[Blue_bumpkin]

Of course, even if stuff is made illegal there is always ways to access it.

Exactly but maybe some people would be out off and it'd be worth it in the long run.

Least thats what Id hope x

 

[BlackBerry25]

If they were legal, they would then be taxed, there would be less "criminals" and therefore less money being spent on prisons, and the money could be used for good, like healthcare.

Just like alcohol, it is now legal, we have companies producing the product, tons of cash is made off of it, and thousands of legitimate jobs were created.

To me, marijauna is not like other hardcore drugs, it is closer to a cigarette, which is accepted by the majority.

 

[polo_princess]

If im honest, if alcohol and cigarettes were made illegal, i would just find other ways to source them.

The "black market" would go absolutley crazy, its something that the goverment cant control even now and they hate it because its money that they arent getting through tax

I dont think it would deter many people

 

[PeanutBean]

People have made the same points but I'm going to say them anyway! Redpoppy - you're right that the general population bases decisions on ignorance. But the same goes for everything! Look at the hysteria over the child protection register when most abusers are family members? Look at the battles over environmental action? Look at the anti-vaccination campaigns? The best we can to is educate and over time society will progress.

Blackberry democracy is the majority and I agree with bluebumpkin that in the UK I am certain the majority does not want cannabis legslising.

PP I think this is exactly right and I said before that it would be nigh impossible to make alcohol illegal certainly and possibly cigarettes too, though we're closer with those I guess. And this is why I'm not in favour of legalising the 'softer' drugs because once it's allowed it's very difficult to backtrack if things didn't go as well as planned.

 

[BlackBerry25]

Oh I know, but do the majority of people smoke cigarettes? And they are legal.

I think it may be a close vote in Canada

 

[PeanutBean]

Lol I can't speak for other countries. The majority don't smoke I don't think but that falls into the challenge if change. We've got a public building smoking ban now and was fought long and hard for. It's a positive step forward. I must say though with a tobacco ban a lot of pot smokers would have trouble!

 

[blahblahblah]

Lol I can't speak for other countries. The majority don't smoke I don't think but that falls into the challenge if change. We've got a public building smoking ban now and was fought long and hard for. It's a positive step forward. I must say though with a tobacco ban a lot of pot smokers would have trouble!

I have to say, the ban on smoking in public buildings is a wonderful thing, and has made going out a far more pleasant experience! No more sitting in a pub feeling ill If only there was also a ban on huddling around the entrance to EVERY public building smoking too! If the government won't go as far as to make smoking illegal, people should at least be confined to their own homes to do it whilst (hopefully) not sharing the horrible smell and after effects with everyone else!

 

[BlackBerry25]

Yes we have a very strict public smoking law here too. We have to be so many feet away to smoke

 

[PeanutBean]

There has been talk of being so many metres from the entrance, I think the hospitals do something like that. But yes, one quickly forgets how hideous it was going to a pub and coming home reeking so bad the dog doesn't want to greet me! And I hate the entrance smoking too. We live near a really rough scabby pool hall which I walk past on the way to almost everywhere and there are so many tab ends everywhere. Plus broken glass. But the licensing authority threatened to take their licence away and cleaned up for a bit but back to being vile again now.

 

[redpoppy]

I understand, but you can't nanny people. There's already laws in place for if somebody physically- and in some cases, emotionally- causes damage to somebody else. Does it matter more if they're on drugs than if they aren't? People are unpredictable, period.

Like I said, my experience includes parents who used drugs and who did hurt me, but I still don't feel it's right to impose a blanket morality law because of a few bad eggs.

I think I agree with you totally on this.

When I hear of people who are GREAT at their jobs and responsible and effective and they have a surprise drug test and they get fired because within the last week they may have smoked a joint it baffles me.

Fire someone if they're sh*t at their job. Arrest someone and prosecute if they're violent. Admonish those who are rude or aggressive. But do that whether they have partaken in any drug.

 

[redpoppy]

I understand, but you can't nanny people. There's already laws in place for if somebody physically- and in some cases, emotionally- causes damage to somebody else. Does it matter more if they're on drugs than if they aren't? People are unpredictable, period.

Like I said, my experience includes parents who used drugs and who did hurt me, but I still don't feel it's right to impose a blanket morality law because of a few bad eggs.

But if it saves just one person then wouldnt it be worth it? And of course it matters more if they are on drugs, because it could have, maybe, been prevented had the person not been on them. Drugs are capable of completely altering a person. And if the drug itself doesnt do that the consequences of an addiction can.

im not sure making all drugs illegal would stop people doing them, infact im sure it wouldnt but the tougher penalties might deter some ppl or make them rethink their decision.

There are children getting beaten up, malnourished, starved and a whole host of other things on a daily basis and the stats show that the majority of these children come from homes were one or both parents is victim so some kind of drug addiction. Im not saying the drugs cause it, far from it, but they can change a person.

My mum changes drastically is she doesnt a cigarette like once every 15 mins - she becomes angry, irritable, nasty, argumentative, give her a cigarette and that changes. She is controlled by her addiction.

now like i said, it wont stop everyone, but by making things like alcohol, cigarettes and other nasties illegal it will make it a lot harder for users to get a hold of.

Why do we need drugs? We are people so against making them illegal? Cant people relax, chill out, have fun or socialise in other, healthier ways?

The world wouldn't end without them

ETA: that is full of typos but im typing lying down in the dark with a killer headache so apologies

Hope your headache is improving.

The thing is it's a little like banning sex at a certain age or before marriage. Humanity has a natural curiosity and inclination to seek out mind altering substances. And many people don't consider them good time drugs but mind expanding substances. Things that increase your awareness of life, of your senses, of your self and help you to improve all of those things in the long term. I realise that it seems foreign to many people but its a very common hippified ideal. Some people just want to go out and "get wasted" but MANY people do these drugs as they feel it helps them expand their knowledge and experience of life. Not in an addictive way as it's not about the high. It's about learning. About taking things which enlighten you and in amazing and beautiful ways and applying them to your every day life.

So to those people, asking them to take that away from them is a big thing, because some people act like idiots it ruins it for the rest of them.

But as "kai" said, people who are not on drugs do horrible things too. We can't stop horrible things from happening. As some people claim heavy metal or marilyn manson can cause teenagers to become suicidal or murderous, we can't stop that music because of it. I don't think making things illegal will help as prohibition I believe in the 1930s to increase the intake of alcohol. As I've said, I don't honestly think Cannabis should be made legal but it should be decriminalised. If you're taking any drug the legality has been proven to not effect the use then people will be taking drugs whether they are legal or not so it doesn't effect them.

The point is: If they're bad people they should be prosecuted for the bad things they're doing. If they're addicted they should not be locked up but given help. If they're good people who are responsible and no danger to society then they shouldn't be locked away for no reason other than doign something that didn't harm anyone.

Does that not make sense?