Carlos Santana to Obama...

[Aramike]

This is a good discussion.

Legalize? Criminalize? If the user isn't hurting you, then you have no business telling anyone what they can or cannot do.

Okay, so let's allow people to drive drunk, so long as they aren't hurting anyone...

Why don't we allow that?

Because, there's a clear and grave potential for someone to actually be hurt.

Look, truthfully I have no opinion on the pot argument. Both sides make agreeable and sensible points. But there is no way on earth someone can convince me that legalizing hard drugs such as crack would be a good idea. Forget people who are locked up for drug crimes for a moment. The number of people who are imprisoned for crimes related to simply the PURSUIT of drugs is staggering.

Legalizing crack isn't going to change the fact that the crackhead is broke and will do anything to get his fix.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Aramike

Okay, so let's allow people to drive drunk, so long as they aren't hurting anyone...

Why don't we allow that?

Because it would be a horrible idea, just like allowing people on drugs to drive, which is already illegal. The key here is the legalization of responsible use. That is, not harming or endagering anyone but yourself without their consent. That, I gather, is what Steve meant.
Imo, good drug legislation would penalize only transgressors of that maxim.

Legalizing crack isn't going to change the fact that the crackhead is broke and will do anything to get his fix.

Perhaps it won't do anything for broke crackheads that will do anything to get their fix, but that's the idea. By legalizing responsible use, we eliminate the burden that pursuit/persecution of responsible users places on the tax base by focusing only on those that are a danger to society.
Furthermore, drugs would be cheaper and more available, so those inclined to abuse them would steal less and die faster, if you want to get really heartless.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Imo, good drug legislation would penalize only transgressors of that maxim.

How well does that work now?


Under the influence is the term I think still used which I think boils down to being influenced by something other than common sense and responsibilty. How do you remain responsible and sober when you under the INFLUENCE of a narcotic or alcohol?

Ever care for children concieved when the now mother and father were under the influence? Im sure the answer for many here would be revert to Darwinism eugenics to kill the fetus/child and punish the former mother and father. But who is really punished?

[NeonSamurai]

One problem though is some of these drugs can't possibly be used in a responsible and safe manner. Aside from being highly addictive (and some possessing lethal withdrawal symptoms if not medicated against the symptoms). Many of them cause psychosis and can further trigger all kinds of results including homicidal rage, paranoia, and other delusions. As a result people on these drugs become highly erratic and dangerous to the population.

So I'm not sure these kinds of drugs should be made legal (many of those people taking those kinds of drugs are actually self medicating a mental illness and really need proper medical care). Nor should the highly dangerous/addictive drugs like Crack.

[Sailor Steve]

As far as I know all the really dangerous drugs have to be manufactured. I agree that targetting the private labs that make the stuff and keeping them illegal is a good idea, since in those cases there is no such thing as "responsible use". But in the case of something that can be grown anywhere I'm all for ending prohibition.

[NeonSamurai]

That brings up the interesting question then of the Coca plant, which is a natural plant and not super harmful, vs cocaine which is extracted from the leaf (and further crack cocaine). By legalizing one, you make the other more easy to manufacture due to the availability.

But you are correct that a lot of them are made in a lab.

Otherwise I don't see much issue with legalizing plants

[Aramike]

Perhaps it won't do anything for broke crackheads that will do anything to get their fix, but that's the idea. By legalizing responsible use, we eliminate the burden that pursuit/persecution of responsible users places on the tax base by focusing only on those that are a danger to society.
Furthermore, drugs would be cheaper and more available, so those inclined to abuse them would steal less and die faster, if you want to get really heartless.

There's no such thing as "responsible use" of crack cocaine. The very nature of the drug is its highly addictive and rationale-changing influence.

There are no "part time" crackheads.