|
Being 17, and living in the USA, I have a pretty good perspective on this.
I don't know if there is a right answer to the drug war. It is really messed up, but what it really comes down to is freedom of choice.
Drugs are an extremely dangerous toy, but no more dangerous then legal substances, or guns, or extreme sports. Yet I don't go on and on about how guns should be outlawed, and people shouldn't be allowed to mountain climb and do downhill racing.
The problem with drugs is the issue of responsibility and taxation. The government in the United States allows Nicotine and Alcohol to be freely excessible once a certain age has been reached because they bring in billions that get distributed right back to politicians very deep pockets. I don't think stoages and booze should be outlawed though. It's your own decision.
Why is it that if I'm 21 or older, I can smoke 10 packs of cigs a day, drink 2 gallons of Jack Daniels, then eat 4 cubes of butter wrapped in bacon, yet I can't smoke a joint?
As for statistics, big friggin' deal.
"In 1998 an estimated 61,000 convicted jail inmates said they had committed their offense to get money for drugs. "
Wow, over 200 million people living in this country, and less then .1% of them commit crimes for drug money (most likely heroin and crack, AKA Hard Drugs).
There is a big moral crusade in America to "save the children."
Save us from what? Reality? The truth? Education? Freedom of choice?
Life is about making choices, and not always the right ones. Yet we are punished not for hurting ourselves by using drugs, but by hurting ourselves with drugs that sleazebag politicians and corporations don't make a profit off of.
Millions die each year from tobacco and alcohol. That's a fact that I don't think anyone will try and debate. These "drugs" ruin lives just as much as any drug. Yet they remain legal.
"1. What would the world benefit if drugs where legal or decriminalized? "
I don't know if all drugs should be legalized, but decriminilized, definitely. Studies show that drug use would not go up significantly if certain drugs (marijuana, ecstacy, etc.) were legalized. As a teenager, I know it's just as easy to get drugs as it is alcohol. Why is it that if I drink beer I'm just a kid having fun, but if I smoke pot I support terroism?
"2. How would we handle the SURPRISING increase of drug addicts that WOULD occur if this was to happen..because if they where legal more peoplle would have access to them and would experiment with drugs they have not tryed before due to laws? "
I think people will definitely experiment more with certain drugs (once again, marijuana, ecstacy, mushrooms). But most people aren't gonna be immediatly compelled to try heroin, or crack (I'd never do a drug named after a part of my ass, thank you very much). And as long as children were properly educated about the risks of drugs, not being fed the BS that the drug war has been spewing out for the past 2 decades, then I don't think there would be a very large increase in addicts. Once again, what about the millions addicted to nicotine and alcohol? Where's your bleeding heart for them?
"3. What would be the age limit for kids to try them?..do we allow a 16 year old girl who thinks Britney Spears is an icon to try any drug she desires?"
There should probably be an age cap at 18, legal adults. It's your life to live, not someone elses. By doing drugs, your hurting no one but yourself, and that's your god given right. We don't go up to fat people on the street and say "give up the fat and the cholosterol man. Do it for the children." We let people kill themselves by their own devices, as long as it doesn't coincide with the "great conservative beliefs of America."
Yes, we won't let 16 year old girls use drugs, but we'll let them idolize being a young woman who is a sex symbol. It's ok to take off lots of your clothes and to have your entire value based on your appearance, but take drugs?!!!! Good God no!
Ask a cop what he would rather do: break up a group of kids smoking pot or dropping E, or break up a group of drunken bikers at a bar? I don't think I need to post the answer.
"making drugs legal would accomplish nothing....sorry but why make something like drugs legal , that is a cop out...so what your saying is since we havnet been so successful on stopping drug use and abuse that we should make it legal....thats absurd....we would be quiting.... "
I don't think it's a cop out. It's an acknowledgement of the truth. The Drug War in America has been probably the largst long term failure in the history of mankind. That doesn't mean we should not support rehab, and drug education, and decriminilization. It means we need to start being honest with ourselves and those we love. What gives other people the right to tell us what to do with our own lives?
"I jus dont understand why drugs are that important to people...when studies and statistics have shown that they cause harm, crime and death....
i mean seriously what the fuck is so great about shooting heroin and smoking crack....are these temporary highs so good that we should make them legal for all people to try freeley...
you would have more people trying drugs if they where legal...THATS A FACT...then you would have more abuse and more addiction and more people committing cries to feed their DISGUSTING habits purely for a high....."
Drugs are a recreational tool. When used sparingly, they can be enlightening, inspiring, and create new viewpoints on issues. I only smoke weed, and I don't plan on using other drugs. Even if they were legalized tomorrow. They just aren't what I want in my life.
NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE USE HEROIN AND CRACK! It's not an epidemic. Not everyone uses these drugs. Less then 1% of the population have even tried them. Some people will commit crimes for drugs, and that is a problem, but it doesn't mean that thousands of people should be shoved into overcrowded jails that American tax dollars pay for. It means that drugs need to be regulated someway, rather then being obtained by talking to Carlos the corner dealer (no offense to any ethnicities, just a witty use of aalliteration 
"Prescription drugs are approved by the FDA and are deemed safe if taken for medicinal purposes in moderation and under strict care of physicians...they are not handed out to whoever wants them....they are used to treat ailments or other disorders..."
Actually it's ironic - we've come to a point where the legal drugs are almost as hard as the illegal ones. nyQuil, Sudafed, Vicodin, etc. All can be obtained, and over the counter medicine is starting to make up for a greater deal of drug addiction.
Smoking pot is used to treat Cancer, AIDS, and other horrible diseases, but our government says "There isn't enough proof. More testing will be done." Meanwhile, these poor souls die slowly in excruciating pain. Because "more testing is needed".
"and aslong as kids keep dying from drugs and crimes keep getting committed cus ofdrugs then the government needs to keep acting on it....or maybe we should jus let people run wild in the streets doing as they please and abolish all laws..theres an idea u all might like...."
You can't just exaggerate the situation to prove a point. Drugs are one area of the law, not the great naysayer over human dictation. The vast majority of the population is addicted to legal drugs in comparison to illegal ones. More people are addicted to cigs and beer then X and Acid and all that stuff put together. Please, don't try to be mocking like that. It makes you come off as ill-informed and ignorant.
ATBSportsline "Apri_peel is the ONLY person here who knows whats going on. The commercials are meant to be stupid on purpose, b/c it sparks conversation, and you won't forget it. And guess what, by starting this thread and talking about it, you let the government win. So, my pre-pubescent friends, i am laughing at *you*!"
That's the thing: they weren't meant to be stupid. They were meant to lie to the face of the nation and tell them that they were supporting the Taliban, whose manufactured drug of choice, the opium poppy, makes up for less then .1% of drug users in the USA, and is sold in just Europe and Asia. American herion comes mainly from Canada, Mexico, and Jamaica.
"To those that complained about that: shutup.... until you put up some information from an official site (or equivalent site that is an authority on the subject), you have no place to talk. "
Evidence needs to get backed up on occasion, but people who like to stay informed can usually tell which facts are trustworthy and which appear false.
"if you guys want to get all bent-out of shape about a commercial, try the TRUTH campaign anti-tobacco commercials. These commercials are done by executives that "make" it look like its run by kids talking to kids.... they say that tobacco companies are "lying" to us to get us to buy cigarettes... which is total bullsh!t. I smoke, but not b/c i think i "look cool", or b/c i'm "misinformed". I smoke b/c i want to. I know about lung cancer and what it does. Besides the point anyway..... THESE commercials are stupid. And they're not memorable. Just plain stupid. "
I definitely agree. "TRUTH" is incredibly stupid marketing. It's as if they don't think people realize that cigs are bad for you. WE KNOW THEY ARE! I don't smoke, but if people want to, power to them. Their lives, their bodies. God, I wish someone would shut those people up.
In conclusion, I don't think I'm more right then any of you. A lot of what I've written is just personnal opinion. But it's a sad sad world if we've come to the point where we accuse potsmokers of contributing to the WTC attacks.
___________________
Trance...a state of mind.
|
j/k
