Drugs

[Syrinx]

I have mixed feelings about the legalization of drugs.

(Marijuana is not a part of this discussion. I think it's prima facia (sp?) that it should be legal.)

The libertarian streak in me says that people should be able to use any damn
intoxicant that they want to. But the common sense in me says maybe
that wouldn't be such a good idea. Still I think generally drugs should
be treated as a problem of health and education, not as a matter of
"justice."

[illini]

1. People can use "any dam intoxicant that they want to"!!!

The state chooses to lock them up for some of those intoxicants at this time. If heroine becomes legal tommarow not one person would decide to start sticking a needle in their arm just because the law had changed.

Smoking a spliff atm. cough hack cough ehehehehehe

[AndyTiedye]

2. Drug Laws Do More Harm than Drugs Could Possibly Do

Drug laws are particularly hazardous to our liberty,
but they threaten our lives as well.

Drug prohibition facilitates the spread of AIDS by unsterile needles.

It turns parts of our inner cities into war zones.

The war on drugs causes our government to support tyrranical regimes abroad if
they say they will get tough on drugs. Our government was giving millions to the *Taliban* for this until a few months before we attacked them.

Enforcement of drug laws diverts resources from more important activities, like preventing terrorism.
Most of the fighter planes that our last real President had assigned to preventing things like 9/11 were sent off by Bush* and Asscruft to look for pot smugglers!

[Syrinx]

4. is this true?

"Most of the fighter planes that our last real President had assigned to preventing things like 9/11 were sent off by Bush* and Asscruft to look for pot smugglers!"

[R Hickey]

3. America took a wrong turn in 1980

The Reagan/Bush roadmap for America has lead us down the slippery slope of drug-prohibition to the biggest prison system in the world. Our quadrupled prison population has not cured any drug problem, but instead has bankrupted most of our state governments, and drained away enough money to pay for universal free public healthcare.

[Rocinante]

5. Drugs ain't for just anyone

But it might do less damage than DUI. Or tobacco. An interesting problem. Education is the key, and not just the DARE programs but real education from parents and other family members or friends. Weed ain't in this discussion, cause weed don't kill people.

[Ein]

6. Drugs are a health issue.

Just like achoholics can't stay away from booze, and get treatment, so should hard drug addicts. They cannot help themselves.

Pot and hallucinogens that aren't addictive should just be legalized. Some may hurt our bodies, but so does oil.