- If heroine were legal, I still wouldn't use it but why should I care if someone that already does use it can now do so legally, safely and without threat of imprisonment?
I think most people think this way. You can still campaign against hard drugs, such that most people will still think it is a bad thing. This way you keep the drugs out of the underground economy and work to reduce use. You might even entertain the possibility of compulsory registration when buying hard drugs. If you keep the prices low, already users will not complain about having to register, but new users will be repelled by the prospect of having to register just to use a certain drug. And you'll have a register with most users, which you can use to contact them and give them a go at rehab.
Mushrooms are currently being used as possible treatments to depression, anxiety, and cluster headaches. Studies have shown that people have had a mushrooms trip have a more positive outlook on life. There is no physical addiction, it is one of the least "damaging" physically or mentally and mentally you find yourself straying away from doing it again for awhile. I'd say that is the complete opposite of abusive, possibly even beneficial :) http://www.miqel.com/clusterheadaches/cluster-head-mushroom....
http://disregardeverythingisay.tumblr.com/post/18459413267/s...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/health/story/2012-...
I cannot say that 'legalization' the way the Netherlands has implemented it, is the best way to do it, since cultivating is still illegal, just like smoking is. We just don't press charges for smoking weed. (but we do for cultivating)
- I cannot say that 'legalization' the way the Netherlands has implemented it, is the best way to do it, since cultivating is still illegal
Aside: I was just talking with my wife about taking a trip to Amsterdam, I've never been but I've heard great things.
As for Amsterdam: A lot to see there. At least visit Dam Square and if you like flowers/gardens, visit the Keukenhof. You can pm me if you have some questions ;-)
- I hope that the US dares to legalize the stuff. If the US does, the rest of the western countries will at least reconsider their stance on drugs.
I wouldn't count on it happening soon. There is a huge infrastructure built around the US war on drugs. It is a cash cow for a number of industries, like the private prison industry. Not only do we need to change the public dialog, we've got some serious special interests to overcome before a policy like that could pass the legislature.
There's no doubt that the US' drug policy is completely messed up and illogical.
I couldn't say it any better.
1. Dispensary "culture". Marijuana is currently legal for "medicinal use" in colorado, which means you walk into a dispensary and say "my back hurts doc" and the doctor (they have one on site) writes you a script. You register as a user, and get a card. Then you get to smoke all you want. I thought I supported legalization for medical use. But now I'm not as sure. I mean - if marijuana is a good solution to a medical problem I have, then my doctor ought to be able to prescribe the treatment I guess. But the dispensaries on every corner is getting to be a bit much. You know those sign twirlers out on the corner for Little Ceasars and Liberty Tax Services? Yah, I've got them on my corner with current prices for an oz. of weed. Do you think this helps my property values? I'll give you a clue - it doesn't. 2. Even the general use of marijuana has been moderately decriminalized in Denver. I don't know the specifics, but it boils down to fewer arrests when cops see people smoking weed. And now with the medicinal use, it's just that much more trouble for an officer anyway - I mean - who wants to bust a guy over a joint when he might have a card? not worth the paperwork. There is a new normal - weed is ok in Denver. Call me old fashioned, but I don't like some facets of the drug culture. And I'm not lumping all people who smoke marijuana into the same bucket. My neighbors smoke it in the comfort of their back yard. I don't mind. It's cool. Their friends come over, they share some beers, they smoke some bud, they shoot some pool, they don't hurt a soul. The people that bother me are the ones smoking and driving (I watched a dude roll one in the car next to me last week), smoking weed while on "disability" and welfare, the ones smoking it with little kids in the house. I think it's lazy and irresponsible. That's not about taking the edge off at the end of a day or week - it's about perpetuating poverty. It's about just barely getting by. It's about not giving anything back to society. It's about ruining marijuana for everyone else. I don't care if you smoke it. Just do something with your life. Do something for some one else. Do something for society. I don't like the thugs and morons stoned out of their minds wandering the grocery store aisles collecting a check from me. I'm pretty much over the cannabis t-shirts, bandanas, sunglasses, bumper stickers, hats and tatoos. Nothing says "I'm going some place in this life!" like a big frigging weed on your chest. I don't know. rant over. straight legalization doesn't really work either... at least - not in any way that I can appreciate.
Nobody likes shitty parents or people which is essentially what you're saying. Legalizing marijuana isn't going to create or eliminate bad people. It is going to save us money and it is the right thing to do.
You're right. And I acknowledge that you could just about substitute alcohol or tobacco or prescription pain killers in any of the sentiments in my rant. Weed is just an easy target on my radar at the moment. Maybe I'm just a judgmental prick. I just wish people would use (and not abuse) their drug of choice) in the comfort of their own home.
It's amazing that this isn't a larger issue nationally. This is the power of interests at hand. I've been impressed with the atheist/secular humanists movement in the US. It seems to have some focus of late. I wish the same type of focus would be brought to the legalization of drugs in the US. Someone call Jon Stewart and Colbert and get them on this.