Should drugs be legalised?

[Gandalf]

I was watching this interesting debate on The Real News and just wondered what you guys think. Here is the first part. You can find the others yourself.



Personally I am all for the legalisation of all drugs. What you currently have doesn't work and there is a huge blackmarket. Take that away and you have safer products and can regulate. I also find it hypocritical that alcohol and cigarettes are deemed okay, but something natural like weed is illegal.

Thoughts?

[Master]

I think they should be de-criminalised as we should not go as far as legalising them.

[El Kabong]

Pot should be legal...its wonderful stuff.

Not certain about everything else though

[Kev]

I agree with pot. The rest no. Decriminalising casual use possibly. I don't know.

I think it's a serious and complicated issue.

If one country acted unilaterally what would happen? Say Britain legalized all drugs but non of the rest of the Western world did. How would the international criminal drug rings react?

Would Britain become a haven for all kinds of illegal drug rings and smuggling operations? It wouldn't stop crime, drug barons would still be selling drugs, but now they would be able to legally buy ingredients, enter into corrupt deals with pharamceutical companies, and the like.

I think it might make whichever country did it the global centre for world drug activity.

Certainly I think a united global approach with all major countries acting together is what is needed.

[CFH]

Yes, though it should be pretty strictly regulated (obviously). No one is going to suddenly decide to start smoking crack because it is made legal. Being a drug-user/addict shouldn't result in someone being put in prison either.

At the very least, all drugs should be decriminalized.

[0james0]

Most drugs. Class A's maybe not, but certainly weed and mushrooms and similar.

Legalise them, sell them in shops and tax the shit out of them.

My main gripe is the fact that Alcohol, Tobacco and even caffeine to an extent have far worse long term effects and cause far more problems in society than low risk illegal drugs ever have.

You can't have some drugs legal that kill people, yet have other less harmful drugs illegal simply because of tradition.

[Kev]

Yes, though it should be pretty strictly regulated (obviously). No one is going to suddenly decide to start smoking crack because it is made legal. Being a drug-user/addict shouldn't result in someone being put in prison either.

At the very least, all drugs should be decriminalized.

How would it affect the international drug trade if one country only legalized though?

I mean if Britain suddenly legalized cocaine, I reckon a lot of criminal organisations would be getting hold of that cocaine.

[Gandalf]

Most drugs. Class A's maybe not, but certainly weed and mushrooms and similar.

Legalise them, sell them in shops and tax the shit out of them.

My main gripe is the fact that Alcohol, Tobacco and even caffeine to an extent have far worse long term effects and cause far more problems in society than low risk illegal drugs ever have.

You can't have some drugs legal that kill people, yet have other less harmful drugs illegal simply because of tradition.

That's my main gripe too. These drugs kill in massive numbers and inflict huge social problems. You can't say the same for certain other banned drugs.

[CFH]

Yes, though it should be pretty strictly regulated (obviously). No one is going to suddenly decide to start smoking crack because it is made legal. Being a drug-user/addict shouldn't result in someone being put in prison either.

At the very least, all drugs should be decriminalized.

How would it affect the international drug trade if one country only legalized though?

I mean if Britain suddenly legalized cocaine, I reckon a lot of criminal organisations would be getting hold of that cocaine.

You can legalize something without allowing it to be exported.

Organized crime tends to control the entire supply chain and I'm sure that they would continue to get drugs cheaper and easier from their regular suppliers.

[killersheep]

Well virtually every drug is legal in Portugal, what has been the effect there?

[Andre]

Most drugs. Class A's maybe not, but certainly weed and mushrooms and similar.

Legalise them, sell them in shops and tax the shit out of them.

My main gripe is the fact that Alcohol, Tobacco and even caffeine to an extent have far worse long term effects and cause far more problems in society than low risk illegal drugs ever have.

You can't have some drugs legal that kill people, yet have other less harmful drugs illegal simply because of tradition.

That's my main gripe too. These drugs kill in massive numbers and inflict huge social problems. You can't say the same for certain other banned drugs.

Its also illegal to grow tobacco to harvest and then sell it and same with distilling your own booze.

Tax is their problem how can they tax something everyone can and will grow, if they legalise it.

[VictorCharlie]

I'd legalize it all. The amount of money we waste on law enforcement, prosecuting drug offenders and then incarcerating them is staggering. The war on drugs in the US has turned our police forces into paramilitary units which has lead to a trampling of civil liberties.

[Andre]

I'd legalize it all. The amount of money we waste on law enforcement, prosecuting drug offenders and then incarcerating them is staggering. The war on drugs in the US has turned our police forces into paramilitary units which has lead to a trampling of civil liberties.

Yeah bingo, right on.

Its such a farce too,one law for one one law for the others; Florida was built 100% on coke money it would be nothing if that wasn't the first port of call, laundered money went straight into buildings.

[Ghost]

Heroin and LSD too?

[VictorCharlie]

All of it. Give people the freedom to do with their bodies as they say fit but hold them accountable for those decisions. You could invest a fraction of what we spend on the drug war into education and treatment with much better returns on your investment.