z4pilot said:
Bit naive though if you don't mind me saying...
Suddenly legalising hard drugs won't turn addicts into productive members of society will it? Yes I get the argument that a (possibly large) proportion of the money spent criminalising these people can be used to beef up the help and welfare systems (that already exist) for helping addicts - assuming they want to get off the stuff in the first place. The logical conclusion of legalising class A drugs is that it becomes a taxable resource in the same way that alcohol and tobacco are taxed - but the legalised position of those commodities doesn't stop a massive problem with smuggling, tax evasion and criminal activity does it? So the reality will be that the majority will not see any drop in tax take due to the need to fund health and welfare programmes and the criminality will still continue. People at the bottom of the pile will be priced out of the legal market, so old ladies will still get mugged...
In the places where decriminalisation has been sucessfully introduced they've had clinics where addicts were actually supplied with the drugs and the treatment by the government, thereby removing any black market incentives and the possibility of the least fortunate having to revert to criminality, which is actually the destructive aspect of drugs.
Obviously long term addiction is destructive to one's health but if we continue to criminalise people instead of assisting them it's a vicious cycle that would be hard to escape.
In not suggesting that the aren't health issues associated, of course there are. But that's the point, it's a health and social issue.
But if you've an addiction and have already been criminalised for poor choices you've made, what incentive is there to change? Chances are you're surrounded by others in similar situations and you're situation is normalised.
As to comparisons of speeding, this can obviously lead to serious injury and death. But to a certain extent it's socially acceptable. I'm sure most Z4 drivers exceed the limit to a greater or lesser extent every day.
The latest government statistics show that over 9% of adults (16 to 59) have used illicit drugs in the last year and 5% in the last month.
Decriminalisation and supply was actually piloted in this county in the 80's in Liverpool with fantastic results. It was in the pipeline for national rollout but again we blindly followed the American lead and abandoned it.
Naive? That's all relative. But I did enjoying reading (amongst others) Good Cop, Bad War by Neil Woods. An ex police officer who spent many years under cover bringing down British drug related crime gangs. And now an advocate for legalisation. He very articulately takes apart a lot of the received wisdom about drugs and the war on them.
oke: