The Official "War On Drugs" Thread

[Spurminator]

Why does alcohol keep surfacing in the argument?

I'm talking about the legalization of drugs for adults. I've never suggested this would keep drugs out of kids' hands.

[SPARKY]

Yeah, it would definitely have to start off in such a manner. I would also say that any drug legalization would have to start off with the weaker drugs, so weed would go first (this country seems to be on that path, albeit slowly).

[Experiment2100]

Why does alcohol keep surfacing in the argument?

I'm talking about the legalization of drugs for adults. I've never suggested this would keep drugs out of kids' hands.

Simple it's accessibility, alchohol is only legal for adults, yet it continualy finds it's way into younger society. Alchohol keeps popping up because it's the only example of something once illegal turned legal.

[Spurminator]

The kinds of regulations I would impose would target the manufacturers. The FDA would maintain a relatively safe potency level for anything sold commercially. Sure, there would always be some hard on the street... but it would be minimal.

Aside from that, drug laws would be basically the same as alcohol laws. No driving, no drugs in the car, age limits, etc.

[SPARKY]

Yeah, it's hard to keep kids from getting access to alcohol but most of the time that's due to parental negligence (or encouragement even).

[Spurminator]

Alchohol keeps popping up because it's the only example of something once illegal turned legal.

So are you advocating prohibition?

[SPARKY]

I brought up alcohol as an example because it is a substance that is addictive, routinely abused by millions of Americans, the use of which results in substantial economic and emotional cost, and is legal for adults but not for kids.

What a weird society we live in. A substance that people can ingest and leads to all kinds of problems is legal yet weed, a substance that tends to turn people into relaxed hungry homebodies has a war waged against it.

[Spurminator]

But then we're back to the effects of alcohol being similar to the effects of drugs... and the question posed earlier as to why one is legal and the other is not.

[Experiment2100]

So are you advocating prohibition?

Of drugs yes. You aksed why Alchohol keeps popping up in this argument. It was once illegal, now it's legal. Can you think of any other substance which was changed from illegal to legal that we can compare this legalize drug argument with?

[timvp]

The only reason alcohol is legal is because big business and the government makes billions off of drunk people. The time weed will be legalized will be when they can figure out how to make money off of it.

[SPARKY]

Ok I just had a glass and a half of Chardonnay now I want to go someone up. Actually I do feel a little more angry.

[timvp]

Indeed.

[Spurminator]

You aksed why Alchohol keeps popping up in this argument. It was once illegal, now it's legal. Can you think of any other substance which was changed from illegal to legal that we can compare this legalize drug argument with?

But you're bringing up alcohol as a means to argue AGAINST the legalization of drugs. Why is that?

[timvp]

You guys are wrong if you don't think dealing and using drugs affects anyone else, presents a danger to society, or is a serious crime.

And as a former drug dealer and reformed drug addict I speak from experience here.

When I was using and dealing(and dealt to support my habit), I carried weapons, I fought with people, I stole from my family and others, and I was a ing s bag. And I was damn middle class kid from the suburbs, you can imagine what things someone from a more desperate background would be willing to do to protect himself or support his habit.


And many of the psychological effects of these drugs are still with me to this day...and I haven't done them since I was 19 years old.

Now I realize casual user probably won't go to those lengths...but it's very hard to stay a casual user of coke and speed etc.

When 16 year old Johnny develops a coke habit, working at pizza hut is not going to generate enough income to support his habit. He's going to steal or deal to support it.

I just want to meet the coke head that says he would never steal.

I can understand giving a young kid a break for dealing or using...and I believe the law does give him a break if he is a minor, and if he is a first time offender as an adult he is usually eligible for deferred adjudication.

But after that first time...no one is doing these guys any favors by going soft on them. I wasn't being done any favors all the times I got off.

The favor was my cop brother telling me he was bring me up on felony charges for drug trafficking if I didn't go into rehab.

Traffickers do deserve a stiff penalty if they are mutiple offenders...and these guys don't become big time traffickers just by chance...they usually have years of experience moving up to that level.

Interesting.

Do you remember got you into drugs in the first place? Was it trying to be cool, peer pressure, curiousity or what?

[SPARKY]

I think weed is a weak drug that is illegal due to illegitimate concerns. The harder stuff does come with a good argument given what it can do to people.

timvp's on to something. If weed was legalized and regulated and people were free to enjoy a puff at night to take the edge off the day instead of a Bud (in a wonderful Red, White, and Blue themed can no less) or two would the almighty A-B want that?

I mean at least that would be a real way to relax instead of trying to get a stiffy while thinking about Janet's fake boobie.

[Experiment2100]

But you're bringing up alcohol as a means to argue AGAINST the legalization of drugs. Why is that?

I originally brought alchohol up just to show how easily accessible it was to underage people. Legalize drugs it's that much easier.

As for why it isn't legal, especially marijuana, someone else brought it up. Gov. can't regulate it so it doesn't benefit the gov. to legalize it.

[SPARKY]

I will say that the moment weed is legalized, I will start producing joints in red, white, and blue ringed paper with "BUD" stamped right across it. Then I will run ads thanking military people for being military people. I'd give them free access to all the free BUD they want.

[Spurminator]

I originally brought alchohol up just to show how easily accessible it was to underage people. Legalize drugs it's that much easier.

Okay, I see now. I've just never been in favor of banning adult indulgences to protect kids from themselves.

Gov. can't regulate it so it doesn't benefit the gov. to legalize it.

Actually, it would benefit the government to legalize it because then they COULD regulate it. And tax it.

[SPARKY]

I originally brought alchohol up just to show how easily accessible it was to underage people. Legalize drugs it's that much easier.

As for why it isn't legal, especially marijuana, someone else brought it up. Gov. can't regulate it so it doesn't benefit the gov. to legalize it.

If legal, governments can regulate it just like anything else.

[Experiment2100]

Actually, it would benefit the government to legalize it because then they COULD regulate it. And tax it.

You can't grow beer in your backyard.

[Spurminator]

They can regulate whether or not you're allowed to grow it in your back yard.

[Nbadan]

You can't grow beer in your backyard.

You can buy a home distillery kit and all the neccessary ingredients and make your own booze though.

Pot should be decriminalized, but the billions it generates doesn't go to fund just drug barons in South and Central America.

[Experiment2100]

How could they justify making it illegal to produce?

[Spurminator]

Because if you're producing it without a license to sell it, your sales can't be regulated... for example, to make sure you're not selling it to minors.

[Experiment2100]

And if you don't sell it? As Dan pointed out you can buy a distillery and make your own beer. If that's legal why would growing marijuana not be.