Why the war on drugs will never be won

If Heroin, Acid, Mushrooms, Pot, Crystal Meth, PCP, Crack, Cocaine, Opium, Mescaline, and every kind of painkiller/pill could be bought for super cheap at your local 7-11 by anyone of any age (pure free market), would addictions to these drugs increase or decrease? Low paying agricultural jobs are added and some executives get super rich. Is this better or worse for the economy?

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Legalize, and you create new jobs

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You could also create new jobs by legalizing murder for hire.

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we're not paying as much to keep so many prisoners alive.

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This doesnt add to your argument, because likewise we could legalize drunk driving and not have to pay so much money to officers and lawyers and judges and jails that punish drunk drivers. That doesnt mean we should legalize drunk driving.

[QuadsOverQuads]

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bought for super cheap at your local 7-11 by anyone of any age

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Pure strawman.

Nobody anywhere is advocating this.

Drugs and their distribution can certainly be properly regulated without being treated like candy. The notion that we have to have full-scale prohibition or total non-regulation is absurd on its face.


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What would be the purpose in regulating crystal meth?

[QuadsOverQuads]

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What would be the purpose in regulating crystal meth?

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(1) to make it impossible for a dealer/pusher to earn a profit on it, thereby destroying their financial incentive to spread the drug.

(2) to reduce the harm/risk to the user

(3) to reduce the harm/risk to the general population


q/q

[natedogg]

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What would be the purpose in regulating crystal meth?

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You cannot stop me or anyone else from using it. Ever. No matter how hard you try.

Let's see, you've lost and you can never win. Sounds like an excellent reason to try a different approach.

natedogg

[The Don]

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If Heroin, Acid, Mushrooms, Pot, Crystal Meth, PCP, Crack, Cocaine, Opium, Mescaline, and every kind of painkiller/pill could be bought for super cheap at your local 7-11 by anyone of any age (pure free market), would addictions to these drugs increase or decrease? Low paying agricultural jobs are added and some executives get super rich. Is this better or worse for the economy?

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If people want to do drugs, they will do them regardless of the presence of state intervention. The reason people don’t do drugs is because they are aware of the adverse effects, not for fear of the law. Conversely, some people DO choose to do drugs and they should have every right to do so. These people aren’t just going to ‘give up’ just because the state illegalized them, they will pursue them regardless. This has been proven by the black markets. The legalization of drugs may increase addiction somewhat, not as much as you think though.

Regarding your second point on the economy, the positive effects on the economy would not only lie in the addition of a new industry, but the ceasing of one of the most wasteful of the government’s many inefficient campaigns.


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Legalize, and you create new jobs

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You could also create new jobs by legalizing murder for hire.

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Poor example. One is providing a product which people demand, the other is promoting the illegal use of force.

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we're not paying as much to keep so many prisoners alive.

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This doesn’t add to your argument, because likewise we could legalize drunk driving and not have to pay so much money to officers and lawyers and judges and jails that punish drunk drivers. That doesn’t mean we should legalize drunk driving.

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Again, different things. Drunk drivers hurt other people, against their will. Drug dealers are technically hurting other people, but it consensual. Likewise, the person taking the drugs owns his body, therefore he chooses what to do with it.

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If people want to do drugs, they will do them regardless of the presence of state intervention. The reason people don’t do drugs is because they are aware of the adverse effects, not for fear of the law.

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This is very clueless and ignorant as well, lacking any understanding of why people abuse substances.

Given legal, cheap drugs like crystal meth and heroin, many people who would otherwise never touch a drug in their life would succumb to the temptation upon losing their job, being divorced, having a loved one die, etc and wanting to drown the pain away. The reason most regular folks avoid this right now is a) fear of the law and b) no access. Legalizing drugs eliminates both of these deterrents.

Many people infact succumb to their depression with alcohol and in rare cases even commit suicide. And infact alcohol can consume one's life and ruin it as well, but that is a different story. Resorting to easy-to-find heroin or meth to eliminate pain would lead to a chance, lets say an incredibly good one, that your life will be entirely consumed by the drug with little chance for recovery.

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The legalization of drugs may increase addiction somewhat, not as much as you think though.


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Again this is entirely ignorant to not only common sense but to empirical evidence as well. Just look at countries like the Netherlands who have legalized pot and seen pot use among even 10 years olds increase 300+%. Well, at least Needle Park is open and thriving.

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Poor example. One is providing a product which people demand, the other is promoting the illegal use of force.

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Murder for hire is a very demanded service in both the US and the world. Who are you to tell someone how to run their business? By illegalizing it, you limit its supply and drive up profits for hitmen, providing them financial incentive.

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Drunk drivers hurt other people, against their will.

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And drug users never hurt other people against their will? Clearly you know very little of drugs and their effects.

[BCPVP]

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Many people infact succumb to their depression with alcohol and in rare cases even commit suicide. And infact alcohol can consume one's life and ruin it as well, but that is a different story.

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You need to explain this one to us. What makes alcohol worse? Your reasoning for why drugs should be illegal is very similar to the arguments used by those in favor of Prohibition and I think we all know how well that worked out.

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Again this is entirely ignorant to not only common sense but to empirical evidence as well. Just look at countries like the Netherlands who have legalized pot and seen pot use among even 10 years olds increase 300+%. Well, at least Needle Park is open and thriving.

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I have already pointed out that underage drinking is rampant. Is that a good reason to outlaw alcohol? Why not? Shouldn't the parents of these 10 year olds know where their kids are and what they're doing?

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Murder for hire is a very demanded service in both the US and the world. Who are you to tell someone how to run their business? By illegalizing it, you limit its supply and drive up profits for hitmen, providing them financial incentive.

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Drug use is consensual. Murder is not. They are not comparable.

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And drug users never hurt other people against their will? Clearly you know very little of drugs and their effects.

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If drug users should not be exempt from laws against hurting others. Like I said to BluffTHIS!, the laws against drunk driving should also apply to drugs if they're legalized. Drug users may hurt others while using. If so, throw the book at them and get them counseling. Why do you feel you have any right to restrict the freedom of other people?

[elwoodblues]

You embolden the drug dealers when you criticize the war on drugs. The only reason we are losing the war is because of criticism of its efforts.

[BCPVP]

Don't you understand? This criticism will show that we are divided against drugs when we should be united! Only then will the drug dealers and cartels take us seriously...