10 Reasons to legalise all drugs

[Angel Heart]

www.transform-drugs.org.uk

10 Reasons to legalise all drugs
comment from Transform: the campaign for effective drug policy


1 Address the real issues
For too long policy makers have used prohibition as a smoke screen to avoid addressing the social and economic factors that lead people to use drugs. Most illegal and legal drug use is recreational. Poverty and despair are at the root of most problematic drug use and it is only by addressing these underlying causes that we can hope to significantly decrease the number of problematic users.

2 Eliminate the criminal market place
The market for drugs is demand-led and millions of people demand illegal drugs. Making the production, supply and use of some drugs illegal creates a vacuum into which organised crime moves. The profits are worth billions of pounds. Legalisation forces organised crime from the drugs trade, starves them of income and enables us to regulate and control the market (i.e. prescription, licensing, laws on sales to minors, advertising regulations etc.)

3 Massively reduce crime
The price of illegal drugs is determined by a demand-led, unregulated market. Using illegal drugs is very expensive. This means that some dependent users resort to stealing to raise funds (accounting for 50% of UK property crime - estimated at £2 billion a year). Most of the violence associated with illegal drug dealing is caused by its illegality

Legalisation would enable us to regulate the market, determine a much lower price and remove users need to raise funds through crime. Our legal system would be freed up and our prison population dramatically reduced, saving billions. Because of the low price, cigarette smokers do not have to steal to support their habits. There is also no violence associated with the legal tobacco market.



4 Drug users are a majority
Recent research shows that nearly half of all 15-16 year olds have used an illegal drug. Up to one and a half million people use ecstasy every weekend. Amongst young people, illegal drug use is seen as normal. Intensifying the 'war on drugs' is not reducing demand. In Holland, where cannabis laws are far less harsh, drug usage is amongst the lowest in Europe.

Legalisation accepts that drug use is normal and that it is a social issue, not a criminal justice one. How we deal with it is up to all of us to decide.

In 1970 there were 9000 convictions or cautions for drug offences and 15% of young people had used an illegal drug. In 1995 the figures were 94 000 and 45%. Prohibition doesn't work.

5 Provide access to truthful information and education
A wealth of disinformation about drugs and drug use is given to us by ignorant and prejudiced policy-makers and media who peddle myths upon lies for their own ends. This creates many of the risks and dangers associated with drug use.

Legalisation would help us to disseminate open, honest and truthful information to users and non-users to help them to make decisions about whether and how to use. We could begin research again on presently illicit drugs to discover all their uses and effects - both positive and negative.

6 Make all drug use safer
Prohibition has led to the stigmatisation and marginalisation of drug users. Countries that operate ultra-prohibitionist policies have very high rates of HIV infection amongst injecting users. Hepatitis C rates amongst users in the UK are increasing substantially.

In the UK in the '80's clean needles for injecting users and safer sex education for young people were made available in response to fears of HIV. Harm reduction policies are in direct opposition to prohibitionist laws.



7 Restore our rights and responsibilities
Prohibition unnecessarily criminalises millions of otherwise law-abiding people. It removes the responsibility for distribution of drugs from policy makers and hands it over to unregulated, sometimes violent dealers.

Legalisation restores our right to use drugs responsibly to change the way we think and feel. It enables controls and regulations to be put in place to protect the vulnerable.

8 Race and Drugs
Black people are over ten times more likely to be imprisoned for drug offences than whites. Arrests for drug offences are notoriously discretionary allowing enforcement to easily target a particular ethnic group. Prohibition has fostered this stereotyping of black people.

Legalisation removes a whole set of laws that are used to disproportionately bring black people into contact with the criminal justice system. It would help to redress the over representation of black drug offenders in prison.

9 Global Implications
The illegal drugs market makes up 8% of all world trade (around £300 billion a year). Whole countries are run under the corrupting influence of drug cartels. Prohibition also enables developed countries to wield vast political power over producer nations under the auspices of drug control programmes.

Legalisation returns lost revenue to the legitimate taxed economy and removes some of the high-level corruption. It also removes a tool of political interference by foreign countries against producer nations.

10 Prohibition doesn't work
There is no evidence to show that prohibition is succeeding. The question we must ask ourselves is, "What are the benefits of criminalising any drug?" If, after examining all the available evidence, we find that the costs outweigh the benefits, then we must seek an alternative policy.

Legalisation is not a cure-all but it does allow us to address many of the problems associated with drug use, and those created by prohibition. The time has come for an effective and pragmatic drug policy.



"If the (drug) problem continues advancing as it is at the moment, we're going to be faced with some very frightening options. Either you have a massive reduction in civil rights or you have to look at some radical solutions. The issue has to be, can a criminal justice system solve this particular problem?"
Commander John Grieve, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Scotland Yard, Channel 4 1997

Copyright Transform Campaign for effective drug policy
Easton Business Centre Felix Road Easton Bristol BS1 0HE
Telephone: +44 (0) 117 941 5810 Facsimile: +44 (0) 117 941 5809 Email: [email protected]
web:www.transform-drugs.org.uk

 

[actsnoblemartin]

Im not saying i disagree with you, but dont we want to discourage drug use?. Do we really want to say to people, its a great idea to be dependant on drugs for your happiness.

Your article is very worthy of discussion, and Perhaps on some points we agree, but I ask you, dont we want to use economic policy not drugs, to rebuild peoples lives, by giving them opportunities for employment. A.k.a. what magic johnson is doing in the poor community.

Doing the right thing makes us happy, not drugs. Being a kind person makes us happy not drugs.

Your take angel heart?

www.transform-drugs.org.uk

 

[Angel Heart]

All I have to say is:

In 1970 there were 9000 convictions or cautions for drug offences and 15% of young people had used an illegal drug. In 1995 the figures were 94 000 and 45%. Prohibition doesn't work.

Oh it's really working

 

[actsnoblemartin]

Do you believe the government can regulate the drug trade?. They have a hard enough time regulating everything, would that be more kaotic, what would happen.?

All I have to say is:



Oh it's really working

 

[actsnoblemartin]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=potRJfgb87o&mode=related&search=[/ame]

 

[actsnoblemartin]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHG8cjI5B-w[/ame]

 

[Angel Heart]

 

[Diuretic]

The reasons humans use drugs is........................they work.

We've been drinking beer for the last 6,000 years and we didn't start because we didn't like the water

Humans are naturally drawn to consciousness-changing substances. We're just a bundle of hormones anyway so we may as bung a few others in from time to time to shake things up a bit.

Prohibition is a stupid policy. The policy of prohibition itself has caused more misery than even the most patent drugs. Regulate them, educate people about them, try indeed to make sure that people use them responsibly but don't chuck them in the slammer for doing something that's natural to human beings.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

It is natural for Humans to kill also, shall we legalize that too?

 

[Diuretic]

It is natural for Humans to kill also, shall we legalize that too?

Interesting point. As far as I know when we are children we're trained, first by our parents and then by our educators, in non-violence. We're not allowed to belt our siblings. Aggression is natural of course, controlling it is necessary and controlling it is a learned behaviour. That's why when the military get nicely socialised people delivered to them from society those nice people have to be broken down and re-fashioned so that if they have to kill someone they will do so without compunction (but within the rules of course).

Now, having dealt with that - your homework is to show me the link between that and the issue of drug prohibition

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Interesting point. As far as I know when we are children we're trained, first by our parents and then by our educators, in non-violence. We're not allowed to belt our siblings. Aggression is natural of course, controlling it is necessary and controlling it is a learned behaviour. That's why when the military get nicely socialised people delivered to them from society those nice people have to be broken down and re-fashioned so that if they have to kill someone they will do so without compunction (but within the rules of course).

Now, having dealt with that - your homework is to show me the link between that and the issue of drug prohibition

No I do not. The entire argument is that "gee if we legalize it, we will have less crime" That theory is bullshit. People will still become addicted to those drugs that addict and still need to PAY for the drugs. Rich people may be able to afford the addiction, but poor people and those that become unemployed because of the addiction will still turn to crime to get the money to continue the addiction. Well unless now your going to claim the Government should provide for the drugs and the addiction.

Drug related accidents will go up as will problems on the job and else where.

Using the excuse , " we can lessen crime by legalizing" works on a host of problems. Why not legalize assassinations and just get a tax benefit by requiring licenses and permits? Legalize prostitution and we can test them for diseases and tax them as well. The list is just endless.

 

[Larkinn]

It is natural for Humans to kill also, shall we legalize that too?

Any evidence that it is natural for humans to kill other humans? I can't see this being the case considering how many people come back from war utterly fucked up.

No I do not. The entire argument is that "gee if we legalize it, we will have less crime" That theory is bullshit. People will still become addicted to those drugs that addict and still need to PAY for the drugs. Rich people may be able to afford the addiction, but poor people and those that become unemployed because of the addiction will still turn to crime to get the money to continue the addiction. Well unless now your going to claim the Government should provide for the drugs and the addiction.

Do you think there are hosts of people out there who do not do drugs solely because they are illegal?

As far as the original list...extremely misleading because many of those stats are true only because marijuana is used far and wide, and about as harmful as cigs unless you are a heavy heavy user. Pot should be legalized...but if you look at other drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin, the stats will be much less friendly. And really those types of drugs are too dangerous to be legalized imo. I say legalize pot, shrooms, lsd type substances but leave out the speed, X, Heroin, Cocaine stuff.

 

[Diuretic]

No I do not. The entire argument is that "gee if we legalize it, we will have less crime" That theory is bullshit. People will still become addicted to those drugs that addict and still need to PAY for the drugs. Rich people may be able to afford the addiction, but poor people and those that become unemployed because of the addiction will still turn to crime to get the money to continue the addiction. Well unless now your going to claim the Government should provide for the drugs and the addiction.

Drug related accidents will go up as will problems on the job and else where.

Using the excuse , " we can lessen crime by legalizing" works on a host of problems. Why not legalize assassinations and just get a tax benefit by requiring licenses and permits? Legalize prostitution and we can test them for diseases and tax them as well. The list is just endless.

Now you mention it, prostitution should be legalised and regulated. But that's another argument.

The reasons some - not all - drugs are highly priced are the same as they are for any other good, with a couple of additional aspects. I have to look at it from my locale.

Marijuana - cheap as. The reason is because it's extremely easy to grow here. You can put some seeds down, pee on them twice and week and bingo, Jack and the bloody Beanstalk. It's called "weed" for a reason. Very high quality cultivated (as opposed to hydroponic) grass too. Plenty of it All those things mean it will be cheap and people don't need to commit crime to get money for it, even someone on unemployment can scrape enough money together to score some.

Cocaine - expensive. It has to be flown from South America to here. Just like any other imported good, the costs are passed on to the consumer. Consequently cocaine is the drug of choice of the wealthy. Not much crime connected to it because there are other, cheaper options available to people who want that sort of stuff.

Ice. Cheap. Getting very easy to make too, with mini clandestine labs about the place that will fit in a suitcase. It was the mini iron and steel production facilties in South Korea that did so much damage to the iron and steel industry in the rest of the world. Just a little analogy there.

Anyway the reason most of these drugs have been expensive in the past and even now (for some) is about the additional cost factor for the producers and marketers. Risk. They are facing long prison sentences for, say, importing cocaine or manufacturing ice. Risk appears in the pricing mechanism. Stuff would be cheaper if risk was as it is for any other manufactured/cultivated good (eg frost in a crop).

In the past the too-easy policy consideration has been to "make it illegal". Easy but misguided. Drugs are chemicals, like ordinary medicines, they should be regulated like ordinary medicines and users shouldn't be labelled as "criminals." We should save that for those who are more deserving.

 

[onedomino]

Humans are naturally drawn to consciousness-changing substances. We're just a bundle of hormones anyway so we may as bung a few others in from time to time to shake things up a bit.

Is this a rationalization for injesting consciousness altering substances? If so, it makes no sense. Consciousness is most affected by neurotransmitters in the brain, not hormones. There is no adaptive advantage associated with changing the balance of neurotransmitters, unless one is mentally ill or dysfunctional. People throw up when they drink too much. That is because alcohol is a poison and the body it trying to get rid of it. I am not talking about a glass of beer. I am referring to getting drunk or high. It is analogous to to when a kid gets sick when he first smokes. It is the body trying to rid itself of poison and provide negative feedback so the poison is never injested again. As I have mentioned previously, repeatedly taking drugs or drinking alcohol to the point of significantly changing consciousness is a symptom of a psychological problem. No adaptive person would engage in such behavior.

 

[mattskramer]

People commit crimes for cigarettes too. They even shoplift for smokes. People have killed over tennis shoes and jackets.

There would be good results and bad results in legalizing drugs. I think that the good would out-weigh the bad. The bad is more drug use. There might be more bad results but I can’t think of any at this time. The good is that there would be more prison space for violent criminals since drug users would be released. More revenue would be received from taxes if drugs were to be taxed. Drugs would be cheaper. There would not be as great a need for vice squads and police to fight drug possession. It all comes down to where we draw the line. Illegal items are more expensive than are legal items. By making drugs legal, it reduces the prices. Fewer people would have to resort to theft and violence in order to get the drugs.

http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml#drugwar

The Issue: The suffering that drug misuse has brought about is deplorable; however, drug prohibition causes more harm than drugs themselves. The so-called "War on Drugs" is in reality a war against the American people, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is a grave threat to individual liberty, to domestic order and to peace in the world.

The Principle: Individuals should have the right to use drugs, whether for medical or recreational purposes, without fear of legal reprisals, but must be held legally responsible for the consequences of their actions only if they violate others’ rights.

Solutions: Social involvement by individuals is essential to address the problem of substance misuse and abuse. Popular education and assistance groups are a better approach than prohibition, and we support the activities of private organizations as the best way to move forward on the issue.

Transitional Action: Repeal all laws establishing criminal or civil penalties for the use of drugs. Repeal laws that infringe upon individual rights to be secure in our persons, homes, and property as protected by the Fourth Amendment. Stop the use of "anti-crime" measures such as profiling or civil asset forfeiture that reduce the standard of proof historically borne by government in prosecutions. Stop prosecuting accused non-violent drug offenders, and pardon those previously convicted.

 

[Diuretic]

Is this a rationalization for injesting consciousness altering substances? If so, it makes no sense. Consciousness is most affected by neurotransmitters in the brain, not hormones. There is no adaptive advantage associated with changing the balance of neurotransmitters, unless one is mentally ill or dysfunctional. People throw up when they drink too much. That is because alcohol is a poison and the body it trying to get rid of it. I am not talking about a glass of beer. I am referring to getting drunk or high. It is analogous to to when a kid gets sick when he first smokes. It is the body trying to rid itself of poison and provide negative feedback so the poison is never injested again. As I have mentioned previously, repeatedly taking drugs or drinking alcohol to the point of significantly changing consciousness is a symptom of a psychological problem. No adaptive person would engage in such behavior.

All points taken, neurotransmitters is the term I was looking for but didn't get (obviously my synapses weren't in sync). Now if I can move away from your valid points just a wee bit. Humans - generally speaking - do seek out substances that alter consciousness, that was the point I was trying to make. Your aversion point is quite right of course, it's been 35 years since I last drank Jim Beam bourbon and coke. There's a very good reason for it.

But my point - generalising of course - was that humans do drugs. I need two coffees when I wake (shift worker, better make 'em strong too). I have a probably mild addiction to caffeine (on caffeine, yes, my first paper in Brain and Behaviour was on caffeine, stayed off it for at least two weeks).

 

[MassageGirl]

I agree with legalizing drugs for ALL these reasons. Its a damn shame that criminals who commit violent crimes are not doing enough time for their acts, simply because the jails are so full of non violent drug users. And yes, most drug users ARE non violent. They are 9 times out of 10, not harming anyone other than themselves.

It also gives people something to "blame it on", like blame their bad behavior on, I mean.

Ok this is an example of alcohol use, so its not "drug" related, but you will get the idea:

Stripper-
"Oh I was so drunk" "The alcohol made me do it"

Me-
- so what, I mean, you still plowed into my best friend, and tore his whole freaking leg off, my friend and comrade Craig, who was a Sgt, who was on his bike training for a triathlon. Tore his whole leg off, and YOU get to do only 15 years??? Are you friggin HIGH!!! You should spend the rest of your putrid life in jail. Damn shame these lawmakers are keeping marijuana users in for 1/3 of the time you got. Those tax dollars would have been better spent on your sorry ass, beeatch.

(that conversation didnt really happen, as much as I wish it did, but is plays in my mind occassionally)

Legalize drugs and give the police more time to spend busting that guy that was sneaking around your daughters window, or the one neighbor that beats his wife up on a daily basis.. Give the cops the stamina to be able to chase down and catch the bank robbers, instead of having to waste their brain power on whos at the top of the drug chain.


When cops actually start showing up when you need them and being on your side, I will feel like we live in a free country. Til then...

 

[Angel Heart]

ITA

 

[Ruby]

Many great points made so far in this thread.

I just wanted to add that drug addiction/use is a health issue, not a criminal one and should be treated as such.

If we can remove an item from the black market it does solve many more issues that surround the issue and clears the way to use our resources towards the health side (rehab) and prevention (education).

The part about it decreasing the crime rate is more about the cessation of treating somthing that is a health issue as a crime. We can make lots of laws that dont make sense and increase the crime rate (which is what we have done with drug laws) and then see a drastic reduction in the crime rate by getting rid of the nonsensical laws...the drug laws shouldnt have been implemented in the first place.

Its not comparable to murder which is a crime that has a direct victim who is not a willing participant and who pays with the highest price, their life. Drug use is what someone chooses to do with their own body, just like drinking, smoking, not exercizing enough, eating junk food, eating too much etc.

Just because somthing is legal dosent mean it has a rubber stamp of approval or make a statement that its good FOR YOU, it simply means it should be your CHOICE and you should have the FREEDOM to make it. Many things are legal that are quite bad for you to do, I named many above already and there is a loooong list of plenty more.

 

[Kagom]

Personally, I say legalize all drugs except speed, crack, cocaine, heroin, and meth. Those drugs are the ones that truly hurt people and have proven addictive properties as opposed to marijuana and a few other drugs. The other drugs people become psychologically dependent, but these have physical dependencies.