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Legalize drugs! Any questions?

By Vanessa Baird | 7

As the ‘war on drugs’ is proving to be an almighty failure, the call for legalization of all illegal drugs is gathering momentum.

But what would legalization look like? How could it be done? New Internationalist will soon be tackling this thorny issue in our monthly magazine.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask our expert who will be making the case for legalization?

You can either share your questions and concerns with other readers in the ‘comment’ section below or you can email me directly at vanessab_at_newint.org.

Permalink | Published on May 25, 2012 by Vanessa Baird | 7

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#1 Steven Vidlund 25 May 12

I think that marijuana should be regulated exactly the same as wine. You can make ’homemade’ wine, you can serve it to guests, and you can give it away as a gift and it is legal. So should it be legal to possess, to ingest or inhale or consume, and to grow, and to give away, and to 'serve' to guests, etc. But if this product is sold, then it is regualted and taxed, etc. And the same rules apply for D.U.I. laws. And if the people think it should be only in the privacy of a private home or private property, or perhaps only in front of others 18 and over in the same room, etc...then those rules could be added on as 'pre-caution'. But anyone over 18 should be able to consume, grow and possess marijuana in my opinion. I also believe that anyone over 18 should legally be allowed to drink alcohol, but that's another issue, so if they only allowed over 21 like they do for alcohol, that would be okay, but the laws should not be any STRICTER for marijuana than for wine, in my opinion. I feel that wine is more dangerous to people.
#2 James Foulds 29 May 12

I've heard the arguments for legalisation but I'm really not certain blanket legalisation would be the best route to take. Living in the UK the issues of binge drinking and the violence this brings can be seen in any large town or city, especially in young drinkers. I would first question whether actively encouraging more addictive and mind altering substances would be beneficial, instead of aiming to change attitudes?

My other question would be towards the real world help that legalising drugs would give for drug producers, which are often the forgotten group within this issue. How will governments wrestle drug production from criminal organisations that are running the second most profitable business worldwide, and what is to stop them simply setting up as 'legitimate' companies and continuing to dominate the industry?
#3 Tom Ash 29 May 12

’How will governments wrestle drug production from criminal organisations that are running the second most profitable business worldwide, and what is to stop them simply setting up as 'legitimate' companies and continuing to dominate the industry?’ - would it be so bad to pull them away from crime? It might be off-putting to think of violent drug lords suddenly flaunting their legitimate riches, but that doesn't mean shifting them into the legal arena wouldn't be best, all things considered.
#4 Bob Thomson 12 Jun 12

If you haven't already, I'd highly recommend you be in touch with Martin Jelsma of the Drugs and Democracy Programme of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.
mjelsma@tni.org
http://www.tni.org/category/issues/drugs-policies
#5 kim 13 Jun 12

Looks like a solution on the surface but won't that just increase exploitation of women into the sex trade and other forms of slavery and increase the market for dodgy booze, weapons and fags when the 'traders' look for an alternate income?
#6 Andria E-Mordaunt 25 Aug 12

Hi

I was recently happy to contribute in NI about this issue as it has affected my own life, and the lives of many many people I have known and loved since 1977. ...

Right now, we are seeing a huge sea-change of public outcries by VIP folk, statesmen and so on, especially from the Latin American continent.. I only hope and dare I say, pray, that this time, there is a special something that will make the changes (legal regulation of all these medicines/drugs) we need be sped up (When your own life hangs in the balance, prayer can be handy even for atheists!)

Right now, all over the world injecting drug users are denied a basic tool, which for them can only be described as a human right: a clean needle, not to mention medicine to stop them having to buy drugs in the illegal drug markets.. This has led to huge epidemics of HIV/AIDS in Russia, CEE and SE Asia, not to mention Africa, which we are only just beginning to uncover...

IMHO, it is imperative that the Left take a stand on this issue as we have been rather slow to come up with any kinds of definitive statements. We need EVERY living citizen who cares about this issue to speak up because it is global, destroys vast hectares of land (aerial fumigation of marijuana, opium and coca crops), systemically corrupts Law Enforcers, governments and so on - U know these arguments after all these years.....

So please if you are reading this , let's get on it

Write to me if you want to

andriae4@gmail.com and lets see what we can do about this

Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt
Drug Policy Reformer
OCCUPY too
#7 Evan Rosich 01 Sep 12

I stumbled across an article from back in 2011. i added the link below.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/2011/11/28/20111128designer-cocaine-legal-potentially-lethal.html

This article above tells me you should make alcohol illegal too! Here's why: If you use bath salts responsibly, it is absolutely no more dangerous than alcohol. I grew out of alcohol use early in life as I'm only 19, Simply because I don't enjoy the effects, or the group surrounding alcohol use. People become Careless/irrational/angry. Bath salts DON'T DO THIS. Info:

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdpv/mdpv_effects.shtml

I rarely see a big deal made about the MANY DEATHS involved with alcohol, or pharmaceuticals (Much more than bath salts).

Compared to alcohol, Bath Salts make you happy/energized, and the comedown/hangover is drowsiness. The biggest negative is wanting more (similar to alcohol) (when the effects fade, i do a very small amount to keep the feeling, but just do small doses such as 25mg each time), but the positives overpower most negative effects (although the more you take the more you feel the negative effects, that's why i advise taking very small doses, spaced about 2 hours apart). The biggest plus for me is the availability, People will always seek drugs, Its a lot safer to get in stores rather than from the streets. One of the biggest problems with this drug is the fact they give you 500mg when you purchase it, and most people who use it, don't know exactly how much to do at a time, and that is the reason this is a ’dangerous’ drug, if no one knew how much alcohol to drink, or pills to take those would be extremely dangerous as well. i want to make it my goal to spread the word on safe methods of use, and to teach people that its a lot of self control and responsibility involved. The Effects are very nice, and i think people try to over do it for that reason.

I wish to hopefully open the minds of the people against these drugs. Its not the substance, its the person using them. Educate people on safe usage, Enforce laws against abuse of these drugs if anything.

Thanks for reading :)

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Legalize drugs! Any questions?

Comments on Legalize drugs! Any questions?

Leave your comment

#1 Steven Vidlund 25 May 12

#2 James Foulds 29 May 12

#3 Tom Ash 29 May 12

#4 Bob Thomson 12 Jun 12

#5 kim 13 Jun 12

#6 Andria E-Mordaunt 25 Aug 12

#7 Evan Rosich 01 Sep 12

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