Branson: "Time to end the war on drugs"
Discussion
Last time (couple of years ago) I was in Lisbon the streets were swarming with junkies. Very visible and very bold and very keen to 'trade'. I'd guess those are the by-products of 'decriminilization'. I'd also guess 'global drug commissioners' do more stat-trawling than street-observation, but I'm happy to be wrong.
Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
groak said:
Last time (couple of years ago) I was in Lisbon the streets were swarming with junkies. Very visible and very bold and very keen to 'trade'. I'd guess those are the by-products of 'decriminilization'. I'd also guess 'global drug commissioners' do more stat-trawling than street-observation, but I'm happy to be wrong.
Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
Are you arse? Genuinely?Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
My drug of choice is alcohol, wine mostly with the odd pint of beer, and a drop of Scotch. The other type of drugs have never really appealed, but if others want to indulge then let them, imo. The war on drugs doesn't seem to have worked very well so why not face up to the fact, legalise and tax them. It's not as if we couldn't do with the extra tax revenue - win, win.
Is one of the issues preventing this happening here is that there is a whole industry living off of 'the war on drugs', from the military, police, the legal profession, social workers and medics, as well as doubtless 'Big Pharma'?
I know that the draw of drinking lessened as soon as I turned 18, and it wasn't a 'bad' thing to do.
What we are doing isn't working, when living on Methadone is a lifestyle choice with no incentive to do anything useful for society then something has to change.
I know that the draw of drinking lessened as soon as I turned 18, and it wasn't a 'bad' thing to do.
What we are doing isn't working, when living on Methadone is a lifestyle choice with no incentive to do anything useful for society then something has to change.
groak said:
Last time (couple of years ago) I was in Lisbon the streets were swarming with junkies. Very visible and very bold and very keen to 'trade'. I'd guess those are the by-products of 'decriminilization'. I'd also guess 'global drug commissioners' do more stat-trawling than street-observation, but I'm happy to be wrong.
Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
Don't you see the same thing but in massively higher volumes in every town centre in the land on a friday night? Just our junkies are consuming a different drug?Mind you, I'm one of those who doesn't think Amsterdam benefits much from liberal drug policy, or that Christiania did much for Copenhagen either. Or that closing down the opium dens in Bombay has had a negative impact on Mumbai.
Maybe I shouldn't be entitled to an opinion, like people who don't support 'gay' culture.
normalbloke said:
Legalise it? Tax it to death? Opens up the trade in smuggling to avoid the tax.
I'm also sure it would get interesting with workplace rules regarding attending whilst under the influence, and being able to test for it/prove it.
Opens up the doors to smuggling? I'm not sure that would be a problem as such.I'm also sure it would get interesting with workplace rules regarding attending whilst under the influence, and being able to test for it/prove it.
Testing for it in workplaces though is a difficult one, though should be down to the employer to allow what he wants to allow, same as booze really.
collateral said:
Here
Pretty interesting stuff - Portugal decriminalised everything and, surprise surprise, seem better off for it.
A common myth.Pretty interesting stuff - Portugal decriminalised everything and, surprise surprise, seem better off for it.
Its just as much a criminal offence to grow, sell, and import drugs as everwhere else. Anybody caught with drugs has them confiscated and is either given communtiy service or enforced medical treatment.
Portugals drug policy is based on getting people off drugs rather than the Branson policy of giving the poor and feckless free access and hoping for the best.
normalbloke said:
Legalise it? Tax it to death? Opens up the trade in smuggling to avoid the tax.
Erm, not like there is no drug smuggling now? Most drugs are smuggled. All illegal drugs are untaxed and unregulated.As most crime involves drugs at some point it would potentially not only be a revenue stream but also decrease many other seemingly un related crimes such as mugging and burglary.
Alcohol's legal and as far as I know its use/abuse/misuse is responsible for a MASSIVE amount of trouble and expense. Health trouble, domestic trouble, societal trouble, personal trouble both physical and mental. And an incalculable cost to Health Service, workplace etc etc etc. So we've got ONE Frankenstein. Do we want more?
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