4 ms·

Morality aside, I think widespread drug legalization will greatly increase usage rates. It could lead to a more dystopic future where a very large portion of pe

Morality aside, I think widespread drug legalization will greatly increase usage rates. It could lead to a more dystopic future where a very large portion of people are using various drugs.

api 11y ago
Th evidence shows otherwise. Besides, there is already an endless supply of booze, television, junk food, and empty consumerism for those who want to null out consciousness and distract themselves while they wait to die.
paublyrne 11y ago
Yes and no. Alcohol is legal in most countries and is widely consumed, certainly much more so than it would be if it were illegal. It can be very addictive, and it an be very destructive, like many drugs which are currently illegal. I agree use of drugs would probably increase overall, but that society can adapt without collapse. Many people take illegal drugs now from time to time, and are able to function and live normally, have jobs, and not have their world implode.
frame_perfect 11y ago
I probably would have never started smoking pot if there wasn't that edgy/cool/illegal vibe to it. Once pot is legal, the stigma around recreational use will probably turn into something like drinking cough syrup for the DXM.
- api 11y ago
  It won't be that lame, but I do expect some of the cool factor to fade a bit. There will be something like the craft beer scene and some aficionados and mostly a lot of people who might smoke it every once in a while but not often. Unlike, say, alcohol or heroin, it is not physically addictive. It can be psychologically habit forming but so can everything else. I personally never liked it that much so I can't see myself being a frequent customer. Haven't touched it in years despite it being 'around.' I will probably go have a first legal toke though when it's legal here (California) just because. We will wonder why on Earth we ever spent billions of dollars and locked people up in prison to suppress something so... trivial. On the bright side, when it is made legal and nothing much happens all the histrionic drug warriors will look unbelievably stupid and everyone will laugh at them. That's a good thing.
  - frame_perfect 11y ago
    Ah, yeah true. I could kind of see it going the way of wine.
ossreality 11y ago
lol, I can't believe we're still having this conversation. Let me guess, someone has already pointed out Portugal? Or any of the ~dozen other places where legalization or decriminalization has lead to decreased usage. Both in the US and elsewhere.
Loque 11y ago
Yea Holland and Portugal are as dystopic as they come?! I think as a society is more progressive/efficient to help and support those with drup problems as apposed to locking them up and creating an industry for the trade of 'illegal' drugs. What a waste of time and resource playing cops and robbers for 'drugs', I hope more and more policing groups are noticing this and feeding back over time.
vpkaihla 11y ago
We have lived in such a dystopic future for a long time. Almost everyone in the western world consumes caffeine on a daily basis.
- scott_karana 11y ago
  Ethanol and nicotine consumption are pretty prevalent too.
mvanvoorden 11y ago
If anything, certain illegal substances, like hallucinogens, have opened my eyes and gotten me out of depression, by making me see what's important in life. Without it, I might have committed suicide, or at least be still stuck (or even deeper) in a situation I don't want to be in. Cannabis and mushrooms, to name some, have been considered and succesfully used as versatile medicine for thousands of years, only to be banned about half a decade ago. Only the last few years this is starting to change, as more and more research shows the medicinal benefits, while debunking most of the lies that have been spread. Psychedelics 'cure' consumerism, make one more sovereign, enable independent thought, and help you break destructive patterns, by making one see through their life-long conditioning. They make us better people, but worse consumers who need less medicine. It's quite obvious why these substances are banned, as it's not in the interest of the state to have a flock capable of independent thought, that does not consume a lot and doesn't buy words of division and fear. To clarify even more: the only legal substances are those that cloud our thoughts and make us stupid and dependent, like alcohol or prescribed anti-depressants.
- frame_perfect 11y ago
  If you excluded cannabis from your comment, I'd agree with you 100%. Cannabis can be both, but for me, and a lot of people I know, regular use just promotes bad habits and lifestyle choices. But to each his/her own. (btw I support legalization of cannabis and other psychs)
  - mvanvoorden 11y ago
    I know what you mean. I've used cannabis a lot in my past, and my life was basically standing still. But without, my life felt unbearable. It turned out that changing what I was doing with my life eliminated the need completely, and without any signs of withdrawal effects. It was also the case that it's not cannabis that introduced bad habits, it was that the bad habits led to (the need of) cannabis use to ease my mind. Now, I use it as a tool for creativity, when I'm working with my music. I would also like to share this video, about how addiction seems to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg

Morality aside, I think widespread drug legalization will greatly increase usage rates. It could lead to a more dystopic future where a very large portion of people are using various drugs.

api 11y ago

Th evidence shows otherwise. Besides, there is already an endless supply of booze, television, junk food, and empty consumerism for those who want to null out consciousness and distract themselves while they wait to die.

paublyrne 11y ago

Yes and no. Alcohol is legal in most countries and is widely consumed, certainly much more so than it would be if it were illegal. It can be very addictive, and it an be very destructive, like many drugs which are currently illegal. I agree use of drugs would probably increase overall, but that society can adapt without collapse. Many people take illegal drugs now from time to time, and are able to function and live normally, have jobs, and not have their world implode.

frame_perfect 11y ago

I probably would have never started smoking pot if there wasn't that edgy/cool/illegal vibe to it. Once pot is legal, the stigma around recreational use will probably turn into something like drinking cough syrup for the DXM.

api 11y ago
It won't be that lame, but I do expect some of the cool factor to fade a bit. There will be something like the craft beer scene and some aficionados and mostly a lot of people who might smoke it every once in a while but not often. Unlike, say, alcohol or heroin, it is not physically addictive. It can be psychologically habit forming but so can everything else. I personally never liked it that much so I can't see myself being a frequent customer. Haven't touched it in years despite it being 'around.' I will probably go have a first legal toke though when it's legal here (California) just because. We will wonder why on Earth we ever spent billions of dollars and locked people up in prison to suppress something so... trivial. On the bright side, when it is made legal and nothing much happens all the histrionic drug warriors will look unbelievably stupid and everyone will laugh at them. That's a good thing.
- frame_perfect 11y ago
  Ah, yeah true. I could kind of see it going the way of wine.

ossreality 11y ago

lol, I can't believe we're still having this conversation. Let me guess, someone has already pointed out Portugal? Or any of the ~dozen other places where legalization or decriminalization has lead to decreased usage. Both in the US and elsewhere.

Loque 11y ago

Yea Holland and Portugal are as dystopic as they come?! I think as a society is more progressive/efficient to help and support those with drup problems as apposed to locking them up and creating an industry for the trade of 'illegal' drugs. What a waste of time and resource playing cops and robbers for 'drugs', I hope more and more policing groups are noticing this and feeding back over time.

vpkaihla 11y ago

We have lived in such a dystopic future for a long time. Almost everyone in the western world consumes caffeine on a daily basis.

scott_karana 11y ago
Ethanol and nicotine consumption are pretty prevalent too.

mvanvoorden 11y ago

If anything, certain illegal substances, like hallucinogens, have opened my eyes and gotten me out of depression, by making me see what's important in life. Without it, I might have committed suicide, or at least be still stuck (or even deeper) in a situation I don't want to be in. Cannabis and mushrooms, to name some, have been considered and succesfully used as versatile medicine for thousands of years, only to be banned about half a decade ago. Only the last few years this is starting to change, as more and more research shows the medicinal benefits, while debunking most of the lies that have been spread. Psychedelics 'cure' consumerism, make one more sovereign, enable independent thought, and help you break destructive patterns, by making one see through their life-long conditioning. They make us better people, but worse consumers who need less medicine. It's quite obvious why these substances are banned, as it's not in the interest of the state to have a flock capable of independent thought, that does not consume a lot and doesn't buy words of division and fear. To clarify even more: the only legal substances are those that cloud our thoughts and make us stupid and dependent, like alcohol or prescribed anti-depressants.

frame_perfect 11y ago
If you excluded cannabis from your comment, I'd agree with you 100%. Cannabis can be both, but for me, and a lot of people I know, regular use just promotes bad habits and lifestyle choices. But to each his/her own. (btw I support legalization of cannabis and other psychs)
- mvanvoorden 11y ago
  I know what you mean. I've used cannabis a lot in my past, and my life was basically standing still. But without, my life felt unbearable. It turned out that changing what I was doing with my life eliminated the need completely, and without any signs of withdrawal effects. It was also the case that it's not cannabis that introduced bad habits, it was that the bad habits led to (the need of) cannabis use to ease my mind. Now, I use it as a tool for creativity, when I'm working with my music. I would also like to share this video, about how addiction seems to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg