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Pointing out the existence of a worse legal poison is not a very good argument for the legalisation of another one. Perhaps it should not be used at all.

by adnam 11y ago

GordonS 11y ago
Another argument is the incredible damage that drug prohibition has done to our society. Millions of drug users have been criminalised and/or jailed just because they wanted to alter their state of mind. Drugs on the street are often tainted with adulterants. Violent drug cartels have wreaked absolute havoc on entire countries. The war on drugs does not work, so let's take a fresh approach.
adnam 11y ago
GordonS> "Millions of drug users have been criminalised" Well yes, they are criminals who have broken the law. Your argument is defeatist; drug prohibition works quite well in places like Japan and Singapore.
- Archio 11y ago
  Do you honestly think that drug prohibition is working WELL in this country? The current POTUS smoked cannabis regularly in his youth. Can you imagine how his career might have turned out differently if he was stuck in prison for a few months or years, because hey he's a criminal and he's broken the law? Which would have done more harm there, the drug or the criminal charges?
- rwmj 11y ago
  Singapore has a middle class "ice" (methamphetamine) problem. http://www.thecabinsingapore.com.sg/why-meth-is-becoming-a-problem-in-singapore/ http://www.thecabinsingapore.com.sg/why-meth-is-becoming-a-p...
- adnam 11y ago
  @rwmj who can disapprove of the middle classes getting "caned"? ;)
raducu 11y ago
Some people call sugar a poison, some call pornography a poison some people call stress a poison. Consenting adults not harming others should have the right to poison themselves as they see fit.
- adnam 11y ago
  Tell me that when you have teenage kids.
  - Archio 11y ago
    I hate to be the one to break this to you, but it is very likely that your teenage kids already have access through someone to marijuana [0], regardless of its legal status in your state. The question you need to ask yourself isn't whether or not your teenage kids - soon to become independent adults - will try weed. The question is, do you want them to be educated about potential harms and get ID'd until they turn 21, or risk them getting an illegal product that isn't tested from a violence-ridden cartel (that doesn't check IDs, by the way)? I highly recommend that you educate yourself about this drug, as I'm not sure of what scale of harmfulness cannabis can be classified as a "hard drug" [1]. The New York Times' 2014 editorial board's writeup on this issue is thoroughly documented and excellent [2]. [0] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_harmfulness#/media/File:2011_Drug_Harms_Rankings.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_harmfulness#/media/File:2... [2] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday...
  - adnam 11y ago
    @Archio I hate to break it to you, but I was a teenager myself in to the so distant past and I am fully aware of the opportunities available. My point is that I don't want my kids being turned into stoners and that the law should be on MY side, not the guy pushing drugs on them.
    - Archio 11y ago

Pointing out the existence of a worse legal poison is not a very good argument for the legalisation of another one. Perhaps it should not be used at all.

by adnam 11y ago

Pointing out the existence of a worse legal poison is not a very good argument for the legalisation of another one. Perhaps it should not be used at all.

GordonS 11y ago

Another argument is the incredible damage that drug prohibition has done to our society. Millions of drug users have been criminalised and/or jailed just because they wanted to alter their state of mind. Drugs on the street are often tainted with adulterants. Violent drug cartels have wreaked absolute havoc on entire countries. The war on drugs does not work, so let's take a fresh approach.

adnam 11y ago

GordonS> "Millions of drug users have been criminalised" Well yes, they are criminals who have broken the law. Your argument is defeatist; drug prohibition works quite well in places like Japan and Singapore.

Archio 11y ago
Do you honestly think that drug prohibition is working WELL in this country? The current POTUS smoked cannabis regularly in his youth. Can you imagine how his career might have turned out differently if he was stuck in prison for a few months or years, because hey he's a criminal and he's broken the law? Which would have done more harm there, the drug or the criminal charges?
rwmj 11y ago
Singapore has a middle class "ice" (methamphetamine) problem. http://www.thecabinsingapore.com.sg/why-meth-is-becoming-a-problem-in-singapore/ http://www.thecabinsingapore.com.sg/why-meth-is-becoming-a-p...
adnam 11y ago
@rwmj who can disapprove of the middle classes getting "caned"? ;)

raducu 11y ago

Some people call sugar a poison, some call pornography a poison some people call stress a poison. Consenting adults not harming others should have the right to poison themselves as they see fit.

adnam 11y ago
Tell me that when you have teenage kids.
- Archio 11y ago
  I hate to be the one to break this to you, but it is very likely that your teenage kids already have access through someone to marijuana [0], regardless of its legal status in your state. The question you need to ask yourself isn't whether or not your teenage kids - soon to become independent adults - will try weed. The question is, do you want them to be educated about potential harms and get ID'd until they turn 21, or risk them getting an illegal product that isn't tested from a violence-ridden cartel (that doesn't check IDs, by the way)? I highly recommend that you educate yourself about this drug, as I'm not sure of what scale of harmfulness cannabis can be classified as a "hard drug" [1]. The New York Times' 2014 editorial board's writeup on this issue is thoroughly documented and excellent [2]. [0] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_harmfulness#/media/File:2011_Drug_Harms_Rankings.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_harmfulness#/media/File:2... [2] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday...
- adnam 11y ago
  @Archio I hate to break it to you, but I was a teenager myself in to the so distant past and I am fully aware of the opportunities available. My point is that I don't want my kids being turned into stoners and that the law should be on MY side, not the guy pushing drugs on them.
  - Archio 11y ago