4 ms·

Ask HN: What if drugs were legal?

3 points by sidyapa 7y ago

I have always wondered what the world would be like if all drugs were legal and licensed like alcohol with minimal but strict protectionism. Do you guys have any data or thoughts about it?

cabraca 7y ago
Just take a look at portugal: https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalization/ https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalizatio...
ziddoap 7y ago
Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001. Although not quite the same as legalizing completely (drug dealing and manufacturing is still illegal). This is somewhat parallel to alcohol, in the sense that brewing and subsequently distributing your own alcohol is illegal (in most areas, Im not an expert) as well as possession under certain circumstances is an administrative offense. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-decriminalised-drugs-14-years-ago-and-now-hardly-anyone-dies-from-overdosing-10301780.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-dec... https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-it https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radic...
zzo38computer 7y ago
Illegal drugs seems to be an important part of the economy, but I don't really know for sure. But I think it should be legal to use or to produce (as long as the method you use is not overly damaging to the environment), but illegal to buy and sell it.
whb07 7y ago
Take the reverse what if coffee was suddenly made illegal? What players would rise and how would they behave given a bag $12 bag of coffee would be $1000?
- 0xd171 7y ago
  This isn't relevant at all.
digianarchist 7y ago
The BBC made a docu-drama with the same title: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvIhnYGeSN4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvIhnYGeSN4
bjourne 7y ago
Drugs were legal in the 19th century. It didn't work out so well. Read f.e the history of the Opium Wars in which Britain sold opium to the Chinese. It devastated their country which the European powers then exploited.

3 points by sidyapa 7y ago

I have always wondered what the world would be like if all drugs were legal and licensed like alcohol with minimal but strict protectionism. Do you guys have any data or thoughts about it?

cabraca 7y ago

Just take a look at portugal: https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalization/ https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalizatio...

ziddoap 7y ago

Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001. Although not quite the same as legalizing completely (drug dealing and manufacturing is still illegal). This is somewhat parallel to alcohol, in the sense that brewing and subsequently distributing your own alcohol is illegal (in most areas, Im not an expert) as well as possession under certain circumstances is an administrative offense. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-decriminalised-drugs-14-years-ago-and-now-hardly-anyone-dies-from-overdosing-10301780.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-dec... https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-it https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radic...

zzo38computer 7y ago

Illegal drugs seems to be an important part of the economy, but I don't really know for sure. But I think it should be legal to use or to produce (as long as the method you use is not overly damaging to the environment), but illegal to buy and sell it.

whb07 7y ago

Take the reverse what if coffee was suddenly made illegal? What players would rise and how would they behave given a bag $12 bag of coffee would be $1000?

0xd171 7y ago
This isn't relevant at all.

digianarchist 7y ago

The BBC made a docu-drama with the same title: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvIhnYGeSN4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvIhnYGeSN4

bjourne 7y ago

Drugs were legal in the 19th century. It didn't work out so well. Read f.e the history of the Opium Wars in which Britain sold opium to the Chinese. It devastated their country which the European powers then exploited.