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The anecdote you describe happened under the illegal black market, where production is unconfirmed and harm reduction is not available as easy. With decriminal

The anecdote you describe happened under the illegal black market, where production is unconfirmed and harm reduction is not available as easy. With decriminalization or even a legal market, that person maybe wouldn't have done it like that. With the black market, and criminality as it is, they probably didn't get the safety information they needed for harm reduction. One thing is for sure, prohibition creates dangerous production pipelines and enriches cartels/mafias the level of nation states and that makes danger for everyone around. The warnings on alcohol would be similar to other illegal drugs, alcohol is more toxic and dangerous than most of them. Cannabis, LSD and psilocybin (mushrooms) have the lowest toxicity of any drugs including aspirin, caffeine, nicotine and more. The information about safety and harm reduction would be clearer with a decriminalized or legal market and production would be much better with the latter, ultimately safer.

deleted 7y ago
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bjourne 7y ago
> With decriminalization or even a legal market, that person maybe wouldn't have done it like that. With the black market, and criminality as it is, they probably didn't get the safety information they needed for harm reduction. How do you figure that? The mind-altering effects of psychedelia aren't affected by the legality of the substances. > The warnings on alcohol would be similar to other illegal drugs, alcohol is more toxic and dangerous than most of them. That may be true but it is also irrelevant in a discussion on how dangerous psychedelia is (it's a form of what-about-ism). Plus, the analogue would be leaving kitchen knives around when drinking alcohol. I have truly never heard anyone call that a "rookie mistake". To me it seems that users are well aware of the risks involved and when they discuss among themselves they are open about it. But when they are on message boards with "opponents" (like on HN), the tone of the discussion completely changes and risks are being downplayed.

deleted 7y ago

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bjourne 7y ago

> With decriminalization or even a legal market, that person maybe wouldn't have done it like that. With the black market, and criminality as it is, they probably didn't get the safety information they needed for harm reduction. How do you figure that? The mind-altering effects of psychedelia aren't affected by the legality of the substances. > The warnings on alcohol would be similar to other illegal drugs, alcohol is more toxic and dangerous than most of them. That may be true but it is also irrelevant in a discussion on how dangerous psychedelia is (it's a form of what-about-ism). Plus, the analogue would be leaving kitchen knives around when drinking alcohol. I have truly never heard anyone call that a "rookie mistake". To me it seems that users are well aware of the risks involved and when they discuss among themselves they are open about it. But when they are on message boards with "opponents" (like on HN), the tone of the discussion completely changes and risks are being downplayed.