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Time and Time again, we see how stupid the war on drugs had been for humanity. Look at all the negatives: - Racist origins which disproportionately targeted mi

Time and Time again, we see how stupid the war on drugs had been for humanity. Look at all the negatives: - Racist origins which disproportionately targeted minorities. It allowed police and prosecutorial discretion to arrest more minorities and give them longer sentences. - Stopped medical progress. Finally a flood of studies are showing us mushrooms, marijuana, MDMA, acid, and more have positive medical uses. - Gave law enforcement massive budgets which are further inflated with asset forfeiture. We see SWAT raids based on lies ruining lives and killing innocent people. - Prevented people from relaxing with safer alternatives to alcohol. The war on drugs needs to end. No drug should be illegal. Drugs are a health concern, not criminal. Replace public funding of law enforcement with public finding of rehab and other mental/physical healthcare services. It'll be cheaper and society would be healthier.

ToonDoom 7y ago
There is a decent Netflix show that discussed how America’s war efforts and their fear that they could diminish their control over the people in effect put back research in the area back half a century. https://www.netflix.com/title/81098586?s=i&trkid=13747225 https://www.netflix.com/title/81098586?s=i&trkid=13747225
- MichaelApproved 7y ago
  Thanks. I'm assuming you're talking about the "psychedelics" episode but I noticed the one about dreams. The synopsis asks: "what’s the significance of dreams and What can they teach us?" From what I understand about dreams, no one has the answer to that question. It seems like they're going to make unfounded claims which makes me worried about their info. Do they tend to pose speculation as truth or are they avoiding pseudoscience?
  - dwiel 7y ago
    Actually, they did a good job of asking the question without posing speculation as truth or quoting pseudoscience. They ask the question, talk about the history of how people have answered in the past, and show what kind of current research is investigating this topic.
    - MichaelApproved 7y ago
      Thanks for the follow-up. I'll definitely check it out!
  - ToonDoom 7y ago
    Yeah sorry bad link.
elboru 7y ago
I look forward for the US to decriminalize all drugs. I’m Mexican and I live near the border, I’ve seen every day for the last 10 years how cartels gain power with all the money sent from US consumers. That money and power has corrupted not only police and politicians, but also some sectors of the population, drugs and narcos used to be anathema to most people, now they are part of our pop culture, thanks to news, TV series, movies and music.
- MuffinFlavored 7y ago
  > I look forward for the US to decriminalize all drugs. Is there evidence to prove that legal cocaine/meth/heroin being readily available for citizens would be good for society?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - fsloth 7y ago
    Most addictions are a social and healthcare problem. Criminalization is the problem because it makes on so many levels so hard for the people suffering from addiction to get proper healthcare. I mean look at the opioid crisis. There is no insurance policy for addiction, plus, you are labeled as a dedbeat by the society. And only because doctor prescribed you something they should not have. Without criminalization of addiction the opioid crisis would have been much easier to deal with. You can use that as a template for other things as well. Besides, I would much prefer people got addicted to mushrooms and cannabis rather than alcohol. The damage alcohol does to an addict is total and eventually lethal and irreversible.
    - MuffinFlavored 7y ago
      > Criminalization is the problem because it makes on so many levels so hard for the people suffering from addiction to get proper healthcare. Can't you argue that by making it illegal, you make it less available, therefore ending up with less people addicted?
GrumpyNl 7y ago
People will always wanna have drugs. They will find ways, so legalize it.
4ntonius8lock 7y ago
I've always had a bit of a paranoid suspicion, and trust me, I know there is no evidence for it, and I wouldn't make it out to be more than just a feeling: That the elites of the world are happy to have drugs being illegal, as it is a way to channel unemployed, violent youth who want to make a quick buck. I mean, think of it this way: If you are a poor, violent and traumatized youth, and drugs were legal and you wanted to make a quick buck, you'd turn to robbery or worse, kidnapping/murder. As long as they prohibit something that people want, that cohort will always have a way to make a quick buck without turning to robbery/kidnapping/murder.
- smileysteve 7y ago
  > That the elites of the world are happy to have drugs being illegal Well, if you start talking about Reagan in the 80s, there's significant evidence. Not as a way to channel unemployed, but to have extra governmental funding for covert operations.
  - 4ntonius8lock 7y ago
    That and to fight hippies and the anti-materialistic movements. If individuals mostly make decisions based on a number of internal currents, conscious and unconscious, the same must apply to collectives.
- psychoslave 7y ago
  >I mean, think of it this way: If you are a poor, violent and traumatized youth, and drugs were legal and you wanted to make a quick buck, you'd turn to robbery or worse, kidnapping/murder. Is there any evidence of such a "rise the lowest forbidden fruits won't impact the crop"? Without data, one could just as well argue that it favors criminal paths by smoothing the road. Think of it this way: if you rule death penalty for illegal music download, you further banalize evil by broadcasting the message that the worst social behaviors is ethically equivalent, as far as law pretends to pursue some ethical aims, as something as harmless. Nota bene: I don't imply that death penalty is acceptable for any kind of judicial sentence. Human errors and possibility of political abuses should be sufficient points to definitely end such a practice out of any legislation that pretends to respect its citizen dignity.
dpcan 7y ago
So, even stuff like Meth that is instantly addicting to some people? If it weren't harder to get and illegal, I'd hate to think of how many 18-21 year old kids would decide just to "give it a try" only to have it ruin their life. Then when something is that addicting and you can't afford it anymore... then what? Wouldn't it create more crime, more robberies, thefts, possibly murders in the process? I think we have a pretty good balance, and some drugs are slowly becoming legal as we learn more about them and we can setup systems to control their distribution.
- MichaelApproved 7y ago
  Yes, everything. Adults 18-21 already have access to meth and other drugs. Regarding your other speculation about decriminalizing drugs, we don't have to speculate. Other countries have already done it and seen improvements in their society. Crime and addiction rates go down. We have a horrible balance. Every single day we have prohibition, drug convictions ruin more people's lives and it makes it harder for them to get help for their addictions. Every day we have prohibition, SWAT teams have another chance to run wild with lies https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/10/14/little-rocks-dangerous-and-illegal-drug-war/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/10/14/l...
brbrodude 7y ago
People in charge do not have their eyes on humanity(I mean, this should be self-evident), they're mostly dealing with power and control. Society is much more an adversarial system than it is a utilitarian/humanitarian one. Power should be challenged at all times.
alexnewman 7y ago
No one has done more to push drugs than the govt. Whether its flooding the ghettos during Iran contra, mk ultra or Timothy Leary. Our govt was behind it all. I'd guess after mlk jr they pushed the whole drug thing to keep real change from happening
andrei_says_ 7y ago
We need to change the narrative around substances, their use and abuse. Addiction is not a personal failure but a coping mechanism in the face of trauma and failed social contracts. Drug enforcement is a tool of selective oppression and unchecked profit for many actors, from enforcement agencies to incarceration. Prisoners are extremely expensive in tax money, and are treated inhumanely + used for forced labor. We as society seem to be happy to pay very high cost, including in money, to treat people horribly. Prohibition is the main reason for substance prices to be high enough to support a powerful structure of organized crime which permeates and corrupts our society. Money continues to be the major force behind policy changes in the US and until we make corruption illegal (lobbying and campaign finance are out of control), our politicians and laws will serve corruption.
Nasrudith 7y ago
One disturbingly accurate bit of snark I had is that a war on abstract concepts (Terror, Poverty) or inanimate objects will always end like a drunk fighting a lamppost - it will end with hurting themselves and looking like an absolute idiot.

ToonDoom 7y ago

There is a decent Netflix show that discussed how America’s war efforts and their fear that they could diminish their control over the people in effect put back research in the area back half a century. https://www.netflix.com/title/81098586?s=i&trkid=13747225 https://www.netflix.com/title/81098586?s=i&trkid=13747225

MichaelApproved 7y ago
Thanks. I'm assuming you're talking about the "psychedelics" episode but I noticed the one about dreams. The synopsis asks: "what’s the significance of dreams and What can they teach us?" From what I understand about dreams, no one has the answer to that question. It seems like they're going to make unfounded claims which makes me worried about their info. Do they tend to pose speculation as truth or are they avoiding pseudoscience?
- dwiel 7y ago
  Actually, they did a good job of asking the question without posing speculation as truth or quoting pseudoscience. They ask the question, talk about the history of how people have answered in the past, and show what kind of current research is investigating this topic.
  - MichaelApproved 7y ago
    Thanks for the follow-up. I'll definitely check it out!
- ToonDoom 7y ago
  Yeah sorry bad link.

elboru 7y ago

I look forward for the US to decriminalize all drugs. I’m Mexican and I live near the border, I’ve seen every day for the last 10 years how cartels gain power with all the money sent from US consumers. That money and power has corrupted not only police and politicians, but also some sectors of the population, drugs and narcos used to be anathema to most people, now they are part of our pop culture, thanks to news, TV series, movies and music.

MuffinFlavored 7y ago
> I look forward for the US to decriminalize all drugs. Is there evidence to prove that legal cocaine/meth/heroin being readily available for citizens would be good for society?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- fsloth 7y ago
  Most addictions are a social and healthcare problem. Criminalization is the problem because it makes on so many levels so hard for the people suffering from addiction to get proper healthcare. I mean look at the opioid crisis. There is no insurance policy for addiction, plus, you are labeled as a dedbeat by the society. And only because doctor prescribed you something they should not have. Without criminalization of addiction the opioid crisis would have been much easier to deal with. You can use that as a template for other things as well. Besides, I would much prefer people got addicted to mushrooms and cannabis rather than alcohol. The damage alcohol does to an addict is total and eventually lethal and irreversible.
  - MuffinFlavored 7y ago
    > Criminalization is the problem because it makes on so many levels so hard for the people suffering from addiction to get proper healthcare. Can't you argue that by making it illegal, you make it less available, therefore ending up with less people addicted?

GrumpyNl 7y ago

People will always wanna have drugs. They will find ways, so legalize it.

4ntonius8lock 7y ago

I've always had a bit of a paranoid suspicion, and trust me, I know there is no evidence for it, and I wouldn't make it out to be more than just a feeling: That the elites of the world are happy to have drugs being illegal, as it is a way to channel unemployed, violent youth who want to make a quick buck. I mean, think of it this way: If you are a poor, violent and traumatized youth, and drugs were legal and you wanted to make a quick buck, you'd turn to robbery or worse, kidnapping/murder. As long as they prohibit something that people want, that cohort will always have a way to make a quick buck without turning to robbery/kidnapping/murder.

smileysteve 7y ago
> That the elites of the world are happy to have drugs being illegal Well, if you start talking about Reagan in the 80s, there's significant evidence. Not as a way to channel unemployed, but to have extra governmental funding for covert operations.
- 4ntonius8lock 7y ago
  That and to fight hippies and the anti-materialistic movements. If individuals mostly make decisions based on a number of internal currents, conscious and unconscious, the same must apply to collectives.
psychoslave 7y ago
>I mean, think of it this way: If you are a poor, violent and traumatized youth, and drugs were legal and you wanted to make a quick buck, you'd turn to robbery or worse, kidnapping/murder. Is there any evidence of such a "rise the lowest forbidden fruits won't impact the crop"? Without data, one could just as well argue that it favors criminal paths by smoothing the road. Think of it this way: if you rule death penalty for illegal music download, you further banalize evil by broadcasting the message that the worst social behaviors is ethically equivalent, as far as law pretends to pursue some ethical aims, as something as harmless. Nota bene: I don't imply that death penalty is acceptable for any kind of judicial sentence. Human errors and possibility of political abuses should be sufficient points to definitely end such a practice out of any legislation that pretends to respect its citizen dignity.

dpcan 7y ago

So, even stuff like Meth that is instantly addicting to some people? If it weren't harder to get and illegal, I'd hate to think of how many 18-21 year old kids would decide just to "give it a try" only to have it ruin their life. Then when something is that addicting and you can't afford it anymore... then what? Wouldn't it create more crime, more robberies, thefts, possibly murders in the process? I think we have a pretty good balance, and some drugs are slowly becoming legal as we learn more about them and we can setup systems to control their distribution.

MichaelApproved 7y ago
Yes, everything. Adults 18-21 already have access to meth and other drugs. Regarding your other speculation about decriminalizing drugs, we don't have to speculate. Other countries have already done it and seen improvements in their society. Crime and addiction rates go down. We have a horrible balance. Every single day we have prohibition, drug convictions ruin more people's lives and it makes it harder for them to get help for their addictions. Every day we have prohibition, SWAT teams have another chance to run wild with lies https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/10/14/little-rocks-dangerous-and-illegal-drug-war/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2018/10/14/l...

brbrodude 7y ago

People in charge do not have their eyes on humanity(I mean, this should be self-evident), they're mostly dealing with power and control. Society is much more an adversarial system than it is a utilitarian/humanitarian one. Power should be challenged at all times.

alexnewman 7y ago

No one has done more to push drugs than the govt. Whether its flooding the ghettos during Iran contra, mk ultra or Timothy Leary. Our govt was behind it all. I'd guess after mlk jr they pushed the whole drug thing to keep real change from happening

andrei_says_ 7y ago

We need to change the narrative around substances, their use and abuse. Addiction is not a personal failure but a coping mechanism in the face of trauma and failed social contracts. Drug enforcement is a tool of selective oppression and unchecked profit for many actors, from enforcement agencies to incarceration. Prisoners are extremely expensive in tax money, and are treated inhumanely + used for forced labor. We as society seem to be happy to pay very high cost, including in money, to treat people horribly. Prohibition is the main reason for substance prices to be high enough to support a powerful structure of organized crime which permeates and corrupts our society. Money continues to be the major force behind policy changes in the US and until we make corruption illegal (lobbying and campaign finance are out of control), our politicians and laws will serve corruption.

Nasrudith 7y ago

One disturbingly accurate bit of snark I had is that a war on abstract concepts (Terror, Poverty) or inanimate objects will always end like a drunk fighting a lamppost - it will end with hurting themselves and looking like an absolute idiot.