12 ms·

This is patently false, we are seeing this in CA with weed right now. People are buying non legal or regulated products because they are cheaper.

netizen-936824 5y ago
So instead of saying the entire idea is wrong because of one example with one easily solvable problem, how about we solve that problem? Price of legal drugs needs to be lower than illegal, or at least close. Not to mention in California the illegal supply market flourishes due to export to non-legal states. This has been true for decades.
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  Its also worth mentioning the successful treatment programs that focus on substance access: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin-assisted_treatment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin-assisted_treatment
robbedpeter 5y ago
You can't half ass legalization, that just maintains space for the black markets. By keeping it federally illegal and preventing banking and insurance and the like, you make people vulnerable. Bootleg alcohol isn't a problem because we've found and refined the right balance of access and regulation. That balance needs to be achieved for all drugs. If someone wants fentanyl, it's probably prudent to require a license and valid medical reason and records keeping. If someone wants some laudanum or coca leaves, maybe it's perfectly reasonable to limit a purchase to a one dose per day 5 day supply. In addition, maybe it's reasonable to establish drug use education licenses, like hunter's education and concealed carry training. If you want to consume a commercially available drug, attend a class that trains on the safe use and harm reduction practices and provides hotlines and local medical and therapy facilities. Require pharmacies to sell to anyone whatever the single purchase limit for a substance is as long as the customer has a current card for that substance. Implement mandatory drug use education in the last two years of high school, and the first two years of college education. Broadcast free TV and radio programs on safe use and harm reduction practices. Destigmatize responsible use,and incentivize people to seek help early. Don't merely decriminalize and foist a wild west half ass barely legal industry of dispensaries on the population, because that's how you keep black markets in business.

netizen-936824 5y ago

So instead of saying the entire idea is wrong because of one example with one easily solvable problem, how about we solve that problem? Price of legal drugs needs to be lower than illegal, or at least close. Not to mention in California the illegal supply market flourishes due to export to non-legal states. This has been true for decades.

netizen-936824 5y ago
Its also worth mentioning the successful treatment programs that focus on substance access: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin-assisted_treatment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin-assisted_treatment

robbedpeter 5y ago

You can't half ass legalization, that just maintains space for the black markets. By keeping it federally illegal and preventing banking and insurance and the like, you make people vulnerable. Bootleg alcohol isn't a problem because we've found and refined the right balance of access and regulation. That balance needs to be achieved for all drugs. If someone wants fentanyl, it's probably prudent to require a license and valid medical reason and records keeping. If someone wants some laudanum or coca leaves, maybe it's perfectly reasonable to limit a purchase to a one dose per day 5 day supply. In addition, maybe it's reasonable to establish drug use education licenses, like hunter's education and concealed carry training. If you want to consume a commercially available drug, attend a class that trains on the safe use and harm reduction practices and provides hotlines and local medical and therapy facilities. Require pharmacies to sell to anyone whatever the single purchase limit for a substance is as long as the customer has a current card for that substance. Implement mandatory drug use education in the last two years of high school, and the first two years of college education. Broadcast free TV and radio programs on safe use and harm reduction practices. Destigmatize responsible use,and incentivize people to seek help early. Don't merely decriminalize and foist a wild west half ass barely legal industry of dispensaries on the population, because that's how you keep black markets in business.