4 ms·

The only solution is to dispense pharma produced drugs freely to anyone who can't afford them. Poor people would no longer need to steal for their daily dose,

The only solution is to dispense pharma produced drugs freely to anyone who can't afford them. Poor people would no longer need to steal for their daily dose, all would be provided by the state. The illegal market would disappear since you can't compete with $0 price. You would have hard drugs vending machines on street corners, that you can access with your government provided drug card.

edgyquant 3y ago
I honestly can’t tell if you’re serious or not, but this is in no way an actual solution.
- avidiax 3y ago
  It's incomplete, let's say. You would probably still need to get these people into treatment, and prevent them from selling the drugs onwards, and prevent new people from getting on drugs. The invisible hand of the market could be a powerful ally in all of these, but we prefer as a society to do things in a difficult way that has never worked. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36846754 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36846754
bluescrn 3y ago
Would they still be sleeping on the street and committing crime to afford food, clothing, etc? IMHO, if a person is prepared to habitually commit crime to fund their habit, it's time to get them off the drugs, by force if necessary. Develop 'rehab jails' for addicts, where they can be kept off the streets, tapered off the drugs, and given decent treatment for underlying mental health issues.
throwaway4aday 3y ago
That is the worst possible way to implement a liberalization of drug laws. I'm in favor of decriminalizing practically all drugs but this is just insane. They need to be treated like the currently legal drugs in some cases and more tightly regulated in others where the substance is more dangerous to the user. There needs to be a spectrum from dispensaries where the cashier is some college kid and pharmacies where your access and education is handled by a pharmacist or doctor. Physical addiction, while complicated by several factors, is still a real phenomenon that must be identified and treated in order to avoid ruining lives.
rossdavidh 3y ago
You forgot the </sarcasm>

edgyquant 3y ago

I honestly can’t tell if you’re serious or not, but this is in no way an actual solution.

avidiax 3y ago
It's incomplete, let's say. You would probably still need to get these people into treatment, and prevent them from selling the drugs onwards, and prevent new people from getting on drugs. The invisible hand of the market could be a powerful ally in all of these, but we prefer as a society to do things in a difficult way that has never worked. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36846754 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36846754

bluescrn 3y ago

Would they still be sleeping on the street and committing crime to afford food, clothing, etc? IMHO, if a person is prepared to habitually commit crime to fund their habit, it's time to get them off the drugs, by force if necessary. Develop 'rehab jails' for addicts, where they can be kept off the streets, tapered off the drugs, and given decent treatment for underlying mental health issues.

throwaway4aday 3y ago

That is the worst possible way to implement a liberalization of drug laws. I'm in favor of decriminalizing practically all drugs but this is just insane. They need to be treated like the currently legal drugs in some cases and more tightly regulated in others where the substance is more dangerous to the user. There needs to be a spectrum from dispensaries where the cashier is some college kid and pharmacies where your access and education is handled by a pharmacist or doctor. Physical addiction, while complicated by several factors, is still a real phenomenon that must be identified and treated in order to avoid ruining lives.

rossdavidh 3y ago

You forgot the </sarcasm>