4 ms·

I won't pretend to know enough about all drugs to advocate legalizing them all, but certainly some like Marijuana aren't exactly making Amsterdam and Vancouver

I won't pretend to know enough about all drugs to advocate legalizing them all, but certainly some like Marijuana aren't exactly making Amsterdam and Vancouver collapse overnight. If you make something illegal you make them more scarce and therefore more valuable. Erase the value by erasing the scarcity and the problem actually just goes away. For harder substances I am not certain if this makes sense.

mietek 14y ago
Portugal has decriminalized all drugs in 2001. "Serious drug use is down significantly, particularly among young people; the burden on the criminal-justice system has eased; the number of people seeking treatment has grown; and the rates of drug-related deaths and cases of infectious diseases have fallen."
- intended 14y ago
  Heh, I think I brought up this very point in HN, and it was pointed out that the burden had shifted to medical services now.
  - alttab 14y ago
    Better that then sending non-violent criminals into for-profit prison systems, destroying lives of the families impacted, and generally making the wrong people rich(er) for the wrong reasons. Hemp is illegal in America for christ sake. Not because "its related to weed" either. Its because we can make anything out of hemp and that doesn't generate profit. How anything naturally made by earth (weed, hemp, opium) can be labeled "illegal" is arrogant of the human race. What makes us think we know better than nature? There are plenty of natural poisons out there that could kill us instantly. Why dont we make poison dart frogs illegal? Why aren't venomous snakes illegal?
    - rprospero 14y ago
      In many states, the possession of venomous snakes is illegal. Same goes for poison dart frogs.
      - alttab 14y ago
        I think the nuance is that opium and weed in small amounts won't kill you (and there is evidence to suggest that weed can't kill you at all, ever. I'm not entirely sure though). Poision dart frogs on the other hand, you don't really get a "second try". Didn't realize they were illegal but I suppose it makes sense. Its poison after all.

mietek 14y ago

Portugal has decriminalized all drugs in 2001. "Serious drug use is down significantly, particularly among young people; the burden on the criminal-justice system has eased; the number of people seeking treatment has grown; and the rates of drug-related deaths and cases of infectious diseases have fallen."

intended 14y ago
Heh, I think I brought up this very point in HN, and it was pointed out that the burden had shifted to medical services now.
- alttab 14y ago
  Better that then sending non-violent criminals into for-profit prison systems, destroying lives of the families impacted, and generally making the wrong people rich(er) for the wrong reasons. Hemp is illegal in America for christ sake. Not because "its related to weed" either. Its because we can make anything out of hemp and that doesn't generate profit. How anything naturally made by earth (weed, hemp, opium) can be labeled "illegal" is arrogant of the human race. What makes us think we know better than nature? There are plenty of natural poisons out there that could kill us instantly. Why dont we make poison dart frogs illegal? Why aren't venomous snakes illegal?
  - rprospero 14y ago
    In many states, the possession of venomous snakes is illegal. Same goes for poison dart frogs.
    - alttab 14y ago
      I think the nuance is that opium and weed in small amounts won't kill you (and there is evidence to suggest that weed can't kill you at all, ever. I'm not entirely sure though). Poision dart frogs on the other hand, you don't really get a "second try". Didn't realize they were illegal but I suppose it makes sense. Its poison after all.