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I can't wait for the results of this to come out so I can use it in debates with people who are against legalization. I'm almost certain Uruguay will be better
by smtddr 13y ago
I can't wait for the results of this to come out so I can use it in debates with people who are against legalization. I'm almost certain Uruguay will be better off for this. The resources involved in trying to suppress cannabis is ridiculous; especially for a substance that doesn't even do as much harm to society as some other things that are perfectly legal.
- pstuart 13y agoYou have Portugal as a reference already: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/evaluating-drug-decriminalization-in-portugal-12-years-later-a-891060.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/evaluating-drug-d... Edit: yes decriminalization is not legalization. But whole point of illegality has ostensibly been to "protect people from themselves." This shows that it's not necessary.
- TylerE 13y agoThat's decrim, not legalization. Big difference.
- smtddr 13y agoAccording to the article that comment linked to; it's now on the same level as a parking-ticket for those growing it without proper registration or in possession of more than 10-days-worth. I can live with that very positive step in the right direction. Would put a huge dent in the War-On-Drugs cash-cow the USA criminal system is seriously milking. My main concern is pretty much the arrest, jailing and criminal-record that drugs causes. All that goes away if it's just a parking ticket.
- Crito 13y agoMany places in the US already have local decriminalized possession of reasonable quantities. Legalization, as seen in Colorado and Washington, should be interesting since it will shortly become possible to run a legitimate business with marijuana (as far as the states are concerned...).
- coldtea 13y agoPedantically maybe. Practically I don't see any big difference.
- alexeisadeski3 13y agoDecrim feeds organized crime syndicates, legalization shuts them down.
- veemjeem 13y agoI don't think decrim feeds crime syndicates. California has had decrim for cannabis for a long while now. Dealers can't really make money selling cannabis because it's already so cheap at dispensaries. Most of these dealers move to states where cannabis is still illegal. In a way, dealers are not monetizing "drugs" -- they are monetizing security. Cannabis is extremely cheap to manufacture since anyone with a bag of soil can easily grow several thousand dollars worth of plant material. The real cost is in securing the product and transporting it to the customer. In states that have decrim, the police don't even bother arresting people with cannabis because catching people running stop signs actually yield more money for the police department. There's no money to be made transporting the goods because the risk is so low.
- Crito 13y agoCalifornia's decriminalization has been accompanied by partial legalization. In absence of any sort of legalization, the only place to buy drugs is through the usual channels. "Usual channels", while not limited to, includes gangs.
- jpatokal 13y agoWhen the entire production chain is legalized, the black market disappears. Decriminalization only affects the end user and leaves the black market in place.
- Mikeb85 13y agoAll anyone needs to do is smoke it to know it's not as harmful as substances like alcohol.
- nwp90 13y agoThis is utter rubbish; the negative effects on health of any activity or substance clearly cannot be judged by merely trying it. Think DDT, asbestos, thalidomide, and a massive list of other misadventures that we've tried over the past 100 or so years.