Does drug decriminalization work?

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

Our (future) single payer health care should also cover the purchase cost for

the prescribed hard drugs, it's only fair that we all chip in and do our

part for society.

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

Our current illegal drug suppliers had to start out small, I don't doubt they could do it again. Hopefully the government would be able to supply at a better price than they bargain for say medicare drug prescriptions (in the US of course.) I could easily see a meth addict sourcing an illegal supplier if the gov didn't give them enough meth for their fix or a big enough score for their money.

The difference being that when our current illegal suppliers got started, they weren't competing against the price and convenience that a regulated market would bring. Their only existence would be in a very extreme fringe. Cannabis, cocaine, and opium are all low maintenance products and I'm confident reasonably low (at least lower than the current cost) prices would be achieved.

Also, if people are properly educated on the risks of poorly cut cocaine vs. buying from a regulated source, I am hopeful they will make a wise decision.

"In a worst case scenario, it would still be better for the government to provide the drugs and a place to use them; do not let them go to the streets." ....aslong as they aren't creating more addicts and any additional treatment methods curbed growth trends

Of course we don't want to create addicts. That's why we're going to help them, and not a drug dealer.

And to touch on audioholic's point, I am very confident that the demand for hard drugs will decrease dramatically once we remove the dealers from the sale of softer drugs.

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

Our (future) single payer health care should also cover the purchase cost for the prescribed hard drugs, it's only fair that we all chip in and do our

part for society.

The financial burden on society would be far less under my proposed system. This is why the vast majority of economists have endorsed that approach.

Food for thought: studies have demonstrated that cigarettes save the health system money.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I honestly don't understand why legalizing a substance makes it easier to address rehabilitation. We can be open to the use and abuse and create easier avenues to rehabilitation without making the drugs legal. As for addicts fearing stepping forward, sorry the law does not bust people who go to a treatment center and ask for help. Maybe focus needs to be put on rehabilitation and less on incarceration, that can be done without legalization though.

Well, if I smoked weed, admitting I was addicted to weed would be grounds for throwing my *** in jail. I am more apt to hide my addiction because coming forth may get me in trouble.

 

[gotparts90 10+ year member]

all dealers I know would hate legalization. I hope some day this silly drug war will end how many hundreds of dollars a second it costs to run is crazy and that money could be used for treatment of the junkies that need help. The enforcement cost and lost tax revenue is just to great imo to keep it all the way it is.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Also, if people are properly educated on the risks of poorly cut cocaine vs. buying from a regulated source, I am hopeful they will make a wise decision.

Primarily the ability to litigate as recourse.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

The difference being that when our current illegal suppliers got started, they weren't competing against the price and convenience that a regulated market would bring. Their only existence would be in a very extreme fringe. Cannabis, cocaine, and opium are all low maintenance products and I'm confident reasonably low (at least lower than the current cost) prices would be achieved.
Also, if people are properly educated on the risks of poorly cut cocaine vs. buying from a regulated source, I am hopeful they will make a wise decision.

Of course we don't want to create addicts. That's why we're going to help them, and not a drug dealer.

And to touch on audioholic's point, I am very confident that the demand for hard drugs will decrease dramatically once we remove the dealers from the sale of softer drugs.

Can't speak for Canada, but don't let the idea of the US government doing anything cheaply go too far. Hopefully they could run the program efficient enough that the price gap from legal to illegal sourcing would be enough to draw in users and the government wouldn't have to subsidize the price with tax payer funds to keep the prices low to the end user.

I still don't agree with regulating all drugs the same. I honestly have an issue with the fact that alcohol can be bought at any liquor store but when prilosec first came out I had to go to a doctor to get a prescription for it. Should weed go the way of alcohol? Or should it be prescription based? Should meth really be legalized at all....who really needs meth...how much meth should the average person be prescribed?

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

Well, if I smoked weed, admitting I was addicted to weed would be grounds for throwing my *** in jail. I am more apt to hide my addiction because coming forth may get me in trouble.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif never been to a rehab center, but my guess is they don't call the cops everytime somebody checks in or asks for help

+1 for using the phrase "addicted to weed" though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

How many drug dealers manufacture prescription drugs? None, because they cannot compete financially with big pharma and not many people go to the street for their medication.

Cannabis should go the way of alcohol.

Again, no one requires drugs like meth, but they're a reality, and the illegal market does not help address those problems. The rules around harder drugs would obviously be a bit tougher than for cannabis or alcohol.

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

How many basement distilleries do you know of? Is there a large underground alcohol market?

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

How many drug dealers manufacture prescription drugs? None, because they cannot compete financially with big pharma and not many people go to the street for their medication.

So there is no black market for prescription drugs, and nobody abuses them? Nobody orders medication from other countries because its cheaper? (even people on private and gov't insurance)

Cannabis should go the way of alcohol.

I can see that

Again, no one requires drugs like meth, but they're a reality, and the illegal market does not help address those problems. The rules around harder drugs would obviously be a bit tougher than for cannabis or alcohol.

I wonder how much of an impact on meth distribution could be made if resources were taken off of weed enforcement and put on meth?

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

So there is no black market for prescription drugs, and nobody abuses them? Nobody orders medication from other countries because its cheaper? (even people on private and gov't insurance)

Absolutely, but is that a reason to make prescription drugs illegal? Problems controlling supply may arise but they would be addressed, and is less harmful/dangerous than the current market.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

Absolutely, but is that a reason to make prescription drugs illegal? Problems controlling supply may arise but they would be addressed, and is less harmful/dangerous than the current market.

I was just pointing out the issues with the proposed method of control/dispense, I agree nothing will be perfect just assessing the idea. The bolded part is kind of ironic since thats what the war on drugs is supposed to be doing today...

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

The drug war isn't about controlling supply, it's about eliminating it. The demand is there, which necessitates the supply; that is why it is currently fruitless.

 

[AllDayMJ 10+ year member]

surprised i havent seen this yet:

The drug war isn't about controlling supply, it's about eliminating it. The demand is there, which necessitates the supply; that is why it is currently fruitless.

and fyi, The drug war inst about supply at all. Its much more heavily focused on demand. Eliminate the demand and the amount of supply doesnt matter, eliminate the supply there will be demand and still new ways to get it. lol supply side economics..