OT: another take on legalizing drugs
I posted this in another thread, but I feel very strongly about the issue of legalizing drugs so I'm starting a different thread to propose this as a way of dealing with the issue:
I'm all for legalization of marijuana & all other illegal drugs, but I am not at all for anyone using them--at least no more than most people use alcohol.
While I favor legalization, I think Colorado is going about it wrong. We don't want to encourage drug use. We want to reduce the damage that comes from drug use & the drug trade. Locking people up for doing no more than smoking weed is insane. However, one reason we have so many drugs like meth & crack is that the crackdowns on less dangerous drugs has made those drugs more expensive & harder to get than crack & meth. There is also a lot of collateral crime that comes about due to illegal drugs. Addicts rob stores & people to support their habit & cartels thrive because there's a demand for what they can sell at outrageous prices.
IMO, what we should do is open up state run or highly regulated dispensaries. I prefer state run dispensaries because if we allow private dealers to sell, we can't prohibit them from advertising & promoting the stuff. OTOH, if the state runs the operation there's no need to "promote" the drugs at all. We shouldn't use these as a profit center. Our goal should be to keep drug use at a minimum while still recognizing people want them. We should sell the drugs at a low enough price to adults only to undercut the profits of illegal drug cartels. We should create stiff criminal penalties for growers/manufacturers to sell to anyone except the state outlets. The state can set the price it will pay manufacturers & growers.
We can still make it illegal with stiff penalties to supply drugs to minors. We can still make it illegal to drive while on them.
I'm convinced if we do it right we can beat the drug cartels, undercut so much of the collateral crime that goes with illegal drugs, and like with cigarettes, do a pretty good job of educating the public about the dangers of drug use. There are lots of ways to fight drugs & still allow irresponsible people some individual freedom to destroy themselves. There is also no reason to make criminals out of people who like to smoke weed now & then
This post was edited on 3/12 11:45 AM by NEastArkie
I posted this in another thread, but I feel very strongly about the issue of legalizing drugs so I'm starting a different thread to propose this as a way of dealing with the issue:
I'm all for legalization of marijuana & all other illegal drugs, but I am not at all for anyone using them--at least no more than most people use alcohol.
While I favor legalization, I think Colorado is going about it wrong. We don't want to encourage drug use. We want to reduce the damage that comes from drug use & the drug trade. Locking people up for doing no more than smoking weed is insane. However, one reason we have so many drugs like meth & crack is that the crackdowns on less dangerous drugs has made those drugs more expensive & harder to get than crack & meth. There is also a lot of collateral crime that comes about due to illegal drugs. Addicts rob stores & people to support their habit & cartels thrive because there's a demand for what they can sell at outrageous prices.
IMO, what we should do is open up state run or highly regulated dispensaries. I prefer state run dispensaries because if we allow private dealers to sell, we can't prohibit them from advertising & promoting the stuff. OTOH, if the state runs the operation there's no need to "promote" the drugs at all. We shouldn't use these as a profit center. Our goal should be to keep drug use at a minimum while still recognizing people want them. We should sell the drugs at a low enough price to adults only to undercut the profits of illegal drug cartels. We should create stiff criminal penalties for growers/manufacturers to sell to anyone except the state outlets. The state can set the price it will pay manufacturers & growers.
We can still make it illegal with stiff penalties to supply drugs to minors. We can still make it illegal to drive while on them.
I'm convinced if we do it right we can beat the drug cartels, undercut so much of the collateral crime that goes with illegal drugs, and like with cigarettes, do a pretty good job of educating the public about the dangers of drug use. There are lots of ways to fight drugs & still allow irresponsible people some individual freedom to destroy themselves. There is also no reason to make criminals out of people who like to smoke weed now & then
This post was edited on 3/12 11:45 AM by NEastArkie
