Should illegal drugs be legalised.

Kennine
Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
1000 Comments
edited June 2016 in General Chat #1

On the BBC news its being reported that there is a pressure group proposing that illegal drugs should be legalised.

What do you think of this proposal.

K

«1

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    I think you're asking for trouble by starting the thread.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #3

    I think you're asking for trouble by starting the thread.

    Probably the reason for starting it!

    my answer: No.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
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    edited June 2016 #4

    No

    v9

  • johnathome
    johnathome Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited June 2016 #5

    No 

    hope that's clear enough.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #6

    I think you're asking for trouble by starting the thread.

    Write your comments here...If everybody remains within the T&Cs it could be an interesting discussion.

    k

     

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #7

    One could say that some people only do things because it is illegal in the first place, and if it was to be made legal ,then to some it might loose it's appeal

  • Olliedays
    Olliedays Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited June 2016 #8

    It is a known fact that more harm is caused by legalised drugs like alcohol and tobacco than illegal drugs.  Imagine what would happen if these legal drugs were made illegal.  There would be a massive increase in criminal activity to supply a huge underworld
    activity of drinking and smoking with the subsequent Mafioso style infighting that would take place, including the dangers presented with the deterioration of the quality of the alcohol and tobacco they supply.

    Now the flip side of this is that if you de-criminalise the currently illegal drugs you pull the rug from all the existing criminal gangs. Those dependant on or who choose to use the drugs would be supplied through regulated outlets where the quality of
    the product would be controlled.  Tax revenue would be generated and people would be employed in legal activities.

    Now I don’t use illegal drugs but I can see huge benefits to society if they were made legal, especially if the increase in tax revenues were used to educate society on the dangers of all forms of drug abuse.

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited June 2016 #9

    It is a known fact that more harm is caused by legalised drugs like alcohol and tobacco than illegal drugs.  Imagine what would happen if these legal drugs were made illegal.  There would be a massive increase in criminal activity to supply a huge underworld
    activity of drinking and smoking with the subsequent Mafioso style infighting that would take place, including the dangers presented with the deterioration of the quality of the alcohol and tobacco they supply.

    Now the flip side of this is that if you de-criminalise the currently illegal drugs you pull the rug from all the existing criminal gangs. Those dependant on or who choose to use the drugs would be supplied through regulated outlets where the quality of
    the product would be controlled.  Tax revenue would be generated and people would be employed in legal activities.

    Now I don’t use illegal drugs but I can see huge benefits to society if they were made legal, especially if the increase in tax revenues were used to educate society on the dangers of all forms of drug abuse.

    A truly well put case for giving up on an unwinnable and long lost cause.

    Accepting the realities of the illegal drugs trade and turning the situation to society’s advantage.

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited June 2016 #10

    It is a known fact that more harm is caused by legalised drugs like alcohol and tobacco than illegal drugs.  Imagine what would happen if these legal drugs were made illegal.  There would be a massive increase in criminal activity to supply a huge underworld
    activity of drinking and smoking with the subsequent Mafioso style infighting that would take place, including the dangers presented with the deterioration of the quality of the alcohol and tobacco they supply.

    Now the flip side of this is that if you de-criminalise the currently illegal drugs you pull the rug from all the existing criminal gangs. Those dependant on or who choose to use the drugs would be supplied through regulated outlets where the quality of
    the product would be controlled.  Tax revenue would be generated and people would be employed in legal activities.

    Now I don’t use illegal drugs but I can see huge benefits to society if they were made legal, especially if the increase in tax revenues were used to educate society on the dangers of all forms of drug abuse.

    A truly well put case for giving up on an unwinnable and long lost cause.

    Accepting the realities of the illegal drugs trade and turning the situation to society’s advantage.

    Write your comments here...Absolutley agree! Legalisation would empty prisons overnight and would ease the stress on the NHS And Police.  Selling, what are now illegal drugs, through a controlled supply chain would save society literally billions and increase
    revenue by billions. it would also reduce the crime rate in one hit. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #11

    Cannot  think  of  a  more  barmy  idea  short  of  providing  us  all  with  Colt  45s  on  our  18th  birthday !

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited June 2016 #12

    Ah! there will always be someone that favours the American solution. Laughing

  • dennisd
    dennisd Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited June 2016 #13

    I wonder if there has ever been a study of the impact that drug related burglaries and muggings have on the lives oridnary people? I would imagine that a lot of "petty" crime would vanish overnight if  these drugs were controlled and available via prescription.
    Then again I might be wrong.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #14

    Thanks folks for your opinions. This is a very complex issue, with many consequences needing to be considered----.I am still in two minds about the subject and am reading the posts with great interest.

    K

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #15

    By all means legalise them. But withdraw free medical treatment for addicts. If someone chooses slow suicide, why interfere? 

    Never tried them, never been tempted, never will be. Got far more intelligence and strength of character. Get my kicks via sport.

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited June 2016 #16

    I think you only have to look at the consequences of 'Prohibition of Alcohol' in the USA to get a measure of what is actually going on in the illegal drugs trade and what would happen if they were legalised and controlled.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #17

    Are there not a lot of people who don't get into drugs, because they are illegal?

    Would some of those people have less qualms about trying out drugs if legality were no longer an issue?

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #18

    Ah! there will always be someone that favours the American solution. Laughing

    Someone  like  the  parents  of  three  12  year olds  in  the  Manchester  area,  perhaps ? Apparently  they  were  told  they  were  sweets !

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited June 2016 #19

    Will the crimes committed that goes along with the addiction to illegal drugs also become lawfull Undecided

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited June 2016 #20

    Most Definitly Not !!!

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited June 2016 #21

    Most Definitly Not !!!

    Write your comments here...we'll in that case, I won't be giving either of them a go Laughing

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited June 2016 #22

    Most Definitly Not !!!

    Write your comments here...we'll in that case, I won't be giving either of them a go Laughing

    I would recommend this as ‘Best Practise’ and hope that those doing otherwise would recieve the coveted ‘Darwinian Award’.

  • hastghyll
    hastghyll Forum Participant Posts: 42
    edited June 2016 #23

    Legal Highs have just been made illegal. There were a number of deaths linked to their use and a common theme seemed to be that as they were legal they were safe. Prisons have struggled to cope with violence from people using them. Mental Health services
    have struggled with Drug Induced Psychosis.

    Legalize drugs and things will get much worse.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #24

    I am not sure what drugs we are talking about here, as I have not been able to find the report. Is it just the lower classes B/C or are we talking class A. On balance I think I am against it. At the end of the day these drugs are often highly addictive, even more so than tobacco and alcohol.  Tobacco and alcohol are highly taxed, is it proposed that this will be the case for currently illegal drugs. If this is the case and market forces are also allowed to operate, what guarantee is there they would be any less expensive than currently. If that were the case, appart from the illegal aspects, they could still result in the same problems as currently, with people committing crimes to feed their habit.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #25

    Very good point Steve. 

    Looking at the cost of drugs prescribed for health purposes, who knows what these 'recreational' drugs would cost?

     

  • hastghyll
    hastghyll Forum Participant Posts: 42
    edited June 2016 #26

    Taxing drugs will not work as well as people might think. Smokers often say they are entitled to use the NHS as they pay taxes on tobacco. The last time I saw any figures it appeared a quarter of all tobacco use in Britain had no UK tax paid on it. Some
    is brought in legally by people returning from abroad, a lot is smuggled in but most worrying is the amount of counterfeit cigarettes which could be made from anything. Criminals will always find a way to make money whilst many people are happy to buy dodgy
    goods to save a few quid. It's a similar situation with alcohol. Drugs would be no different.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2016 #27

    No

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #28

    No from me too. Soft drugs lead to hard drugs.

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited June 2016 #29

    Another no here....Cool

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #30

    What would the criminals who are currently making and supplying illegal drugs do?  I suspect they would just move on to even more damaging activities to maintain their incomes.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #31

    No from me too. Soft drugs lead to hard drugs.

    +1

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