Originally posted by sh76computer caught a virus 😠-- ended up having to re-install Windows etc etc -- not fun
Welcome back, Mel. I hope you have a doctor's note excusing you for your absence from the forum.
If drugs were legalized, there would be no such thing as crack. Everyone would be able to afford the real stuff. Would the number of addicts go up significantly? I don't know. You can advertise against it. If people had jobs and felt good about themselves, they'd ives? Yes. Is it as damaging to society as illegal narcotics like heroin and crack? No way.
as for legalizing drugs, I do agree that we need to explore new approaches to dealing with drug abuse. The worst thing you can do is throw addicts in prison. They're already having problems coping with life, and now you put them in a place for a couple years or more where they'll spend all their time hanging out with lots of quality role models.
The issue is whether there's a way to legalize drugs while still sending the message that these drugs are nothing but trouble....But given the way we make it look like no one can really have a good time without being drunk, I'd say we'd have our work cut out.
Originally posted by MelanerpesWhy would heroin require a different approach than say, alcohol?
computer caught a virus 😠-- ended up having to re-install Windows etc etc -- not fun
as for legalizing drugs, I do agree that we need to explore new approaches to dealing with drug abuse. The worst thing you can do is throw addicts in prison. They're already having problems coping with life, and now you put them in a place for a couple years or more ...[text shortened]... no one can really have a good time without being drunk, I'd say we'd have our work cut out.
Originally posted by sh76Well, if you legalize crack and cocaine, you can also regulate its content, i.e. make it less strong if necessary. Most people prefer the legal route over shady dealers, so they will settle for the "diet coke".
Welcome back, Mel. I hope you have a doctor's note excusing you for your absence from the forum.
If drugs were legalized, there would be no such thing as crack. Everyone would be able to afford the real stuff. Would the number of addicts go up significantly? I don't know. You can advertise against it. If people had jobs and felt good about themselves, they'd ...[text shortened]... ives? Yes. Is it as damaging to society as illegal narcotics like heroin and crack? No way.
but how do we legalize these drugs without sending the message that it's "okay" to do them - or that they aren't really all that "bad" for you? One thing I would support is legalizing ALL drugs for legitimate medical purposes. Maybe if cocaine was available with a prescription, it would eliminate many of the back-alley operations. As it stands, the new trend already seems to be the abuse of legal (prescription) drugs. All you need is a doctor willing to write up a bunch of "prescriptions". Why should the users bother with street-corner drug-dealers when you can get your "fix" at Walgreens?
So even if we could make all the marijuana, cocaine, and heroin in the world vanish, the drug abuse problem would probably be no better than it is now. So it seems apparent that we'll never eradicate all abusable drugs - at least not unless you want to deprive many people of legitimate healthcare treatments.
Originally posted by MelanerpesIt's not the government's job to tell us what is ok for us to do, unless we're violating another person's rights.
but how do we legalize these drugs without sending the message that it's "okay" to do them - or that they aren't really all that "bad" for you? One thing I would support is legalizing ALL drugs for legitimate medical purposes. Maybe if cocaine was available with a prescription, it would eliminate many of the back-alley operations. As it stands, the new tr ...[text shortened]... least not unless you want to deprive many people of legitimate healthcare treatments.
Does the government imply that cigarettes and alcohol aren't bad for you?