I'd bet a fair number of motor vehicles accidents, suicides, incidents involving firearms and homocides would have had cannabis use as a factor.

Well, these days drug drivers can be just as easily be tested as drunk drivers. Driving intoxicated is bad, full stop. Most of the violence attributed to cannabis use is probably due to the underground sector which in my opinion is a big pro for legalising it. A fifth of people smoke it and have continued to smoke it for nearly half a century, it will happen no matter what; why criminalise something so common, why not profit from it?

I'm a big believer in not being told what I can and cannot do with my life. But we have to draw the line at hard drugs. Some things aren't 'rights' and we shouldn't have a 'right' to heroin/cocaine. There isn't a 'right' to drive a lethal weapon like a car, or own a gun. We grant that right through the use of licenses and regulation and when we misuse those rights, we have them taken away from us.

Nobody ever lost their job or caused general chaos in a community because they smoked too many cigarettes and the tax more than covers the hospital bills.

We need to get out of this ban culture and more into the regulation one but to legalise the hard drugs is insane. Benson and Hedges heroin anyone?

All I have to say on this subject is this.

I smoke two Joints in the morning, I smoke two joints at night I smoke two joints in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright.

I smoke to joints in time of peace and two in times of war. I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints and then I smoke two more.

Spliffs are better than beers. the make peace and also encourage construction and creativity.

May as well legalize rape, murder and child prosititution while you're at it. :roll:

That is one of the single most monumentally fucking stupid things ANYONE has EVER posted on the internet.

“I have never seen two people on pot get in a fight because it is fucking IMPOSSIBLE. "Hey, buddy!" "Hey, what?" "Ummmmmmm...." End of argument.” - Bill Hicks

May as well legalize rape, murder and child prosititution while you're at it.

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May as well legalize rape, murder and child prosititution while you're at it.

Here is another way to look at legalising hard drugs. Instead of junkies going to public toilets and sharing potentially diseased needles and leaving them everywhere they can go to a clinic in a controlled environment where they could also get help for them to kick the habit.

Each drug is different so each would have different limitations of control suppose.

Edited by leftrightout: 31/8/2012 02:10:50 PM

To be blunt, when people are stoned and not keeping to themselves, it's just annoying and in no way benificial for society.

I see what you did there.

I see your point, I honestly do and I agree with it in respect of the legalisation of cannabis.

But the fact is, regardless of education, people will abuse drugs; it's human nature. These hard drugs not only put the people who use them at risk but also the community. Hard drug use is bad for the economy (i.e. productivity), bad for the community. What's to stop junkies going to public toilets and sharing needles regardless of the legality of the drug in use. People still drink in parks don't they?

There's also the commercial factor involved. At the end of the day, someone is going to make money from selling, producing and transporting the hard drugs. We all know what capitalism can do, it's a scary thought that someone could profit from effectively ruining someone's life. We know that people profit from alcoholism and other products, but should it really happen with hard drugs like heroin?

Oh come on, there's a difference between finding a new 'legal drug', perhaps the now infamous bath salts, and hardcore street drugs like heroin. It's simply not sensible to legalise hard drugs.

More people in a America die from prescription medication than any other illegal narcotic.

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Edited by leftrightout: 5/9/2012 05:37:28 PM

You can't compare the effects of capitalism in American health system to the health services in Europe and to an extent Australia.

America's mistakes will continue to happen around the world. That's the thing with Capitalism :lol:

A national report into illicit drugs has recommended decriminalising ecstasy and cannabis under a government-controlled program aimed at helping to curb addiction.

The 52-page report on alternatives to prohibition, by the Australia 21 group, was released in Adelaide on Sunday.

Its release came as the Australian Federal Police revealed a massive increase in the amount of illegal drugs and criminal assets seized in the past year.

One of the report's proposals is to establish a government supplier for cannabis and ecstasy.

The drugs would be available to people over 16, who would then be supported by counselling and treatment programs.

The report also recommends similar programs for heroin users.

Co-author Professor Bob Douglas says it is clear prohibition is not working, and Australia needs to have a serious debate about legalising controlled drug use.

"It's been a political benefit for people to pretend they're tough on drugs, but lots of politicians in Australia recognise now that this has to be changed," he said.

Professor Douglas says similar programs are being used in Europe with proven positive results.

He says criminal gangs have a monopoly on the black market, but a government regulated drug program could help to safely curb usage.

"Government just stands by and says, 'Well we'll criminalise the people who use drugs and we'll try and catch the people who are distributing them,' but they're not doing very well," he said.

"The report makes clear despite the good work that Australian police are doing, they're not making a serious mark on the markets."

The Federal Government says it will consider holding a national summit on drugs, but it does not support decriminalisation.

Mental Health Minister Mark Butler says the Government balances health responses with law enforcement.

But Greens Senator Richard di Natale says it is short-sighted to ignore the recommendations of experts.

"It's very clear that many experts, not just here in Australia but right around the world, support treating this issue as a law and order issue," he said.

"What's very very clear is the evidence says if we want to save people's lives, if we want to have more money for intervention then we have to start treating this as a health issue rather than a law and order issue."
Record busts

Meanwhile the AFP says it seized almost 14 tonnes of drugs and ingredients in 2011-12.

The figure is a 164 per cent jump on the five tonnes seized the previous year, and more than 11 times the amount seized the year before that.

It is partly as a result of more information and resource sharing with overseas law enforcement agencies.

Almost 12 tonnes of chemicals used to make drugs were seized, up 263 per cent.

More amphetamines and cocaine were found, but seizures of heroin and cannabis fell.

In the past financial year, the AFP confiscated nearly $100 million in criminal assets, more than double the $41 million confiscated the previous year.

Topics: drug-use, drug-education, health, drugs-and-substance-abuse, crime, Australia

First posted Sun Sep 9, 2012 1:23pm AEST

Question: Why do people need alcohol or drugs to enjoy themselves?????

They don't. Essentially it's a choice as everything in this life is. Take away our right to choose and you have control.

Question: Why do you think people need alcohol or drugs to enjoy themselves?????

Edited by 11.mvfc.11: 13/9/2012 05:11:13 PM

then why do they take them???