I think we should legalize all drugs. Its about choice, its about freedom. The 'war on drugs' has been a war on civil liberties.

We need to repeal the anti-drug laws.

I don't think thats a very strong arguement. There are many elements to b

I don't think thats a very strong arguement. There are many elements to be considered. The risk of personal harm is great (because lets face it, these are not the most responsible people here) and very likely to happen. Driving while drugged would be at least as bad as drunk driving...its just not viable.

Killing someone is about choice and freedom. But its still illegal.

Not quite.

'Decriminialize' some yes !
But others, just should not be used, or made legal.

I`m not sure where I stand on this. On the one hand if drugs are legalised it might be provided with a much better regulatory system than is currently in place. That could drop the death rate caused by tainted substances and lower criminal profits by some degree. On the other hand it will increase the use of drugs and might alter society in a dangerous way. The side effects of some drugs last quite a while longer than drink or soft drugs do and could provide a increase in petty crime and the working ability of any country that does legalise drugs.
I thought weed was supposed to be decriminalised in the UK around this time but I doubt that`ll happen.;/

legalize marijuana. when marijuana is easily accessable the records indicate all hard drug usus like cocain, crack, and heroin all go down, when marijuana is hard to come by like in Florida right now coke, and heroin use goes up astronomically.

legalize all drugs

Having them illegal hasn't stopped people using. Let me decide what i want to do

Murder is also illegal...yet people still do that. Lets take it off the law books, too...

Okay Snyper yes, but do you sue the government when 5 year olds get hold of Heroin?

Look at the dutch. They've legalised pot for those who want it yet many people in Holland don't smoke. It's the whole wanting what you can't have mystique. take it away and it'll not be so readilly abused.

Neon

The problem with Holland is that they have become a destination for druggies from neighboring countries.

Yes.

It would be nice if the government spent more on education than the "war on drugs" i really don't care too much if drugs were legalized, whoever wants to do it, will do it, and if they get caught, oh well, punishment for lack of common sense is just.

if all drugs were legalized there would be chaos. For example, i have a friend who has been sheltered her whole life, now that she's graduated and on her own, she's an alcoholic at 18. Statistically, Americans are not too responsible.

I don't know about totally legalizing drugs. There should be restrictions. What is the big problem is confiscating everything someone owns without due process. If they could prove earning owed to the IRS that would be different, but in several ammendments including the Bill of Rights Preamble we are entitled to "life, liberty and property." This civil right has been badly abused. Not to mention the punishment is unfair and in excessive force to resolve the problem.

You know I bet that guy who died in the nurse's garage wouldn't have died that way without the three strikes your out law in California. Her whole life could be ruined for any little thing. Why not murder? This harping on citizen's actions is leading to a downward spiral and must come to an end before it's too late.

Gee, the whole debate suddenly went dry.

The way I see it is that charging boot-leggers 100% tax is ridiculous. A tax should only be a percentage of someone's income. In case of confiscation that goes without saying, because drugs would have to be manufactored or imported illegally into the United States. Afterall, they are prohibited.

You see the big problem is all of a sudden the laws that govern this land don't apply to "Drug Dealers." It's like they have their own foriegn country or something, but no where to get sent back too. In cases of immagrants and illegals it's all up to their passport. If they have the right to work then fine, otherwise, confiscate the illegal goods and find out if they brought any money with them. They can't work in the USA so that could be confiscated too.

You know I think four percent added to regular sales tax is bad enough. Plus, all the crap they had to go through in court along with maybe a "disposal fee" would be enough headache to detour further sales.

Bloody EU......HAND OFF BRUSSELLS!!!!!!

Neon

On a freedom issue, people should be allowed to do what they will with their lives.

On the other hand, I lost a brother to meth.

It's a tough issue for me. I sometimes feel like anyone should be able to buy anything from the corner drug store. Other times I just want to crucify the drug dealers, as in nailing them to crosses all along Route 66 so that I can drive by 'em in a convertable to gloat.

But meth is illegal, isn't it? Think about it.

Interesting issue, and JLB touches on it a bit.

We often hear about the "cost" of the drug war and how onerous it is. But I don't believe I've ever seen a study that talks about the costs of simply making drugs legal. Suppose the war on drugs costs less than legalizing them would be?

Already I can think of quite a few costs should drugs become legal. Direct costs such as rehab centers, insurance (you think premiums are high if you're a skydiver?), health care, and so forth...costs that I don't think the "legalize everything" crowd are keen on shouldering, meaning they intend the Federal Government to take on the burden. But there are also indirect costs, such as Sixgun's brother. Turns out that simply legalizing drugs isn't as cost free as some would like to think.

Goalie

Several think tanks have done cost benefit analyses of the WoD. Try Cato, for one.

No one says drug use (and its problems) will vanish by legalizing drugs. Rather, experience with other countries shows it will not change significantly. The social costs as you describe -- rehab, medical -- remain largely the same. Society ALREADY pays for all of that, as well as:

1. The astronomical LE costs of the WoD.
2. Non-violent drug cases using up much CJS bandwidth.
3. The astronomical costs of incarcerating thousands (millions over time) of non-violent drug offenders, not to mention now each of them is "criminalized" for life.
4. Erosion of civil liberties and corresponding growth of the Leviathan State.
5. Huge amounts of crime, both violent and property, directly attributable to the WoD, NOT drugs themselves.

Those are the costs. What are the benefits? Anyone who wants drugs can already get them today. Thus are choices realistically are: a) we have drugs, or b) we have drugs and also the hideous WoD.