[Icare dixit]

Do you think that (trade and/or use of) street drugs should be legalised?

I think it would be best to legalise the trade and use (without prescription) of pretty much all street drugs (maybe with the exception of heroin).

I think it's best to make pretty much all exclusively/mostly psychotropic substances OTC (not lithium, not morphine; all forms of lithium might be best made prescription-only).

I think it would greatly improve self-medication, making it more effective and generally more healthy. It might also close the gap between "them" and "us", but there might need to be some more incentive for people to try it, or the gap might grow larger.

It would make it easier to substitute one drug with another.

All the investments to fight the trade and use of illicit drugs now, may be used to help people with addiction (you don't need street drugs to get addicted, obviously).

I am especially interested in what those with (a past of) drug addiction think is best, but all comments/reactions are welcome, obviously.

[zepchic]

except that one that makes you eat people's faces off....and meth...that ****'s terrible, but then I feel like if the better stuff was legal than people would choose the better stuff over meth or the zombie one

[zepchic]

bath salts...i think that is it

I think the war on drugs is a fail

At the very least, pot should be legalized. It's safer than alcohol, yet alcohol is legalized and pot is not

There are some nasty drugs out there, though... like Krokodil (sp?). It causes your body to rot. A lot of people have had their limbs rot off, as it's a flesh eating thing. (Don't look it up if you have a queasy stomach.)

I think there needs to be some regulation to keep people safe. There are a lot of synthetic drugs out there that kill people, Krokodil being one of them

[zepchic]

^^ yeah see that stuff is awful. I feel like if other highs were legal that people wouldn't do that crazy ****. But maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am wrong to not demonize other drugs. I feel like if we legalized and then treated addiction as an illness that would be a better route.

[st0psign]

I think that ALL street drugs should be legalized, and sold at drug stores just like liquor has its own store. including heroin. people are going to do these regardless of legality, legalization and proper education (not scare tactics) would make their use far safer and the amount of ODs would go down. if we taught our children that drug abuse and addiction is a sad thing instead of a criminal matter I think less of them would be likely to use in the first place.

Originally Posted by zepchic

^^ yeah see that stuff is awful. I feel like if other highs were legal that people wouldn't do that crazy ****. But maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am wrong to not demonize other drugs. I feel like if we legalized and then treated addiction as an illness that would be a better route.

Yeah, I guess what I'm saying is... If you legalize them, they should be regulated so that someone doesn't get nasty flesh eating sh**. There needs to be quality control somehow to make sure you're not selling dangerous/synthetic stuff. I guess that implies there would need to be government-approved factories to produce crystal meth and stuff

Addiction is an illness, not a criminal matter.

[Icare dixit]

Another very important benefit of legalising street drugs is research: more and more reliable information will be available through (more and easier) scientific research, especially into long-term effects.

Just to make sure there is no confusion: I meant that the money now used to fight the trade and use/possession should be used for helping those with addiction.

I definately agree with you. My sons friend is going to prison for a year for smoking pot (it violated his parole). Going to prison for 1 year, not being there for his small children is too harsh and ridiculous a punishment for smoking pot. I mean, come on!

[Icare dixit]

That's ridiculous, yes.

It would maybe also help to elucidate why in my case hashish don't cause psychotic disturbances while the rest does. We really don't know yet whether it's mostly bad or good. Probably bad in the long-term, though, but just for us with a vulnerability. Apparently not all cannabinoid doses, necessarily.

Serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs are fine for at least half of all people, probably. Maybe for all of us. In moderation.

Moderation is key for all things. Even water can be toxic if you drink too much.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Moderation is key for all things. Even water can be toxic if you drink too much.

Yes, that's also the problem with nicotine. Maybe like lithium, a near-toxic dose can help with BP. After some experiments with (hydroxy)tryptophan and/or melatonin I'll try that, maybe.

At least I should smoke fewer cigarettes. Just nicotine.

[Bobbyj]

I struggle with addiction issues. Mainly opiates and marijuana, but have abused tons of drugs. IMO the gvt needs to stop trying to fight drug use by making arrests and demonizing it. They need to just put info out there of their dangers like they're doing with tobacco and have a hands off approach to them, while spending money on just helping addiction. Of course this will never happen, but the current approach is obviously not working. I think locking people up for drug-related reasons is a business. It wouldn't make sense for them to stop what they're doing, they make $$$ from it. I am against pretty much all drugs, but i do use them at times because of my cravings and such(i'm trying to be 100% sober). If i could go back i would have never touched any mind-altering substance i don't think the majority of people benefit at all from them.

[emgreen]

In my state medical marijuana has virtually legalized pot. There are doctors in the business of granting documentation to get a medical marijuana card. Basically, anyone who wants one can get one ("OUCH!!! My back!!!").

My big issue about drug use is the same as alcohol (a drug, too) use. I smoke, but I'd never get behind the wheel of a car while high. I feel it impairs my reflexes enough that I might be a hazard on the road. There was a segment on the national news about traffic deaths due to marijuana use in Colorado, Oregon, Washington & D.C. -- where recreational use is legal. Sure...people have rights, but not every individual will be responsible if granted those rights. In short, don't get baked & drive!

Another issue for me relates to my mental illness. I smoke very infrequently (about once a month) because I believe smoking can alter my moods & affect the way my meds work their "magic" (he said sarcastically). IMO, there are several factors to be considered when approaching the topic of drug legalization. Addiction is a disease, no doubt, but sometimes innocent people die due to others' addictions. It's a complex issue for me...

People die from food related illness all the time. Ever ate too much, got sleepy and got behind the wheel of a car? Just because something is legal or illegal, doesn't keep people from abusing it and causing their own death. Or feeding bad foods to kids. Should we lock people up if they do? It's all very confusing but I believe legalization is the way to go. But it's s business like another poster mentioned. They make a good profit by keeping it illegal. Hopefully the tides are changing.

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

People die from food related illness all the time. Ever ate too much, got sleepy and got behind the wheel of a car? Or feeding bad foods to kids. Should we lock people up if they do? It's all very confusing but I believe legalization is the way to go. But it's s business like another poster mentioned. They make a good profit by keeping it illegal. Hopefully the tides are changing.

Statistically speaking, your food analogy is a bit much . I do, however, get what you're driving at.

Food is probably the number 1 killer overall in the US right now. Even if statistics don't state this. Obesity is commonplace, rather than an exception. Being overweight can (not always) but can, cause severe lethargy. Food is an obvious addiction for some people. Some people have a hard time seeing it this way, but it is.

I'm sorry if it's too much. I just see it as a fact and don't mean to be loosely relating unrelated things. My mind just does that. And I'm obsessed with food right now and failing at dieting. So food is the first thing to come to my mind on nearly all topics

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Food is probably the number 1 killer overall in the US right now. Even if statistics don't state this. Obesity is commonplace, rather than an exception. Being overweight can (not always) but can, cause severe lethargy. Food is an obvious addiction for some people. Some people have a hard time seeing it this way, but it is.

I'm sorry if it's too much. I just see it as a fact and don't mean to be loosely relating unrelated things. My mind just does that. And I'm obsessed with food right now and failing at dieting. So food is the first thing to come to my mind on nearly all topics

Obesity can kill the person afflicted with it, but my eating an entire pizza won't kill others! I'm also failing at a diet, so don't feel alone there! I think my obsession is people hurting/killing others while impaired. I'm blinded by my own biases, too!

People can and do kill others with food. First, By being a bad example and upping the acceptable amount of pounds a person carries. I can be 30lbs overweight and have people tell me I'm thin and should gain weight. Parents who overfeed their children or simply showing a bad example which the kid thrn follows into adulthood.

I'm gaining weight like crazy right now and all I can think about is the example I show my kids and husband by letting this happen to me. I'm self hating a lot.

Don't get me wrong, I know I see things differently from the majority and am aware of my own bias. But I see your point too, and sometimes I'd be in your camp. But right now, I think total legalization is the way to go.

[wildflowerchild25]

I'm not sure where I stand on this issue. I think marijuana should be legalized (even though I'm not a user). But I'm not sure about other drugs. My husband died from an opiate overdose. But he got hooked completely legally - he was prescribed meds for a back injury. so I'm really not sure.

I'm sorry for your loss WildFlowerChild.