| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Time for a re-think on drugs law ? | |
| Posted by: | Alastair Banton | |
| Date/Time: | 01/10/13 13:27:00 |
| Yes of course organised crime has a much greater reach than simply drug-dealing, but you seem to be in denial of the extent to which this is a major component. Several former presidents of South American states who bear the major brunt of the war on drugs (millions dead) have recently called for radically new approaches. ‘Surely, the point missing from the pro-legislation arguments presented here is that most hard drug use is not by addicts - it is recreational; the estate agent snorting coke at the weekend, the teenager taking ecstasy at a house party. The actual number of addicts is very small. Most drug dealing is for recreational use.’ Well it depends what you mean by ‘hard drug’. Pure Ecstasy is certainly not in that category. I think the truth that underlies what you are saying is that most drug takers are users rather than abusers, just as with alcohol. And those calling for reform are well aware of that. You seem to be under the illusion that any liberalisation will lead to vastly increased numbers of problem users (abusers), but as I have said before, this has simply not been the case in places where it has been tried. And sorry, I just can’t get worked up about estate agents snorting coke at weekends. Let them. What is fairly clear is that young people will continue to experiment with drugs whether we like it or not, and whatever laws are in place. Mostly it's a phase. I think we should create a legal and social climate in which this can happen with the minimum of damage. No drug is made any safer by being left in the hands of criminals, but that would appear to be your only solution. |