Smoking

[Rockthatpiano06]

I agree with you. I personally hate smoking I think it's gross but I don't think smokers are the scum of the earth and the campaigns are rediculous. I am all for teaching kids the negative effects of smoking and some ads discouraging children from smoking but as far as adults, by that point you know the consequences and I dont think those ads have any effect at all. The taxes now are also rediculous. In my opinion, if you are going to do that, then why not heavily tax alcohol and start a campaign against drinking?

[Kyuuketsuki]

What a bunch of tosh ... lots of things are prohibited (even if the prohibition is one of limits) but mainly drugs I suppose, things that are deemed to be so dangerous they might kill you.

Remind me, how long has this "war on drugs" been going on? We prohibited it; big deal. It still goes on! Like I said, prohibition solves nothing. If there is a demand (and there is) then there will be a supply somewhere, legal or not.

Context Adrian dearie, context! The point I was making was that some things are deemed illegal (presumably because they might kill you) and, as I said in that post, why should tobacco (and alcohol) be any different?

Kyu

[Tiberius]

They shouldn't be different, but I'm for the legalization of all drugs. If people want to do drugs, let them. Prohibition doesn't work, so most people are going to get their hands on drugs anyway. Why not legalize the drugs industry and create safer drugs?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

They shouldn't be different, but I'm for the legalization of all drugs. If people want to do drugs, let them. Prohibition doesn't work, so most people are going to get their hands on drugs anyway. Why not legalize the drugs industry and create safer drugs?

My position for about 41 years.I was not being facile or flippant when I claim the "drug problem" is far more a political issue than a health problem.


Be happy to post my arguments if you're interested,they're on several levels; EG health, legal, economic and social.


My position is the current attitude to illegal drugs is irrational,ignorant and destructive to the point of idiocy.

[Tiberius]

Please do post your arguments

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Please do post your arguments

OK, briefly:. These are some of my opinions. I don't claim to have 'THE' answers.I do claim my views are far from unique and worthy of consideration:


REGARDLESS,there will always be addicts of some kind,banning a substance does not remove the problem.There is a limit to how far a government can or should go to protect people from self destructive behaviour.

I have seen no evidence that legalistion increases the rate of addiction. In fact in the US and Australia,the exact opposite is demonstrably the case.


The US currently has the largest per capita prison population on earth. Legalising [and licensing,as just like tobacco) recreational drugs currently illegal would radically reduce the prison population and the rate of certain crimes,such as robbery and many crimes of violence related to drugs. .

The corporations would move in to produce, supply and sell the drugs which would be produced at a consistent strength and purity,just any legal drug, . Fits would be cheap and easily obtained.There be fewer deaths from diseases such as AIDS and Hep C as well as from overdose. National health costs would be reduced dramatically..

Emphasis would be harm minimalisation,both to the addict and broader community.

Want to control the TYPE of addiction? Make dope the cheapest drug,followed by heroin.Make drugs such as cocaine and speed MUCH more expensive(but still much cheaper than street drugs) A person addicted to heroin receiving regular,pure,consistent doses delivered cleanly,can survive and function at a high level for many years.Much longer than say an alcoholic.

Legalisation would virtually destroy the economic base of many criminal organisations such as The Mexican Mafia and Street gangs in the US and the drug cartels in South America.

Tax revenues would be huge.


BUT Control would still exist; Supplying minors would attract severe penalties AND people would remain responsible for their actions under the influence of drugs,just as they do with alcohol.


I offer no moral argument apart from "the greatest good for the greatest number".That and my observation that you can't often save people from themselves

[Kyuuketsuki]

They shouldn't be different, but I'm for the legalization of all drugs. If people want to do drugs, let them. Prohibition doesn't work, so most people are going to get their hands on drugs anyway. Why not legalize the drugs industry and create safer drugs?

Lovely, splendid, marvelous ... how exactly would you *police* (for lack of a better word) the consequences of such a liberal idealistic drugs policy? I mean fine ... so anyone can drink when they like and how much they like then drive as fast as they want (or do speed limits exist in your fairy tale utopia?), they can smoke 4 cigarettes on the go (possibly with marijuana oil, amyl nitrate or whatever on one or more of them) whilst driving or perhaps they should be allowed to take ecstasy, speed and PCP in any combination they wish and no matter what mood they are in. And what about children? Should we be allowing children to take these drugs? If so at what age and why that age? How much can they take and are they responsible for their actions?

I dunno Adrian ... I think I'd have the odd reservation about living on your cloud.

Kyu

[binny]

There is a piece of legislation in Massachusetts that if passed, would require smokers go 25 feet from the entrances of public buildings. I certainly don't support that.

This happened in Washington state. You have to be 15 feet from the entrance of a public place. I'm a nonsmoker and didn't vote for this. I didn't know anyone who was in favor of this, but it passed anyway.
One day my sister was outside on the sidewalk downtown having a cigarette. A woman with her child were walking up the sidewalk. When they got close to my sister the woman pulled the child close to her and covered the child's mouth with her had as they passed by my sister, who was outside, with her cigarette. She must have been in favor of this dumb law.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

@binny

You'd be even less happy here.My state is on the way to banning smoking EVERYWHERE except in one's own property.

It is now illegal to smoke in a car where there are children under 18 present as well as in ALL public buildings,bars, hotels and restaurants.

Do I support such draconian laws? ABSOLUTELY! An ex smoker, I sympathise with your sister,but feel she is pissing in the wind..

Perhaps the most effective way of reducing smoking is to make it socially unacceptable. That's the case now here relative to when I began smoking; then you could even smoke on public transport.

[Meatball]

I mean fine ... so anyone can drink when they like and how much they like then drive as fast as they want (or do speed limits exist in your fairy tale utopia?), they can smoke 4 cigarettes on the go (possibly with marijuana oil, amyl nitrate or whatever on one or more of them) whilst driving or perhaps they should be allowed to take ecstasy, speed and PCP in any combination they wish and no matter what mood they are in.

I don't think Adrian mentioned the legalization of dangerous driving anywhere in his post. If crack was legalized it wouldn't have any influence on dangerous driving laws.

That said, it's been observed that speed limits don't really do anything. Normal people tend to drive at a speed they feel comfortable at, and crazy assholes do the same, regardless of posted limits.