Senseless Prohibition of Drugs

Senseless Prohibition of Drugs

Prohibition of recreational drugs, like prohibition of alcohol in the USA earlier this century, has failed to decrease drug use and created many problems of its own. Looking at the drugs which are legal and those which are illegal, these problems can clearly be seen to be caused by the law itself.

LEGAL 'DRUGS'

ILLEGAL'DRUGS'

Tea, coffee, aspirin, codeine, alcohol, tobacco, methodone, Valium etc

Cannabis, LSD, Ecstasy, Amphetamines, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin etc

Government controlled

Criminal controlled

Government tax and industrial profit

Criminal profit and no taxation

Assured quality and dose - consumer protected

Dubious quality & strength - no consumer protection

Information and advice controlled by law.

Information and advice controlled by politics

Civil a & Human Rights upheld

Civil and Human Rights (eg privacy, choice) abused

Controlled prices - very little associated crime

High prices - high associated crime rate

Little police time and expense, except with alcohol

Massive police resources enforcing law at huge cost.

Less prisoners, more space

Overcrowded prisons

Less glamour / rebellion for young people

Glamour and rebellion attracts young users

Marketed through controlled and approved outlets

No control whatsoever over market

Mostly sold from separate outlets

Illegal dealers may sell several substances and lead customers from one to another.

Cannot be purchased using stolen property

Some stolen property swapped for drugs

Prostitution unconnected with supply

Prostitution to raise funds for some addicts.

More socially acceptable.

Much social alienation particularly youth.

TOXICITY varies for medium (tea) to high

ADDICTIVENESS varies from low (aspirin)

to high (tobacco)

TOXICITY varies from none (cannabis) to high

ADDICTIVENESS varies from none (cannabis)

to high (heroin)

NB : Heroin and tobacco are both HIGHLY TOXIC AND HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
CANNABIS HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO KILL ANYONE

DEA Judge Young 1988, said cannabis is safer than most vegetables!
The Lancet medical journal, November 1995 said :
"THE SMOKING OF CANNABIS, EVEN LONG TERM, IS NOT HARMFUL TO HEALTH"

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LEGAL 'DRUGS'	ILLEGAL'DRUGS'
Tea, coffee, aspirin, codeine, alcohol, tobacco, methodone, Valium etc	Cannabis, LSD, Ecstasy, Amphetamines, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin etc
Government controlled	Criminal controlled
Government tax and industrial profit	Criminal profit and no taxation
Assured quality and dose - consumer protected	Dubious quality & strength - no consumer protection
Information and advice controlled by law.	Information and advice controlled by politics
Civil a & Human Rights upheld	Civil and Human Rights (eg privacy, choice) abused
Controlled prices - very little associated crime	High prices - high associated crime rate
Little police time and expense, except with alcohol	Massive police resources enforcing law at huge cost.
Less prisoners, more space	Overcrowded prisons
Less glamour / rebellion for young people	Glamour and rebellion attracts young users
Marketed through controlled and approved outlets	No control whatsoever over market
Mostly sold from separate outlets	Illegal dealers may sell several substances and lead customers from one to another.
Cannot be purchased using stolen property	Some stolen property swapped for drugs
Prostitution unconnected with supply	Prostitution to raise funds for some addicts.
More socially acceptable.	Much social alienation particularly youth.
TOXICITY varies for medium (tea) to high ADDICTIVENESS varies from low (aspirin) to high (tobacco)	TOXICITY varies from none (cannabis) to high ADDICTIVENESS varies from none (cannabis) to high (heroin)