The legalization of currently illicit substances is a hot topic. So far, we've seen a few states take steps to decriminalize marijuana, regarded as a "soft" drug.
The arguments [i]for[/i] legalization include, but are not limited to...
1) Tax revenue
2) Medical purposes
3) Liberty
The arguments [i]against[/i] legalization typically follow the same few themes...
1) Drugs are dangerous
2) Drugs harm society
3) Medical benefits are outweighed by harms
You've heard both sides. You get the idea.
The American Left is typically the side that argues in favor for legalization. To the left, one of the strongest arguments for legalization stems from the potential for tax revenue. As a Libertarian, I'm often disappointed by leftists when they use tax revenue as their primary justification. The left has been slowly abandoning their pro-liberty stances, and apparently tax revenue is just as good of a reason to legalize something as liberty is.
The American Right is typically the side that argues against legalization. However, the political climate has been changing, and a lot of right-wingers now favor legalization (at least for [i]some[/i] substances). In fact, in my experience, it's almost always the right (On a linear spectrum, libertarians qualify as right-wing) that uses liberty as a justification for legalization.
With the right becoming the side that more and more supports individual rights, it's disappointing to see the statist left pick and choose when to support liberty and individual rights. How could a logically consistent leftist argue that somebody has a right to smoke and ingest what they want, as the left constantly wages a war on trans fat and soft drinks?
Those are my two cents. Libertarians are in strong support of total legalization of substances. The state does not have the authority to tell us what we can do with our bodies.
What are [i]your[/i] thoughts on illicit substances?
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They're illicit
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Edited by ANGRY ASIAN 500: 4/22/2016 1:40:32 AMThey should be allowed in edible format, weed smells like crap and is far more beneficial when eaten rather than smoked (or so I've heard).
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7 RepliesFully legalize weed. Decriminalize possession and recreational use of hard drugs. Instead of prison, send addicts to rehab. Up the penalty for manufacturing and distribution of hard substances. Actually education children about drugs in school, instead of the beyond stupid DARE programs, etc. You'll see the narcotic gangs fall a part from lack of funds.
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Edited by f3: 4/22/2016 1:39:10 AMKeeping drugs illegal doesn't deter people from using, and legalizing them doesn't help the situation either. Shit's -blam!-ed lol. qq Also, people don't seem to understand that the cartels won't let their lucrative industry go so easily.
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1 ReplyExplain the tax revenue bullet
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1 ReplyLegalize weed, shrooms, acid, cocaine, pretty much anything that can't easily kill you in one dose. Keep meth, heroine, etc. illegal. Focus on education and support rehabilitation rather than a "war on drugs."
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1 Reply
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Possession charges should be replaced by rehab stints. Dealing should still be a felony offense. Eliminate intent to sell unless found with a ton of drugs.
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shit, someone wants to fly like a kite on a day to day basis, let em do it however they want. not like they can stop em really, may as well make money off of it [spoiler]I'm a bad person. honestly though, this isnt something i genuinely care about[/spoiler]
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Blaze that shot duuuudee
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The real question is why tf is the war on drugs still happening
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Drugs are bad. Weed is good/ok. Alcohol is bad. Caffeine is bad. [spoiler]They say gluten is bad but idgaf because everything that has it is delicious. [/spoiler]
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Legalize everything regulate and tax all other approaches are just stupid. The u.s. spend billions of dollars on drug enforcement and never decreased the supply of illegal drugs in th US they could use all of that money including the taxes they would get on legal sales of drugs on free rehab for everybody with millions of dollars left over. Several countries have done legalization routes and afterwards all of them have seen decreases in drug use and dramatic decreases in drug overdoses.
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5 RepliesAs someone who done meth daily for 12 years, acid and other hallucinogens for most of that part and ecstasy as well. I would choose no to all. I would hate dealing with that in a public setting now. Prescription drug abuse and deaths are an all time high now, adding this would skyrocket the deaths in this country. Guess it would help with population control though.
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The government just needs to start making my Soma already.
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Ever been to Ibiza?
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Legalize everything. Regulate selling to prevent dishonest advertising and ensure responsibility.
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Marijuana should probably be legalized and regulated. Set a high tax on it so the people who should be working don't spend all their time getting high. The people who are productive, work hard and earn a good living can more freely afford it. Pass laws barring home cultivation and private sale of the substance to ensure its properly taxed.
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3 RepliesLet everything be legal for those who are 21 and over. There is no reason the government should tell you what you can or can't put into your own body.
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Legalise marijuana at a low price, putting the dealers of it out of business (who would go to the trouble of a dealer when you can easily and cheaply pick it up at the store?) Then, after a little while, suddenly tax the shit out of it and make lots money for the government.
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2 RepliesI believe that marijuana should be legalized and taxed. I think that hard drugs should not be legalized but the punishment for getting caught with them(unless you're obviously selling them) should focus strictly on rehabilitation instead of time in prison. Putting drug users in prison exposes them to STDs from other inmates, it costs the government about $250,000 per year to provide for them, and when they get out they're going to have almost no chance to find a decent paying job because they would be considered a felon, which would force them to live in low-income areas where they have a chance to get addicted to hard drugs again.
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Hard drugs eg heroin are addictive and cause health problems, do you want hospital beds taken up by junkies? Then there's crime as people on drugs commit crime to pay for their habit. More danger to society and more courts filled up with people who get off because they were high and not responsible for their actions. Legalising it will cost tax payers and the only winners will be the sellers.
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Weeds no biggie. Canada is talking about legalizing it now. From personal experience that's as far as I go on what should be legal. There's a problem with heroin use... And we can thank the doctors who hand out prescriptions for opioids like candy for that. Education and rehabilitation should be focused on for users. Not draconian prison sentences in criminal gladiator schools. Jail time does not do a lot for addicts. You sit on your cot and count the bricks on the wall for 23 hours a day because the jail is overcrowded on lockdown and maybe read a book in Spanish even though you can't understand because it's all you could get your hands on. Then they get out having learned nothing good and do the same thing again. The more you screw up the longer you sit in a dead zone. And that's all it really is you just shut off for your time there. I've been through rehab programs and even if it didn't totally stop me from screwing up it showed me how to change things if I really want to. It's better than nothing... And nothing is what jail is.
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Illegal substances are illegal
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3 RepliesThey're only illicit because someone didn't like them. That person doesn't speak for me so screw them.
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1 ReplyLol who tf voted 3rd option.