Drugs And Rights

[MisterChicken]

I want to discuss Drugs and Human rights.I think that Making them illegal is violating rights of humans,And the failed War on Drugs which started bycorruption ,fear,ignorance.NOTE:I AM NOT PROMOTING DRUG USE Im staying in A neutral view.

[Apollo.]

This should probably be in rotw. i disagree though with drugs comes violence robberies and what not, so.why should the rest of society have to put up with it? I strongly disagree with drugs being legalized

[Yonkers]

All drugs should be legalised. How can stopping someone from voluntarily using drugs be justified? If the user isn't harming other, then why should anyone care? What someone does in their free time is nobody else's business as long as no one is involuntarily affected by it.

[workingatperfect]

I agree. The government is supposed to protect our rights, not take them away. Telling me that I can't do something that doesn't in any way infringe on another person's rights is wrong.

[Mirage]

Better in ROTW

:arrow: ROTW

[Cicero]

I agree. The government is supposed to protect our rights, not take them away. Telling me that I can't do something that doesn't in any way infringe on another person's rights is wrong.

It could harm others though, like by driving or even walking around on the streets. Drugs should only be done in the privacy of you're own home or someone else's.

[workingatperfect]

It could harm others though, like by driving or even walking around on the streets. Drugs should only be done in the privacy of you're own home or someone else's.

Driving while under the influence of anything is illegal. Being intoxicated in public is illegal. The drugs themselves should not be. Nothing is going to happen to you if I trip on acid.

Drugs aren't going to cause anything that isn't already going to happen. It is not your choice, or the government's if I do drugs. Or at least, it should be. Me driving is a bigger hazard to you than me doing drugs.

[MisterSix]

I disagree. Its far too easy to kill yourself by taking too much of a drug, get a little air bubble in the needle or even choke on your own vomit when you sleep.
Then theres the addiction side of things

If you agree with the OP, I hope you are against governments trying to ban smoking, otherwise it would be quite hypocritical.

[workingatperfect]

I disagree. Its far too easy to kill yourself by taking too much of a drug, get a little air bubble in the needle or even choke on your own vomit when you sleep.
Then theres the addiction side of things


But these are all things that affect only the person. If someone wants to put their lives at risk, that is there business, no one else's.

If you agree with the OP, I hope you are against governments trying to ban smoking, otherwise it would be quite hypocritical

I am. I'm against the government banning anything that doesn't directly affect someone else's rights. As I said before, the government is there to protect people's rights. Not take them away. Doesn't mean I'm for doing hard drugs and stuff, but it's not something the government should involve themselves in.

[MisterSix]

But these are all things that affect only the person. If someone wants to put their lives at risk, that is there business, no one else's.

You're right. If I overdosed, and died, right now I will be the only one affected by it. There wouldn't be the slightest effect on my friends and family.

[workingatperfect]

You're right. If I overdosed, and died, right now I will be the only one affected by it. There wouldn't be the slightest effect on my friends and family.

OK, yes, it affects other people, but is it taking away your family's rights? No? Then it isn't the government's business.

EDIT: For whoever neg repped me asking "So, no one ever drives drunk?" Yes. Yes they do. And it's illegal already. No need to make alcohol illegal.

[Yonkers]

abcd

[shadymc]

I think marijuana, lsd, and shrooms should be legal because they all have been proved non addictive, and its been proven that it was a lie about 1 joint being equal to 13 cigarettes. The only drugs that are really dangerous and should be illegal are the designer drugs like spice and bath salts, and methamphetamine, and even opioid painkillers like percocet and vicodin and also it shouldnt be legal to perscribe amphetamines like adderall and dexedrine to kids with adhd, because nobody knows what the long term effects on the brain are. I mean, think about it, if marijuana causes brain damage in developing brains, then what do you think amphetamines are going to do? But what should really be illegal is the pill Desoxyn, which is prescription methamphetamine given to kids for adhd on rare occasions instead of adderall.

All drugs should be legalised. How can stopping someone from voluntarily using drugs be justified? If the user isn't harming other, then why should anyone care? What someone does in their free time is nobody else's business as long as no one is involuntarily affected by it.

I agree with that except for one part, methamphetamine and opiates shouldn't be legal, because i have had family members that are on/were on meth and all they did was hurt everyone around them, beat people up, and steal stuff from everyone, that is hurting other people, especially their kids that are around it. Its hard to realize unless you've actually witnessed this kind of stuff happen, if you had seen somebody high on meth kick in a door that hit a 4 year old in the head, you wouldn't think it should be legal. And eventual somebody using hard drugs will hurt someone, because it makes them not care what they do to other people. It makes them a completely different person.



Please use the edit or multi quote buttons instead of posting consecutively. -StoppingTime

[workingatperfect]

I agree with that except for one part, methamphetamine and opiates shouldn't be legal, because i have had family members that are on/were on meth and all they did was hurt everyone around them, beat people up, and steal stuff from everyone, that is hurting other people, especially their kids that are around it. Its hard to realize unless you've actually witnessed this kind of stuff happen, if you had seen somebody high on meth kick in a door that hit a 4 year old in the head, you wouldn't think it should be legal. And eventual somebody using hard drugs will hurt someone, because it makes them not care what they do to other people. It makes them a completely different person.

While all of this is true, and I agree that meth is a terrible drug... it's main function isn't to hurt people. It's to make you feel good. What people do while on it is irrelevant. Knives hurt people. Cars hurt people. A chair can hurt someone. Yes, drugs can hurt someone too, but if someone is stupid enough to do that, that's their own problem. If drugs make someone steal, assault people, etc. Well, that's too bad. But those things are illegal. Just like stabbing someone, driving recklessly, and and beating someone with a chair are illegal.

This isn't an issue of if drugs are right or wrong, it's more an issue of the government over-stepping their bounds. Drugs do not DIRECTLY hurt anyone but the user. Indirectly? Yes, but so can any household object. That's why the actions that may stem from drugs are illegal, but the drugs themselves shouldn't be.

[MusicMaker99]

It's the governments responsibility to protect its citizens. So, yes, drugs are illegal for your own safety and health.

More importantly, they are illegal to protect the innocent bystanders that are affected by someone's drug usage. Ever dealt with someone high on meth? They are fairly dangerous, just because of how fucking paranoid they are. The drug has negative effects on their driving as well. Sure, drugs would not harm anyone else if the people using them stayed at home alone while they were under the influence. Unfortunately this doesn't happen. Drugs don't just ruin the lives of the people using them, they can indirectly fuck up the lives of random people as well.

Because of my job (which I will not mention), I've had a wealth of exposure to people under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, meth, heroin, LSD, and many prescription narcotics...believe me, the user is not the only person that is affected by drugs.

Now, having said that, I feel marijuana should be decriminalized. It should be regulated like tobacco and alcohol. I don't support people using it, but I don't think it is much more dangerous than tobacco or alcohol. This doesn't mean it's safe, like many people seem to believe, but it's not as dangerous as meth or heroin.

[workingatperfect]

No, it is the government's responsibility to to protect the rights of its citizens.

Your first argument is bullshit. Everyone knows the risks. If they decide they want to take that risk, that is their choice. The government can't tell people what they can and can not do with their body. That's like saying I can't cut off my own finger because it's a hazard to my health.

Now, your second argument has some validity. As I've said multiple times, I never said that drugs don't indirectly affect people around those users. Yes, I have been around people on meth, and just about every other drug under the sun. I still say it is not the government's business. If that person becomes violent, then they can step in. If that person is stealing, or driving, they can step in. But the thing is... OK. Say me and you are in a room together and I decide to smoke meth. You have the opportunity to leave, but you decide to stay. So, I smoke. Have I violated your rights yet? No. Then, I become violent and beat you up. Now, I have violated your rights. Now, it is within the jurisdiction of the police.
However, just as I knew the risks of doing meth, you knew the risks of being in that room with me. That's your own fault.

I'm not saying it's right. I don't support the use of hard drugs. But I feel that it's not the government's business. They can govern what happens because of the drugs, but the drugs themselves are not hurting anyone but the user.

[azorne]

I think the government should legalize and tax drugs, it would be an interesting of a trillion dollar industry.

[JoeHillsTSD]

My AP US Government & Politics teacher always says how our freedom and rights stretch as far as they can until they start infringing other peoples rights.

I think this is very true here, about drugs. In my opinion, you should be able to do whatever the fu-- you want with your body. But if what you are doing is affecting others then it needs to be stopped. Hence the reason why many drugs are illegal and many restrictions are put onto alcohol.

[shadymc]

While all of this is true, and I agree that meth is a terrible drug... it's main function isn't to hurt people. It's to make you feel good. What people do while on it is irrelevant. Knives hurt people. Cars hurt people. A chair can hurt someone. Yes, drugs can hurt someone too, but if someone is stupid enough to do that, that's their own problem. If drugs make someone steal, assault people, etc. Well, that's too bad. But those things are illegal. Just like stabbing someone, driving recklessly, and and beating someone with a chair are illegal.

This isn't an issue of if drugs are right or wrong, it's more an issue of the government over-stepping their bounds. Drugs do not DIRECTLY hurt anyone but the user. Indirectly? Yes, but so can any household object. That's why the actions that may stem from drugs are illegal, but the drugs themselves shouldn't be.

Its not like that, Meth takes control of peoples mind, it makes them do things they would never do, it literally makes them do things, once your on meth, you don't have self control, you don't choose wether or not your going to kill somebody, you just do it without thinking. And its purpose is to hurt people, all it does is hurt people, it makes your body release so much dopamine, that it runs out, and you can never be happy without it, and most people don't realize, that meth was created during world war 2 by the Japanese and Hitler had scientists find a easier way to make it, anything Hitler helped make, is probably not anything that will make anyone feel good.

[shadymc]

Just try living in a house with meth addicts for 2 weeks or less, and you will understand.

[MisterChicken]

@Shadymc..Try 3 years its already done.And Government is there to take and violate and expolit people and thier rights. NO GODS NO MANAGERS

[Sir Suomi]

Well, that would be one of the worst decisions our government would make if we legalize drugs. Just yesterday down a nearby street we had an accident involving a women driver under the influence or narcotics. She flew threw a stop sign, hit a car, continued driving, hit another car, and nearly hit a van filled with children. Now, tell me, do you want this to happen even MORE by legalizing drugs? Seriously, think about it.

[Korashk]

Just try living in a house with meth addicts for 2 weeks or less, and you will understand.
The only reason that meth even exists is because drugs are illegal. It was conceived as a cheap substitute for either cocaine or heroine (can't remember which at the moment).

All of you people against drug legalization are ignoring all of the negative aspects that come from drugs being illegal. Such as the increased prison population that costs billions of taxpayer money and ruins the lives of millions of people; a good chunk of which have literally never anything majorly illegal except smoke a joint.

Then there's the drug cartels. Drug cartels absolutely LOVE drug prohibition. It artificially inflates the price of drugs making them richer and more influential in the areas where they operate. It's a FACT that legalizing drugs would decimate the cartels and other organizations that function on the manufacture and sale of drugs.

Next there's your rights. Did you know that over 99% of the times laws like the NDAA and the Patriot Act are used by law enforcement agencies is to perform searches on houses that would otherwise be illegal because of the possibility of drugs? Drugs being illegal indirectly removes your fourth amendment rights.

There's also precedent. Portugal semi-recently decriminalized ALL drugs and there are literally no downsides to this with their society. The rate of people beginning to use drugs actually fell and more and more people are seeking treatment for their drug problems because there is less stigma.

Lastly, there's simple statistics. Legal drugs kill 100x more people every year than illegal ones do. Legal drugs are so much more harmful to society that anyone advocating that illecit drugs remain so, while also not calling for the outlawing of currently legal drugs is just a hypocrite.

Might legalizing drugs come with negative consequences? Sure. However, the current negative consequences of having drugs illegal heavily outweigh the possible negative consequences of legalizing drugs.

[MisterSix]

Lastly, there's simple statistics. Legal drugs kill 100x more people every year than illegal ones do. Legal drugs are so much more harmful to society that anyone advocating that illecit drugs remain so, while also not calling for the outlawing of currently legal drugs is just a hypocrite.

I would like to see where you found that one

[Korashk]

I would like to see where you found that one
I just made it up on the spot, honestly. The ratio isn't quite that large, it's closer to 50x than 100x but I hardly think that diminishes the point.

~17,000 yearly deaths from illicit drugs. (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Causes_of_Death) There are also numbers for other legal drugs there.
~443,000 yearly deaths from tobacco ALONE. (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/tobacco_related_mortality/)

[shadymc]

The only reason that meth even exists is because drugs are illegal. It was conceived as a cheap substitute for either cocaine or heroine (can't remember which at the moment).

All of you people against drug legalization are ignoring all of the negative aspects that come from drugs being illegal. Such as the increased prison population that costs billions of taxpayer money and ruins the lives of millions of people; a good chunk of which have literally never anything majorly illegal except smoke a joint.

Then there's the drug cartels. Drug cartels absolutely LOVE drug prohibition. It artificially inflates the price of drugs making them richer and more influential in the areas where they operate. It's a FACT that legalizing drugs would decimate the cartels and other organizations that function on the manufacture and sale of drugs.

Next there's your rights. Did you know that over 99% of the times laws like the NDAA and the Patriot Act are used by law enforcement agencies is to perform searches on houses that would otherwise be illegal because of the possibility of drugs? Drugs being illegal indirectly removes your fourth amendment rights.

There's also precedent. Portugal semi-recently decriminalized ALL drugs and there are literally no downsides to this with their society. The rate of people beginning to use drugs actually fell and more and more people are seeking treatment for their drug problems because there is less stigma.

Lastly, there's simple statistics. Legal drugs kill 100x more people every year than illegal ones do. Legal drugs are so much more harmful to society that anyone advocating that illecit drugs remain so, while also not calling for the outlawing of currently legal drugs is just a hypocrite.

Might legalizing drugs come with negative consequences? Sure. However, the current negative consequences of having drugs illegal heavily outweigh the possible negative consequences of legalizing drugs.

Legal drugs are more dangerous than MOST illegal drugs, i agree with the fact that painkillers are more dangerous than most illegal drugs, but meth is more dangerous than most other illegal drugs too. I think marijuana, lsd, psilocybin, peyote, and a few other drugs should be legal. Meth isn't even a drug, its more like a poison. It wasn't meant to be a substitude for any drug, it was created during world war to, to make soldiers not hungry, and have tons of engery, and be violent. It was designed to make people violent, thats its whole purpose. Its a synthetic amphetamine, made out of sudafed, lithium (extremely flammable and explosive metal), anhydrous ammonia (a poisonous gas), and a few other chemicals that i'm not going to name, because i don't want anyone to blow themselves up trying to make it. It was brought back in the 80's by drug dealers because it was cheaper than cocaine, and easy to make, so anyone could afford it. But it is the most addictive drug on earth, about 80% of the people that try it once, get addicted, and by the second time you try it, your hooked. And 93% of the people addicted to it, that end up going to drug treatment, relapse, and keep using it. Only 7% of meth addicts will ever get sober. There is no reason for it to be legal. If people wanna get high, they should be able to smoke weed, but not meth.

[Gigablue]

Well, that would be one of the worst decisions our government would make if we legalize drugs. Just yesterday down a nearby street we had an accident involving a women driver under the influence or narcotics. She flew threw a stop sign, hit a car, continued driving, hit another car, and nearly hit a van filled with children. Now, tell me, do you want this to happen even MORE by legalizing drugs? Seriously, think about it.

Obviously the fact that they were illegal didn't stop her. But how do you know that more people would use drugs if they were legal. If all drugs became legal tomorrow, would you run out and start using them, probably not. People who want drugs will get them, whether they are legal or not, and people who don't will just ignore them.

If drugs were legal, the government could tax them, and make a huge amount of money. They could also regulate them like they do with alcohol and tobacco. Obviously driving under the influence of drugs should remain illegal, but no one is saying we should make that legal.

[Sir Suomi]

Obviously the fact that they were illegal didn't stop her. But how do you know that more people would use drugs if they were legal. If all drugs became legal tomorrow, would you run out and start using them, probably not. People who want drugs will get them, whether they are legal or not, and people who don't will just ignore them.

If drugs were legal, the government could tax them, and make a huge amount of money. They could also regulate them like they do with alcohol and tobacco. Obviously driving under the influence of drugs should remain illegal, but no one is saying we should make that legal.

I'd say it would encourage more people to use such drugs. Besides, we're not talking about Marijuana here. This is serious stuff we're talking here(If you are referring to ALL drugs be legal), and it is VERY addictive. I know alcohol and tobacco are also addictive, a sad fact about today's world, but adding more addictive substances would not help. Now I'm not saying it would be an immediate increase, but I assure you, if it were legalized, even IF it was taxed heavily, it would do more harm than good.

[Gigablue]

I'd say it would encourage more people to use such drugs. Besides, we're not talking about Marijuana here. This is serious stuff we're talking here(If you are referring to ALL drugs be legal), and it is VERY addictive. I know alcohol and tobacco are also addictive, a sad fact about today's world, but adding more addictive substances would not help. Now I'm not saying it would be an immediate increase, but I assure you, if it were legalized, even IF it was taxed heavily, it would do more harm than good.

Are you saying we should ban tobacco and alcohol then. Both are highly adictive, dangerous and cause many deaths. Going by your logic, we should ban them.

Why would it be bad. The people who want drugs get them, despite the legality. If drugs were legal, drug cartels would die out, organized crime would drop, the government would make extra revenue, and drugs could be regulated, to prevent children and teenagers from having easy access to them. Also, the number of people serving long jail sentences for the victimless crime of drug posession would drop to zero.

[Sir Suomi]

Are you saying we should ban tobacco and alcohol then. Both are highly adictive, dangerous and cause many deaths. Going by your logic, we should ban them.

Why would it be bad. The people who want drugs get them, despite the legality. If drugs were legal, drug cartels would die out, organized crime would drop, the government would make extra revenue, and drugs could be regulated, to prevent children and teenagers from having easy access to them. Also, the number of people serving long jail sentences for the victimless crime of drug posession would drop to zero.

Yes, because regulations on tobacco and alcohol have totally kept teens and children from getting into them.

On the fact on banning tobacco/alcohol, I'd like to see that, but as you have stated, it would cause more harm than good. Still, I've seen my fair share of alcoholics and heavy smokers to know that if there would be any way to get rid of them, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I also think keeping them illegal, while it does influence criminal activity, also discourages others to not pursue taking such drugs, stopping what could end up becoming worse for the person(s) who would otherwise(If legalized) start a bad habit.

[CharlieFinley]

Are you saying we should ban tobacco and alcohol then. Both are highly adictive, dangerous and cause many deaths. Going by your logic, we should ban them.

Alcohol has caused addictions, but is not highly addictive. Just a minor nitpick. What's more, neither alcohol nor tobacco is as addictive as, say, meth.

[Korashk]

Yes, because regulations on tobacco and alcohol have totally kept teens and children from getting into them.
Actually yeah. Columbia University conducted a study (http://www.casacolumbia.org/articlefiles/380-2009%20Teen%20Survey%20Report.pdf) and found that according to teens it was easier for them to get marijuana than alcohol.

I also think keeping them illegal, while it does influence criminal activity, also discourages others to not pursue taking such drugs, stopping what could end up becoming worse for the person(s) who would otherwise(If legalized) start a bad habit.
Evidence suggests that drug "legalization" has almost no effect on the rate of drug use overall and actually decreases the rate of usage amongst teens. Portugal's stance (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-newman/portugal-drug-laws_b_891703.html) on drugs and the statistics that surround it make things pretty clear.

[IceKing]

I understand marijuana being legal because it doesn't hurt anyone really. Some drugs actually need to be illegal for the safety of others. Drug addicts will do crazy things while on drugs and while trying to get drugs. Some illegal substances just aren't safe for users and average people. If the drugs don' cause harm to others it should be legal, if they can directly have negative effects on people who aren't doing them they should be illegal. I even think that alcohol should be illegal but that is a whole other issue that I don't wat to get into.