Great article about drugs in today's Grauniad

[ciphergoth]

Really thrilling, closely-argued article in today's Guardian about the madness of the War on Drugs: "Make Heroin Legal"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,506507,00.html

There's a C4 programme about it on Tuesday I think is going to be worth watching.

Comments

Hmm

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

It seems to me that the 'war on drugs' was started as a result of sour grapes.

"I'm not young any more, and I've never taken drugs, because they were'nt around when I was young. Why should these young people enjoy themselves when I won't" or whatever.

Furthemore, I wonder how many people would voice the opinion that they don't care if heroin users die, 'because they're all useless dole scum / criminal scum'

On the other hand, drugs are bad, m'kay.


J

Re: Hmm

[ergotia.livejournal.com]

For about five years now it has been my frequently stated view that all drugs should be legalised, together with a State funded system of information and rehabilitation. Often greeted with gasps about the expense, but when you point out how much the State spends on drug related expenses eg the cost of keeping drugs offenders in prison, the costs of the completely futile "war on drugs", not to mention the "hidden" costs of drug related crime/human wastage, this is not often met with "let em all die anyway" and tends to produce a thoughtful silence. I thought the Guardian article was great - so rare to see something sensible on this subject - and very accurate in my experience.

hugs and all that

xxxxx

Ta Paul

[bootpunk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for flagging that one up - I would have missed it completely otherwise. One of the things that really worries me over here is the almost insane attitude towards drugs they have. I have a feeling that the tide will change in the UK and EU over time, and that the laws will be liberalised one day, esp. as our and the next generation grow up. But this side of the pond, woe betide anyone caught with even the smallest amount of a naughty substance - esp. if you aren't white. Black men go to prison for possession of coke, and in some states can even become disenfranchised (really). But a young, rich white guy who takes coke? - well, he might even become president one day. Or, at worst, have to spend a spell in rehab.