If the US put as much money into helping addicts as they do into imprisoning them, all of society would be much better off. I disagree with leftists and socialists on many things, but I agree wholeheartedly with them on this issue.
It baffles me that taking drugs is a criminal offence in the first place, it's a victimless crime, a personal choice where you decide what you can and can't put into your own body.
Addicts need care, not punishment - by labelling them a criminal you're isolating them from the rest of society even further. Non addicts who take drugs recreationaly are hurting nobody. And if I crime is the result of drugs they should be punished for the crime and their own neglegance, not their state of mind.
Absolutely agree, however I also support regulations in tandem with decriminalization. I do think the "product" should have quality standards that ensure scummy sellers don't adulterate it with harmful substances that could cause bad and unintended reactions.
Personal choice will come with personal responsibility and accountability. You cant expect government safety nets to save you if you've taken things too far.
Exactly, if the product was legalized or even decriminalized, we would have taken a multi-billion dollar industry from criminals and given it to legitimate, tax-paying companies that follow strict legal requirements with public safety in mind.
I know about it, this is the wisest choice, Portugal has been doing it for so long too, it's just better like that, because money should be spent into educating people on how to use drugs, it's more efficient than just sending them all to jail. After all we all have the right to do what we want with our bodies, and taking one shot of MDMA to boost your spirits for a night when you need to stay awake to finish some work or for a rave party once every blue moon has not killed anyone. It's only when you become addictive that it is dangerous, like addictive at a point you need it to fill some holes in your life. That's my general view of this problem. As long as they keep on criminalizing it, the drug war will go on, and banks along with politicians will go on laundering the dirty money. I guess this is the main reason why most countries have not yet taken this wise decision : their politicians have too much interests inside it. I'm glad I can say that freely on Steemit, because on Youtube or anywhere else it would be censored less than 2 hours later.
Just to play devils' advocate for a moment....I think these people don't see this as an opportunity for social change...They see it as an opportunity to create an industry where they can reap billions from society for 'treatment centres'.
Logical move I can't understand why all countries don't take this approach. People often take drugs as the are struggling in some way, they need help not punishment. Nice work Norway set an example like Portugal, who will wake up next. 💯🐒
Norwegian checking in here. Drugs in Norway carry a lot of taboo feelings, as we are a quite small population of only 5 million, and I'm not sure if we're ready for this legalization yet. Decriminalization is the right way to go for now.
If the US put as much money into helping addicts as they do into imprisoning them, all of society would be much better off. I disagree with leftists and socialists on many things, but I agree wholeheartedly with them on this issue.
Addicts are not criminals ~ either victims of their own personal choice or victims of unscrupulous drug dealers ~ or both.
If drugs were decriminalised the quality of 'The Product' could be monitored and dealers would no longer have a business.
No expert here but seems Portugal have got it right.
xox
The criminalization of drug use = the only way to tax the poor who live a cash economy, who pay no tax any other way.
ALL the drug suppliers are government sanctioned, and/or run. It's a massive worldwide cash business.
It pays for their dark operations.
(I don't mean your street corner dealer, is government sanctioned) lolol
That's totally my point too, look below I've detailed what I think about it :D
It baffles me that taking drugs is a criminal offence in the first place, it's a victimless crime, a personal choice where you decide what you can and can't put into your own body.
Addicts need care, not punishment - by labelling them a criminal you're isolating them from the rest of society even further. Non addicts who take drugs recreationaly are hurting nobody. And if I crime is the result of drugs they should be punished for the crime and their own neglegance, not their state of mind.
Absolutely agree, however I also support regulations in tandem with decriminalization. I do think the "product" should have quality standards that ensure scummy sellers don't adulterate it with harmful substances that could cause bad and unintended reactions.
Personal choice will come with personal responsibility and accountability. You cant expect government safety nets to save you if you've taken things too far.
Exactly, if the product was legalized or even decriminalized, we would have taken a multi-billion dollar industry from criminals and given it to legitimate, tax-paying companies that follow strict legal requirements with public safety in mind.
I know about it, this is the wisest choice, Portugal has been doing it for so long too, it's just better like that, because money should be spent into educating people on how to use drugs, it's more efficient than just sending them all to jail. After all we all have the right to do what we want with our bodies, and taking one shot of MDMA to boost your spirits for a night when you need to stay awake to finish some work or for a rave party once every blue moon has not killed anyone. It's only when you become addictive that it is dangerous, like addictive at a point you need it to fill some holes in your life. That's my general view of this problem. As long as they keep on criminalizing it, the drug war will go on, and banks along with politicians will go on laundering the dirty money. I guess this is the main reason why most countries have not yet taken this wise decision : their politicians have too much interests inside it. I'm glad I can say that freely on Steemit, because on Youtube or anywhere else it would be censored less than 2 hours later.
Just to play devils' advocate for a moment....I think these people don't see this as an opportunity for social change...They see it as an opportunity to create an industry where they can reap billions from society for 'treatment centres'.
Decriminalization is the only way we can save our communities! The opiate epidemic swallowing Kids up left and right.
I'm norwegian, and I can only say one thing about this...
I smell a rat
Logical move I can't understand why all countries don't take this approach. People often take drugs as the are struggling in some way, they need help not punishment. Nice work Norway set an example like Portugal, who will wake up next. 💯🐒
Norwegian checking in here. Drugs in Norway carry a lot of taboo feelings, as we are a quite small population of only 5 million, and I'm not sure if we're ready for this legalization yet. Decriminalization is the right way to go for now.