View Full Version : What would the U.S. be like if all drugs were legalized?
Shadow Conception
08-15-2008, 01:20 AM
Or any other country that places heavy restrictions on drug use.
Sparked by this (http://www.ejfi.org/Prohibition/Prohibition-3.htm). I mean, would it really be all that happy-go-lucky? What would be the downsides?
I'd say a sharp increase in the number of addicts. There are millions that suffer from nicotine addiction and alcoholism, and these are perfectly legal. But what about the Netherlands? These guys are getting along fine with marijuana sold in restricted amounts. I don't understand this.
What this guy says is probably right, though. There'd be no reason for most gangs to exist anymore. Drug trafficking would have lost its purpose. Less funding would go towards pointless programs like DARE, that actually tempt students to try the drug out rather than abstaining from.
rappo
08-16-2008, 11:17 AM
These guys are getting along fine with marijuana sold in restricted amounts. I don't understand this.
It's only legal to use it in private or in registered shops, so basically it's the same as alcohol (can't drink in public, and only shops with liquor licenses can sell it). So really, it's not that big of a deal once you think about it. The tobacco industry in America would flip out if we legalized marijuana, though.
What the article writer fails to mention is that letting people legally walk around hyped on speed and cocaine will probably cause more problems than the economic hit that funding DARE makes. Also, gangs don't exist because of drugs, I think that's a pretty strange connection to make.
Why do I think America would be like this if all drugs were legal?
Because that's the way it was before the drug laws were passed.
And America's streets were peaceful.
I really have no idea what time period he's talking about and it sounds like a lot of bullshit. This isn't even a professional article :P
Llama
08-16-2008, 01:49 PM
marijuana should be, and someday will be, legalized. speed, coke, crack, crystal meth, etc i think should stay illegal. those ones are truly harmful. it's nearly impossible to overdose on pot, but those ones can kill and are very addictive
Tyler
08-16-2008, 02:03 PM
Yes, Llama.
You took the words right outta my keyboard.
LordLeverette
08-16-2008, 05:29 PM
Or any other country that places heavy restrictions on drug use.
Sparked by this (http://www.ejfi.org/Prohibition/Prohibition-3.htm). I mean, would it really be all that happy-go-lucky? What would be the downsides?
I'd say a sharp increase in the number of addicts. There are millions that suffer from nicotine addiction and alcoholism, and these are perfectly legal. But what about the Netherlands? These guys are getting along fine with marijuana sold in restricted amounts. I don't understand this.
What this guy says is probably right, though. There'd be no reason for most gangs to exist anymore. Drug trafficking would have lost its purpose. Less funding would go towards pointless programs like DARE, that actually tempt students to try the drug out rather than abstaining from.
Dont forget about kids that use drugs just because they're illegal. That way only the true underage potheads *cough* will get into drugs.
GTASynch
08-17-2008, 03:21 PM
marijuana should be, and someday will be, legalized. speed, coke, crack, crystal meth, etc i think should stay illegal. those ones are truly harmful. it's nearly impossible to overdose on pot, but those ones can kill and are very addictive
True.
I find it very cool that in Amsterdam, you can see during the day,
people going about their business, shopping, on errands, etc...
Stop into a coffee shop such as Dampkring, have a coffee,
smoke a little White Lightening or AK-47, maybe a little hash...
and be on their way, no harm done.
Same at night, replace coffee with a Heineken or two.
Over here in the states cops are so amped up they
almost draw on you if they find weed.
It's an uptight, messed up scene.
There is nothing wrong with herb.
ELXSQUISHY
10-06-2008, 10:07 PM
My family was ripped apart due to pot, drinking, and all the other crap out there, i have family members who are either dead or in prison due to drugs, in my opinion alcohol, marijuana, and all type of drugs should remain illegal, and I feel realy sorry for anyone who falls into its grip.
lillb
10-06-2008, 11:31 PM
i think marijuana should be treated more like alcohol is.. its effects are similiar if not less harmful i am not a pothead but i dont think smoking weed is all that bad compared to drugs like cocaine and heroin.
flint.44
10-07-2008, 12:02 AM
When it comes to drugs, marijuana is not nearly as bad as others. Correct me if I'm wrong, but marijuana is better than tobacco anyways. Legalizing it would cause crime to go down, illegal drug purchases, drug cartels, marijuana farms, and the like would drop considerably. I have never used drugs or tobacco, and rarely touch alcohol, but I do know a few things about them. When it comes to the bigger drugs, like acid, cocaine, or crystal meth, those should stay illegal. However, we need to be careful with this stuff, another prohibition would be bad news.
Rotary
10-13-2008, 01:06 PM
Why should acid be illegal?
I'm actually surprised you put acid in the same sentence as cocaine and meth...
If the government were to let us experiment with anything we wanted, they might as well abolish everything else they do. War on Drugs is just another attempt at controlling the way we think.
True.
I find it very cool that in Amsterdam, you can see during the day,
people going about their business, shopping, on errands, etc...
Stop into a coffee shop such as Dampkring, have a coffee,
smoke a little White Lightening or AK-47, maybe a little hash...
and be on their way, no harm done.
Same at night, replace coffee with a Heineken or two.
Over here in the states cops are so amped up they
almost draw on you if they find weed.
It's an uptight, messed up scene.
There is nothing wrong with herb.
I agree, as a teenager I started pot, in 1970 It got me thru nam , thanks to pot. Yeah, one reason I joined up.It was like gold, my head was always clear, my officer's did not fear flying any chopper I worked on. So it does not impair good judgement..not in my case, and I was hard core, everyday user...(more like every minute)user;)
mM1k3y
10-13-2008, 09:58 PM
well pot should be legal, it would only make the government more money if they put tax on it, the same with prostitution (not that i would ever do it)but if they made that legal than alot more people would not have std's because they would be checked & stuff like that, its legal in other country's
JRussell89
10-13-2008, 10:48 PM
The moral high ground taken in politics is a direct result of religion's influence on policy. The separation of church and state exists only when it is convenient.
Only weed should be legalized, other drugs can fuck you up to the point you can't communicate or function properly when used improperly. Marijuana isn't that much of a deal tbh :P
mM1k3y
10-14-2008, 04:54 PM
well if the government legalized drugs like coke & heroin they would only sell it in small portions so that no one would over dose and less people would die But even if all of then were legal id still only smoke pot, the only thing bad about it is that it kills brain cells
flint.44
10-15-2008, 10:47 AM
Another issue related to this is prisons. Recently there has been a number of major drug busts near where I live, one involving nearly 20 arrests. If all those people go to prison, then that is just more people overcrowding them. More people in prisons means more money used for prison upkeep. Of course, that is only for people busted with the intent to sell marijuana, people caught with just enough for personal use or paraphernalia associated with it usually just get their stuff confiscated and sent on their way. It just shows that it is getting to be less and less of a concern.
Rotary, when it comes to acid, I have seen more than one acid burnout, and it's not pretty.
The country would turn into an epic shitfest of chaos.
Pablo Escobar Jr.
10-15-2008, 11:13 AM
Marijuana should never be legalized.
flint.44
10-15-2008, 11:40 AM
I just learned that marijuana puts tar in the lungs, maybe it is not quite as good as I thought it was. Still, legalization does have other good points, but I doubt it will happen.
guilty.by.association
10-15-2008, 11:51 AM
Apparently pot is worse that tobacco, which is pretty gay since i dont smoke tobacco and i always thought weed wasn't as bad.
Rotary
10-15-2008, 12:24 PM
Apparently pot is worse that tobacco, which is pretty gay since i dont smoke tobacco and i always thought weed wasn't as bad.
Pot is worse for the lungs than tobacco.
But most people don't smoke as much weed as they do cigarettes.
Cigarettes contain filters, joints don't. Only a roach to keep the tobacco/weed from being sucked in your mouth :P
Marijuana should never be legalized.
Why's that?
I think only marijuana should be legalized. After all, it just chills you out. Wtf is the harm in that :P
Pablo Escobar Jr.
10-17-2008, 03:07 AM
Cigarettes contain filters, joints don't. Only a roach to keep the tobacco/weed from being sucked in your mouth :P
Why's that?
Because kids need Jesus in their life and a bible in their hands. Not a dealer in their life and a joint in their hands.
avirex
10-24-2008, 06:36 PM
America would be a shithole if all drugs were legalized. I can understand legalizing marijuana, because it's about as harmful as cigarettes, and nowhere near as bodily damaging as alcohol. If alcohol stays legalized, as do cigarettes, then I don't see the point in not legalizing pot. It is definitely not for your safety if they still have those substances on the market.
Staffybull97
10-24-2008, 11:48 PM
The U.S. would be going crazy all the time. Not a very good idea:P
guilty.by.association
10-25-2008, 08:35 AM
If weed was legalised it'd take the hastle out of all aspects. Because whether it's legal or not people are still gonna light up in public and they do. I was at a concert the other night and half the crowd was smoking it and the security were dancing around the whole arena wasting time trying to stop everyone. People are gonna do it anyway so make it legal and chill the fuck out. Other drugs though can stay as they are. By the way i'm talking about my country, I don't have any need to think about America and drugs. I can't really say anything about the USA anyway since I haven't been there.
War wouldn't exist in the world :P God bless america eh?
mM1k3y
10-28-2008, 04:19 PM
it would only be better
YellowJacket
10-31-2008, 10:19 PM
The government could make wicked taxes on drugs so I am still wondering why the fuck they haven't done this yet.
lillb
11-04-2008, 09:26 PM
my state is decriminalizing weed in this election
the new law will make having an ounce or less on u a civil offense and ull be fined $100 instead of a criminal offense
i think its a smart move, i voted yes and it looks like its gonna win
JRussell89
11-09-2008, 12:01 PM
Illegal narcotics are just as addictive as some presciption meds. The U.S. govt won't legalize due to the profitability of an open ended drug war. A war that govt. agencies essentially helped to create. To effectively combat it would require admission and full disclosure of the truth.:peace:
Staffybull97
11-09-2008, 12:49 PM
my state is decriminalizing weed in this election
the new law will make having an ounce or less on u a civil offense and ull be fined $100 instead of a criminal offense
i think its a smart move, i voted yes and it looks like its gonna win
I would've voted 'yes' myself aswell. It sounds like a great idea:peace:
lillb
11-09-2008, 02:26 PM
I would've voted 'yes' myself aswell. It sounds like a great idea:peace:
yea it passed 65% to 35%
not sure when it goes into effect
and some kid i know said it will be voted on again in 2010
so i guess its not necessarily permanent
flint.44
11-09-2008, 05:05 PM
I voted yes on legalizing marijuana for legal medical purposes for Michigan. I'm fairly certain it passed.
scott
11-13-2008, 11:26 AM
Because kids need Jesus in their life and a bible in their hands. Not a dealer in their life and a joint in their hands.
I really hope you're joking because if there's one thing worse than drugs its being forced to believe something without a choice.
Wait, what? Weed might actually be legalized in America once?
That'd suck :P Makes The Netherlands less special :(
rappo
11-13-2008, 01:00 PM
Wait, what? Weed might actually be legalized in America once?
That'd suck :P Makes The Netherlands less special :(
Nah, these initiatives are just made to stop prison/court overcrowding - basically instead of going through a legal process for such minor drug offenses, you just get fined or are forced to go to some sort of drug treatment rehab session. Unfortunately this law didn't pass in California, we waste a lot of money on minor offenses.
flint.44
11-13-2008, 09:06 PM
I believe marijuana has several medical applications. It is already possible to get it subscribed, and I believe cancer victims get it as well. The bill was passed in Michigan, making the border between legal and illegal even thinner.
The Alvinator
01-13-2009, 05:46 PM
Also, gangs don't exist because of drugs, I think that's a pretty strange connection to make.
You obviously haven't seen Bad Boys 2 :P
devil chevelle
01-13-2009, 08:24 PM
weed doesent hurt people ya it can kill you over time like cigarettes (even i dont believe what all those smokers say that weed doesent do cancer) but it just makes you do stupid shit and cant think straight and it might be hard for the police to enforce that and drunk drivers. another thing we need to legalize is gay marriage for some stupid ass reason prop 8 didnt pass here in california which just shows how many fuckin biggots we got here still. now all u haters out there go ahead and neg rep me now, got nothin better to do.
Baliente
02-03-2009, 10:54 PM
I'm seeing some pretty half-baked arguments in here.
My main beef is alcohol. I could care less that it's legal, everyone needs their altered state of choice. Fuck, I mean, it's part of culture and always has been, whether people like it or not. Back to the point though. Alcohol is legal, what does that cause? Let's see...Drunkenness versus Bakedness, who can stand up straighter? Who can comprehend what the fuck is going on? I could smoke all damn day and still have a clearer head than someone who drank beers all day. Drunk driving is extremely risky. I don't know a stoner who can't and doesn't cruise around, jammin' out, and smoke one with no effort.
I could smoke weed my entire life and only have a bit too much lung butter, maybe some breathing problems. Hell, I've heard smoking can fend off Alzheimer's. I could drink alcohol my entire life and what would I get? A failed liver. Alcohol Poisoning. Car accident. I'm not very well-read up on all of this shit, but I'm sure there are several other risks. My main point is you can't die from smoking too much weed. It doesn't happen. It just does not happen.
As for legalizing all drugs? That's just stupid. Noone wants to see a junkie shootin himself up out in the middle of the park. It's just bad taste. It's bad culture. If they were too, we'd probably see a spike in drug-related troubles, which would eventually lower a bit and even out as the real morons got themselves killed and the rec-users become junkies. It's a never-ending cycle. There is only a small percentage of smart and responsible drug users, and I'm sure even fewer when you get into heroin and cocaine. Could even be non-existent, but I tend to have more faith in humanity than that. I know a few people who used to be hardcore into their meth and coke, who cleaned up and stay clean.
I see absolutely no problem in legalizing mushrooms, maybe even acid. Of course, there would need to be heavy output of knowledge on how to appropriately use these drugs. Most people I know that use psychedelics use them correctly. Correctly meaning they take the necessary precautions to avoid any accidents, bad trips, or just general fucking up. It really is not that hard. Maybe they just need to make licenses to take certain drugs, requiring IQ tests and classes. Psychedelics are hardly dangerous, psychologically. I don't believe mushrooms are very bad for you in general, but someone might want to correct me on that. Acid, I've no idea. I know people used to tell me it eats holes clear through your brain, makes your brain bleed, etc. Which is all bullshit. Psychedelics have the power to teach valuable lessons, or just help you vent more than you ever could normally. Not putting this on the same page as say, I don't know...Playing a game of football to vent some anger. I mean more as in the fact that life can get stale and mundane. I only eat mushrooms every once in a blue moon, but everytime I do, I feel a restored faith in what's going on around me. That and I have not been that damned happy and giddy since I was a wee-child.
Hell, they could just reverse the way they have it right now to save some trouble. Right now, it's federally illegal, and in some states, legal. This causes stupidass problems with some people in the legal states. They get arrested by the Feds and have to go through all sorts of bullshit even though it's supposed to be legal. Just make it federally legal, and whichever states don't like it, illegalize it.
Legalize: Pot, Mushrooms, and small amounts of cocaine
Keep everything else illegal. Don't ask me why I say cocaine, and no, I'm not a user. Had maybe two blow-out weekends with Blow, but I know when the party stops.
I'm tired of ranting, but if anyone agrees with anything or disagrees with it, I'd be more than happy to continue ranting.
Oh and I was once told in Amsterdam, some places serve you a line of coke with your beers for the first few, until they deem you've had too much. Can anyone verify this?
lillb
02-03-2009, 11:14 PM
i agree with most of what you say
especially about weed, i never really saw a problem with it
yea some kids become potheads and thats basically all they do all day but it certainly isn't dangerous
they arent out robbing stores or stabbing people or sucking dick to get their next fix
and as you mentioned u can usually drive much better high than drunk
I like the idea of it becoming federally legal and having local states and stuff have their laws ban it or not definitely would cause less problems
Superman
02-05-2009, 07:46 PM
If drugs were legalized, it would be fucked up. :(
baleent
02-06-2009, 04:04 AM
If drugs were legalized, i would be fucked up. :(
Yeah me too.
owned_by_gta
02-11-2009, 12:59 PM
marijuanna is slowly being legalized in US. President Obama supports its use for medicinal reasons. and in washington DC which isnt acually a part of america its legal to have 2grams on you. well i guess D.C. is a part of america but its not a state.and in California its used for migrains and people who have cancer and stomach ulcers.and glacoma..which is wierd because i thought glacoma was cause by inhailing smoke.in pennsylvainia where i live they tried passing bills for medicinal use but theres all ways that one guy who disagrees. i think United states should be a dry country.no alchohal. 90% of domestic diputes and other violence is caused by alchohal. you never see anything because of pot.marijuanna calms while alchohal can enrage.and all other drugs are life takers.
baleent
03-19-2009, 04:10 PM
marijuanna is slowly being legalized in US. President Obama supports its use for medicinal reasons. and in washington DC which isnt acually a part of america its legal to have 2grams on you. well i guess D.C. is a part of america but its not a state.and in California its used for migrains and people who have cancer and stomach ulcers.and glacoma..which is wierd because i thought glacoma was cause by inhailing smoke.in pennsylvainia where i live they tried passing bills for medicinal use but theres all ways that one guy who disagrees. i think United states should be a dry country.no alchohal. 90% of domestic diputes and other violence is caused by alchohal. you never see anything because of pot.marijuanna calms while alchohal can enrage.and all other drugs are life takers.
I think they already tried that some 70 or so years ago.
Johnny C
03-20-2009, 07:42 AM
the economy would reverse itself with no stimulus neccessary
blaze0785
03-20-2009, 05:09 PM
Well if drugs was legalized then maybe there would be less killing these days because right now there is to much of that going on.
flint.44
03-22-2009, 05:08 PM
Less street level drug deals would mean less drug related violence, people wouldn't be killed over sour drug deals.
Tyler
03-22-2009, 09:49 PM
Well normally, somebody wont shoot anyone over a QP of weed.
Normally, just find the kid and beat him til he knows better. ;)
Anyways, pot needs to be legalized, hands down.
The government can tax it, who cares as long as people are happy.
WheresMalik
03-23-2009, 02:50 PM
and glacoma..which is wierd because i thought glacoma was cause by inhailing smoke.
Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). THC lowers your IOP. It also has been shown to help prevent the formation of free radicals throughout the body which is also why it is also believed to actually fight against, or prevent, cancer. Weed was also recently reclassified as a neuroprotector in low to medium quantities as its forms a 'protective barrier' around brain cells that fights against degradation.
I could fight all day as to why I THINK it should be legal, but I won't. Because I don't want it to be.
The sub-culture it has spawned is one of the most juvenile movements ever seen in American history and nowadays everyone just says, "Weed should be legal, it's just like alcohol..." yada yada yada.
Even if it were to be legalized, do you people actually think there would be any less of a social stigma about it? You'd still be looked at, you'd still be paranoid about driving around high, you'd still be wondering if that person knows you're high. Just like you do when you're drunk. I love weed, but come on. Face facts.
I think it should be decriminalized, as it is in, I think, 11 states so far. But, legalized? No. No way. Nor do I think we will see legalization within the next 20 years.
Also, if you think that legalized drugs will help quell the influx of cartels and organized crime, that's just naivety. Even if weed were legalized, they would just focus more on the other harder drugs. They'd also have to work more aggressively due to the loss of a 'cash crop' of theirs - weed. So, they'd be working doubly hard to sell drugs that are infinitely more prone to abuse.
Ultraussie
05-23-2009, 05:24 PM
I'd say it be only Slighty Worse.
People in the US already have pot growing out of there Asses.
Patrucci
05-23-2009, 05:36 PM
I've never experienced drugs in the U.S, but Canada, marijuana is probably used as much as in the U.S, I'm not sure about the consequences of being caught with marijuana in the U.S, but in Canada you get it confiscated and a slap on the wrists, meaning they say "Don't do it again".
But all drugs, U.S. or not, would be a war zone. If everyone had the oppurtunity to use drugs, meth, dope, anything, they probably would, considering the effects of doing it.
I don't know really.
baleent
06-01-2009, 12:35 AM
If everyone had the oppurtunity to use drugs, meth, dope, anything, they probably would, considering the effects of doing it.
Not really. I've had access to meth, dope, heroin, all the dirty shit for a couple years and still don't want to touch any of it. Fuck that. I'll stick to my psychedelics.
Colonel V
06-22-2009, 02:20 PM
Government would tax it, therefore a huge boost to the countries civil expenditure, meaning better free services, maybe even a free health service for the americans, with huge boosts to the law enforcement division. But at the same time, there will be a sharp increase in addicts all over the country, meaning people doing crazy things for the drugs, leading to a rougher country where hardcore law enforcement battles illegal economy that results in huge amounts of crime.
Basically, it would be a really f*cked up place.
V-Gamer
06-22-2009, 11:26 PM
Well in my opinion, legalizing all drugs is stupid, and it could in no way ever happen. But if it were to happen I think it would be something like this:
People would use drugs like crazy, it would be the new thing. Then it would die down, and people wouldn't use them as much.
That's all not counting the crime, new laws that need to be created, possibly riots, economy could take a huge hit, people would be coming to the country for the soul purpose of the drugs, things would go downhill. Fast.
You would get the people who would do the drugs, be normal addicts of them, like smokers. Then you'd have people who would choose not to use them, for health or economic purposes. I think as generations progress though, it would die out. You would still have people who would do them, but not as much.
Weed, well it would be cool. I would approve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX1CvW38cHA
Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.
Bill Hicks
WheresMalik
06-30-2009, 12:26 AM
Some of you people need to watch some Penn & Teller's BULLSHIT!
And, no, not just the episode on the War on Drugs. But start there if you have to.