Point out the flaws AH

phantom_lord

This is something I’ve thought about for a long time and any time I mention it to anyone usually gets favourable responses. I’m just wondering what sorts of flaws will AH be able to find in the idea.

Basically, I think drugs (all of them, yes even heroin) should be legalised and distributed from government licensed premises. Pharmacies would fit the bill nicely (this would also make up for the revenue lost providing generic drugs). Anyone that wants to purchase said goods would need to be registered, and there would be a limit (albeit quite lax) on the amount any one person could purchase within a specific time frame. There could also be an attempt to create a means of traceability to prevent them being passed to underage people and others.

The drugs from these premises would be of a guaranteed standard and level of potency, ensuring a supply of unadulterated drugs, and a lesser chance of over doses.

Materials explaining all the effects and drawbacks would be available at the point of sale, and all drugs would come with government warnings. This would also allow a much greater possibility of users seeking rehabilitation.

In one foul swoop you would remove the source of funds of most criminal elements, as the products available would be of a higher standard and lower price than those available on the street (it will be easy to do this, and still provide the government with a healthy revenue source)

The budget for the Gardaí is over 1.5bn, with a reduced need to tackle drugs and criminal gangs this would be reduced immensely.
Government revenue was over 1.1bn in 2008 from tobacco products and something similar again from alcohol. This is the potential for huge savings and a very lucrative revenue source for the exchequer.

We could even grow and produce the materials here in Ireland, we’ve a large pharmaceutical sector already in place; this is a green revolution that can actually create jobs.

What somebody please think of the children
Won’t this cause a prevalence of drug use particular amongst children?

No. Portugal decriminalised drugs several years ago and contrary to the trend in other EU states addiction, usage, and associated pathologies are either contained or reduced. Criminalization was exacerbating the problem and that only decriminalization could enable an effective and efficient government response. "Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success"

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080

Chances are that most teenagers find it easier to obtain illicit drugs than alcohol. This scheme would take the distribution of drugs out of the hands of criminals into the realms of government control. Dutch teenagers have a lower usage level of cannabis than most European teenager and significently lower than their Irish counterparts.

http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/annual-report/2009

In short:

• Safer drugs
• Reduced criminal element
• Stricter controls
• More efficient use of Garda resources
• Revenue for the Government
• Create jobs
• Will likely reduce usage and increase people that seek treatment

Flojo

I always thought the same, just wish the government and most of our society weren't so old fashioned! Even if they just legalised cannabis it would pull us straight out of the recession completely!

If the government take it over and start producing safer cleaner drugs with minimal side effects and it boosts our economy and makes the streets safer... what's not to like??

Lets start a petition! :pac:

karlog

I agree with legalising cannabis. As for heroin....atari jaguar

Improbable

phantom_lord wrote: »

Anyone that wants to purchase said goods would need to be registered, and there would be a limit (albeit quite lax) on the amount any one person could purchase within a specific time frame. There could also be an attempt to create a means of traceability to prevent them being passed to underage people and others.

I'm not sure what the point would be in creating the purchase limit. To apply it, you would need all the facilities that sell it to institute some sort of centralised monitoring system based around a registration card of some sort in order to stop people from simply hopping from one pharmacy to the next. Don't really know that it could be implemented countrywide from a logistics point of view.

phantom_lord wrote: »

The drugs from these premises would be of a guaranteed standard and level of potency, ensuring a supply of unadulterated drugs, and a lesser chance of over doses.

Not being a drug user myself, would a standardised potency have an affect on overdosing? Do you happen to have figures for accidental overdoses?

phantom_lord wrote: »

The budget for the Gardaí is over 1.5bn, with a reduced need to tackle drugs and criminal gangs this would be reduced immensely.
Government revenue was over 1.1bn in 2008 from tobacco products and something similar again from alcohol. This is the potential for huge savings and a very lucrative revenue source for the exchequer.

Would that really be the case with the registration and monitoring system that you proposed? The additional costs associated with regulation and monitoring a system which is so obviously open to abuse in a very harmful could be a factor.

Having said that, Given the results in Portugal, I would consider this a good idea though I would recommend on more research into the possible long term effects.

tommyhaas

feelingstressed wrote: »

The flaws?

The UK and we share a common border will go crazy if this is implemented.
They have classified drugs in categories, it's quite easy to follow
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1615851.stm

Overnight, Ireland will the backdoor to get drugs to the UK.
Though with our limited naval resources and large coastline, we probably already are.

There is merit in your post OP.
But if the UK react badly do we ignore them?

So we shouldnt implement policy if the UK arent happy with it? Feck them, its their problem

Zombienosh

This makes sense to me, even if it started small with as said above with weed.
I even noticed this when headshops were in fullswing, it took away from criminal profit which can only be a good thing?

Improbable

AlcoholicA wrote: »

This makes sense to me, even if it started small with as said above with weed.
I even noticed this when headshops were in fullswing, it took away from criminal profit which can only be a good thing?

If I'm not mistaken, headshops are now illegal aren't they? Looks like we're going in the wrong direction in terms of legality but I think the main point in shutting them down was to stop the sale of stuff which has unknown contents which might be very harmful.

Zombienosh

Yeah I'm not too sure on the products they sold and the safety, but at least it was controlled in terms of who was selling it to them? If more research was done on the products instead of just a blanket ban?

I fully agree wit Op.. Drugs don't really kill people, the prohibition which leads to bad products and gang warfare kills people.

Weed poses no risk.
If ecstacy had mdma in them instead of mda etc they'd be safe.
Coke is the same.. If we had a guaranteed purity, we wouldn't have people talking way too much cause they're not used to it.
Lsd is non toxic and wont kill you.. People get it anyway if they want it, why bother making it illegal.
Even heroin is just an opiate just like codeine or morphine etc.

I could go on and on about the classic drugs.. They're here to stay and will always be available if you go looking. The war on drugs is just a waste of time and money..
Just don't let meth in and it's all good.

Dyr

We'd have drug tourists but, this plan would be like a filth magnet. Other than that, I'm all in favour. Our health services are keeping junkies alive indefinitely anyway.

Cookie_Monster

the flaws:

criminals will simply undercut the government.

drug use becomes far more widespread cos its not illegal and all the associated health problems increase hugely, putting even more strain on the health service.

adults buying for kids just like they do with cigs and booze.

much higher sick day rate in business cos eveyone baked all the time.

would need a much bigger police presence to deal with all the stung out people all over the place, especially in cities that plug it as a tourism thing. 100's of whacked out tourists all over the place will not end well...

Improbable

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

the flaws:

criminals will simply undercut the government.

drug use becomes far more widespread cos its not illegal and all the associated health problems increase hugely, putting even more strain on the health service.

adults buying for kids just like they do with cigs and booze.

much higher sick day rate in business cos eveyone baked all the time.

would need a much bigger police presence to deal with all the stung out people all over the place, especially in cities that plug it as a tourism thing. 100's of whacked out tourists all over the place will not end well...

Have you seen the reports from Portugal?

Danbo!

phantom_lord wrote: »

There could also be an attempt to create a means of traceability to prevent them being passed to underage people and others.

Maybe not a deal breaking flaw, but I don't think the above is possible. If the kids want em, they'll get em, just like booze. But thats an issue for their parents anyway. As long as the retailer adheres to the age laws, then the problem is out of their hands.

Deleted User wrote: »

If we had a guaranteed purity, we wouldn't have people talking way too much cause they're not used to it.

Wouldn't guaranteed purity lead to more overdoses, at least initially? If someone is used to a line of illegal coke which probably contains 80% baking soda, and they out after coke is made legal and do a few lines of the pure stuff surely it would cause problems.

Although again, that can be put down to retardness on the users part.

Cuddlesworth

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

the flaws:

criminals will simply undercut the government.

I don't think they will be able to. By keeping the laws and punishment for illegal selling the risk vs reward would be way too great considering the profit margins would be slashed to nothing. Plus everything we get in the this country for what we would consider cheap is the dregs of the actual drug world. Soap bars, Ecstasy pills, cocaine etc, all of low standards and purity.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

drug use becomes far more widespread cos its not illegal and all the associated health problems increase hugely, putting even more strain on the health service.

The biggest strain of the health service in years to come with be overweight people. Everything else will pale in comparison. Studies have also shown that decriminalization doesn't increase drug use. Anybody who wants to do drugs gets them anyway.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

adults buying for kids just like they do with cigs and booze.

Compared to kids buying from dealers. When I was a kid(14) I could get coke faster then a can of beer.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

much higher sick day rate in business cos eveyone baked all the time.

Its up to each individual. But in Holland where cannabis is used freely they don't have this problem.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

would need a much bigger police presence to deal with all the stung out people all over the place, especially in cities that plug it as a tourism thing. 100's of whacked out tourists all over the place will not end well...

Compared to the huge amount of resources spent chasing after something people clearly want.

El Weirdo

phantom_lord wrote: »

This is something Ive thought about for a long time and any time I mention it to anyone usually gets favourable responses. Im just wondering what sorts of flaws will AH be able to find in the idea.

Basically, I think drugs (all of them, yes even heroin) should be legalised and distributed from government licensed premises. Pharmacies would fit the bill nicely (this would also make up for the revenue lost providing generic drugs). Anyone that wants to purchase said goods would need to be registered, and there would be a limit (albeit quite lax) on the amount any one person could purchase within a specific time frame. There could also be an attempt to create a means of traceability to prevent them being passed to underage people and others.

The drugs from these premises would be of a guaranteed standard and level of potency, ensuring a supply of unadulterated drugs, and a lesser chance of over doses.

Materials explaining all the effects and drawbacks would be available at the point of sale, and all drugs would come with government warnings. This would also allow a much greater possibility of users seeking rehabilitation.

In one foul swoop you would remove the source of funds of most criminal elements, as the products available would be of a higher standard and lower price than those available on the street (it will be easy to do this, and still provide the government with a healthy revenue source)

The budget for the Gardaí is over 1.5bn, with a reduced need to tackle drugs and criminal gangs this would be reduced immensely.
Government revenue was over 1.1bn in 2008 from tobacco products and something similar again from alcohol. This is the potential for huge savings and a very lucrative revenue source for the exchequer.

We could even grow and produce the materials here in Ireland, weve a large pharmaceutical sector already in place; this is a green revolution that can actually create jobs.

What somebody please think of the children
Wont this cause a prevalence of drug use particular amongst children?

No. Portugal decriminalised drugs several years ago and contrary to the trend in other EU states addiction, usage, and associated pathologies are either contained or reduced. Criminalization was exacerbating the problem and that only decriminalization could enable an effective and efficient government response. "Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success"

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080

Chances are that most teenagers find it easier to obtain illicit drugs than alcohol. This scheme would take the distribution of drugs out of the hands of criminals into the realms of government control. Dutch teenagers have a lower usage level of cannabis than most European teenager and significently lower than their Irish counterparts.

http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/annual-report/2009

In short:

• Safer drugs
• Reduced criminal element
• Stricter controls
• More efficient use of Garda resources
• Revenue for the Government
• Create jobs
• Will likely reduce usage and increase people that seek treatment

There's one anyway. I'm on a mobile at the moment so I'll try and find more later.

nice1franko

one fell swoop

Stee

Stee wrote: »

Wouldn't guaranteed purity lead to more overdoses, at least initially? If someone is used to a line of illegal coke which probably contains 80% baking soda, and they out after coke is made legal and do a few lines of the pure stuff surely it would cause problems.

Although again, that can be put down to retardness on the users part.

I never said anything about what % purity it would be guaranteed to be.. I just said it would be guaranteed.
Purity and pure are different words.

ancapailldorcha

This is Ireland, not a well-organised European country.

Lando Griffin

I dont have a placard big enough.

Dyr

Maybe we could pass a purity law like the germans did for beer.

Sea Sharp

Referendum on alcohol,
then a referendum on weed 2 months later.

We use the referendum on alcohol to point out to the retarded masses that alcohol does more damamge than a lot of other drugs.

Lando Griffin

GaNjaHaN wrote: »

We use the referendum on alcohol to point out to the retarded masses that alcohol does more damamge than a lot of other drugs.

Hardly, What would The Guinness Hurling Championship be known as?
The Purple Haze / Super Skunk IV Hurling Championship

PeterIanStaker

The flaw in this is that they would probably put the HSE in charge of it:eek:

Abrasax

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Hardly, What would The Guinness Hurling Championship be known as?
The Purple Haze / Super Skunk IV Hurling Championship

'The Clash of the Hash'?

funk-you

Abrasax wrote: »

'The Clash of the Hash'?

No, The crunch of the munch.

-Funk

trebor28

surely the pharmacies wouldnt be in favour of selling such drugs as heroin whatever about selling weed.
if a heroin addict is limited to what they can get will they not be at the door of the pharmacy trying to get in to harass the staff and turning other customers away from this said pharmacy?
would this lead to a lot of security in the said pharmacy?
and if the addict was not getting what he thought was enough would he then return to his drug dealer? if any were left of course?

who would be in charge of allowing these people get cards to allow them to get these hardcore drugs?
GP's?
would the addicts be claiming to have lots their cards in order to get new ones?

i think it might be very hard to police at that lower end of the scale if it ever got to be legalised.

Abrasax

funk-you wrote: »

No, The crunch of the munch.

-Funk

'The Whack of the Smack'.

orourkeda

The legalisation of drugs may be a good idea in theory but impossible to predict how it would work in practice.

The legalisation of drugs will not deter career criminals from the life of crime. It will simply force them to move on to something else to make money. After all, dealers dont sell drugs as a service to the public. It's all about the money.

Nervous Wreck

Why do so many people need to get high to have fun/be happy? Surely that's a greater social problem.

Dyr

orourkeda wrote: »

The legalisation of drugs may be a good idea in theory but impossible to predict how it would work in practice.

The legalisation of drugs will not deter career criminals from the life of crime. It will simply force them to move on to something else to make money. After all, dealers dont sell drugs as a service to the public. It's all about the money.

There really is'nt a whole lot more they can move onto that offers serious returns for low risks. Unless they start trying to create a market for crack or meth etc.

starbelgrade

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Why do so many people need to get high to have fun/be happy?

To open the doors of perception, man.

Danbo!

starbelgrade wrote: »

To open the doors of perception, maaaaaaaaaaaaan.

FYP

ScumLord

It would be a huge burden on the state I wouldn't trust our government with drugs or personal information about drugs.

I could see why it would be good for Heroin in particular as that is a dangerous drug but the likes of cannabis and MDMA don't need as much regulation.

Weed has a culture there already allow that culture to produce it's own drugs and that will be a healthy local level industry within months. It's practically there already just unable to come into the mainstream for fear of repercussions.

I do have a problem with the state becoming the drug dealer not quite as much as I do with businesses supplying the drugs for profit but over all I don't think there's one solution that would suit all drugs which one should be dealt with separately.

El Weirdo

nice1franko wrote: »

one fell swoop

Ahem.

ntlbell

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Why do so many people need to get high to have fun/be happy? Surely that's a greater social problem.

Why do you assume it's a need?

do people _need_ to jump out of planes?

bunjy jump?

Play sports?

It's enjoyable

Simples.

Hogzy

Alcohol is regulated quite heavily and look at any city center on a Friday or Saturday night the behavior of some people is a disgrace. I dont care what people do to themselves. They can f*ck up their life all they want but once other peoples decisions to start taking heroin begin to affect over all safety and security of the people who choose not to take heroin or any other drug you have to ask the question is it really worth it.

Im all in favour of legalising Cannabis but i think Heroin and Ecstasy being legalised gives it more room to be abused. Look at gun crime in the states compared to the UK or Ireland. Guns are in the hand of every criminal in the US. Its got out of control. It could be the same here.

And what happens when someone becomes addicted to heroin and no longer has the money to buy it. He will go out and rob whoever to get the money to buy it in the pharmacy. IMO the petty crime attached to drug use will sore.

ScumLord

Hogzy wrote: »

Alcohol is regulated quite heavily and look at any city center on a Friday or Saturday night the behavior of some people is a disgrace. I dont care what people do to themselves. They can f*ck up their life all they want but once other peoples decisions to start taking heroin begin to affect over all safety and security of the people who choose not to take heroin or any other drug you have to ask the question is it really worth it.

Im all in favour of legalising Cannabis but i think Heroin and Ecstasy being legalised gives it more room to be abused. Look at gun crime in the states compared to the UK or Ireland. Guns are in the hand of every criminal in the US. Its got out of control. It could be the same here.

Alcohol turns people aggressive, that's a well known side effect that isn't as common in other drugs. It's not that common to see people off their heads on MDMA turning violent. Any rave I've been to never had any problems when everyone was on yolks.

Any average American can walk into a shop and buy a gun, you can't do that here. Most Americas problems are down to daft laws and over population in big cities. Every big city in the world has a crime problem that has nothing to do with drugs.

Hogzy

ScumLord wrote: »

Alcohol turns people aggressive, that's a well known side effect that isn't as common in other drugs. It's not that common to see people off their heads on MDMA turning violent. Any rave I've been to never had any problems when everyone was on yolks.

Any average American can walk into a shop and buy a gun, you can't do that here. Most Americas problems are down to daft laws and over population in big cities. Every big city in the world has a crime problem that has nothing to do with drugs.

I know someone who was mugged by 2 guys off their face on Heroin. They kicked his body and head while he was lying on the ground after they punched him all for the sake of 5euro. I dont really know enough about other drugs but in no way should heroin be legalised!

Odysseus

Hogzy wrote: »

Alcohol is regulated quite heavily and look at any city center on a Friday or Saturday night the behavior of some people is a disgrace. I dont care what people do to themselves. They can f*ck up their life all they want but once other peoples decisions to start taking heroin begin to affect over all safety and security of the people who choose not to take heroin or any other drug you have to ask the question is it really worth it.

Im all in favour of legalising Cannabis but i think Heroin and Ecstasy being legalised gives it more room to be abused. Look at gun crime in the states compared to the UK or Ireland. Guns are in the hand of every criminal in the US. Its got out of control. It could be the same here.

And what happens when someone becomes addicted to heroin and no longer has the money to buy it. He will go out and rob whoever to get the money to buy it in the pharmacy. IMO the petty crime attached to drug use will sore.

I'm a legal firearms holder and from that viewpoint and the contact my job brings me into with criminality the gun situation here is sh!te. I have to jump through loads of hoops to get and keep my guns. Whereas any of my clients can pick up a firearm as easily as they pick up a bag of gear.

There are other reason for gun crime in the States rather than the gun laws. It's not a case of it could be the same here for illegal guns rather it is. Though I have various firearm certs, I can't legally get a centre-fire pistol over here; however, if I criminally minded I could have one by tonight if I really wanted.

Petty crime would not soar in my opinion, drug treatment in Ireland is in a crap state. If there was easier access there would be less crime, however, some people will always steal no matter what. The flaw here is if we supplied heroin to addicts in such a manner the State would end up paying for it, the same as it pays for methadone treatment.

Odysseus

Hogzy wrote: »

I know someone who was mugged by 2 guys off their face on Heroin. They kicked his body and head while he was lying on the ground after they punched him all for the sake of 5euro. I dont really know enough about other drugs but in no way should heroin be legalised!

Whereas the theft may have been for cash to score, if they went overboard with voilence, I would guess the same people would be nasty cnuts whether they took heroin or not. How did your mate know it was heroin they took?

ScumLord

Hogzy wrote: »

I know someone who was mugged by 2 guys off their face on Heroin. They kicked his body and head while he was lying on the ground after they punched him all for the sake of 5euro. I dont really know enough about other drugs but in no way should heroin be legalised!

More likely they where not under the influence of Heroin as it can be quite debilitating when your under it's effects. More likely they where trying to get money for their next score probably encouraged by their dealer. Getting Heroin out of the back alleys and into the hands of people that at the very least won't treat the users like animals there to be abused for profit would do a hole lot to reduce the crime they commit. The fact is they have no interest in crime it's an obstacle they have to overcome to get their drugs. Give them another way I'm sure they'd take it.

ntlbell

Hogzy wrote: »

I know someone who was mugged by 2 guys off their face on Heroin. They kicked his body and head while he was lying on the ground after they punched him all for the sake of 5euro. I dont really know enough about other drugs but in no way should heroin be legalised!

I bet they probably drank tea that day too.

Hogzy

Odysseus wrote: »

How did your mate know it was heroin they took?

He was informed by the Gardai that they were known Heroin addicts. They could have been on anything fair enough but if i hear someone is a heroin addict and they are off their face on drugs i think its fair to assume its heroin. Im going to back out of this thread because i seem to be on my own on this.

Do you people really think Ireland would be better off if Heroin was legalised?

ScumLord wrote: »

The fact is they have no interest in crime it's an obstacle they have to overcome to get their drugs. Give them another way I'm sure they'd take it.

So if someone has no money for heroin you think they should be given it for free incase they go out and mug someone for the money instead.

ntlbell wrote: »

I bet they probably drank tea that day too.

Well done thats fantastic!!!

starbelgrade

Hogzy wrote: »

Im all in favour of legalising Cannabis but i think Heroin and Ecstasy being legalised gives it more room to be abused. Look at gun crime in the states compared to the UK or Ireland. Guns are in the hand of every criminal in the US. Its got out of control. It could be the same here.

What have taking yokes & gun crimes in the US got to do with one another?

ntlbell

starbelgrade wrote: »

What have taking yokes & gun crimes in the US got to do with one another?

Indeed, surely taken all the money away from the criminals would reduce gangland crime etc

Odysseus

Hogzy wrote: »

He was informed by the Gardai that they were known Heroin addicts. They could have been on anything fair enough but if i hear someone is a heroin addict and they are off their face on drugs i think its fair to assume its heroin. Im going to back out of this thread because i seem to be on my own on this.

Do you people really think Ireland would be better off if Heroin was legalised?



So if someone has no money for heroin you think they should be given it for free incase they go out and mug someone for the money instead.


Well done thats fantastic!!!

If they where know user's benzo's are very popular with with heroin users, so they might have something to do with it. Benzo's can provoke aggression in the same way alcohol does in fact benzo's give us more trouble than any other drug within treatment facilities.

Do I think Ireland would be a better place, that depends on a lot. If we followed the same system as we currently do with Methadone, no I don't think so. Methadone treatment in Ireland was established due to public hysteria around criminality and HIV in the late 80s early 90s, it was not born out of a desire to treat addicts, and tbh there is something very wrong with the way the Health Service treats people with addiction problems. I do believe that it would reduce associated crinimality to a significant level.

If we where to legalise it, yes it would come to to free heroin, and this would reduce criminality, reduce being the big word, some people will always commit crime.

phantom_lord

Hogzy wrote: »

Do you people really think Ireland would be better off if Heroin was legalised?

do you think having it illegal makes much of an impact on usage?

in portugal when they decriminalised drugs, people seeking rehibiliation doubled. so yeah i do think we would be better off. i don't think too many dealers try and help users, while the providers through this system would.

phantom_lord

Bambi wrote: »

We'd have drug tourists but, this plan would be like a filth magnet. Other than that, I'm all in favour. Our health services are keeping junkies alive indefinitely anyway.

if there was some sort of regulated system behind it, and at the least you had to be an irish citizen then it's unlikely to cause drug tourism. i'm not advocating something like just having unregulated cafes or headshops everywhere.

TPD

I agree with the OP. Seems ridiculous to think that drugs are better controlled by criminal organisations than by the government. (well, knowing our government...)

Seriously though, does anyone here who hasn't tried a certain drug (say, heroin), believe they would go out and take some tomorrow if it was legalised? Probably not, yet people seem to think that everyone else will.
Even if that were to happen, the drugs they recieved would be cleaner and they would be given health advice from the government when purchasing (like warnings on cigarettes), so they would be at less risk of causing harm.

I cant wait for the day when people realise that making something illegal doesn't affect consumption.. Then there can be a proper debate on this. Otherwise, some people still cling onto this daft notion that making something illegal will solve problems.

They've been banned for 80 years and no matter how hard people try, it's becoming a bigger and bigger problem worldwide.. Gangs control a multibillion dollar industry while addicts suffer in their hands and law enforcement fail at every turn to stop them.
Our demand is too high for there ever to be a shortage of supply.. Regulation, quality control and treatment are the only way forward if lives are to be saved.. Ironic that the 'drugs kill' has been the reason to ban these substances when in reality, more people have died from the prohibition than the drugs.

Who was that footballer shot in the back in Limerick by mistake by a gang?
The thousands of Mexicans every year slaughtered in drug feuds?
The drug mules dying or in prison while ingesting drugs for transport?
The people around the world dying from bad quality drugs?
The thousands of young males in American prisons for nonviolent drug offenses?
All prohibition.

I could go on and on about how much damage it has done and why it is by far the least practical way of solving th drugs problem. It will never happen though..

orourkeda

Simply put anyone who needs recreational drugs is mentally retarded.

Some people need drugs for medical reasons. Fair enough. Otherwise drug use is not necessary. Anyone who does it is a spanner