Illegal Drugs

[crink]

I am very good at arguing Dr.Paul's views with others. I have converted many of my friends. But there is only one argument I can never win, and that is on the war on drugs. I know that governement should not be able to tell you what drugs you can and cannot use but I have a hard time getting others to believe that were better off without government intervention in this aspect. What can i say to make people understand?

 

[Galileo Galilei]

I am very good at arguing Dr.Paul's views with others. I have converted many of my friends. But there is only one argument I can never win, and that is on the war on drugs. I know that governement should not be able to tell you what drugs you can and cannot use but I have a hard time getting others to believe that were better off without government intervention in this aspect.

The war on drugs is unconstitutional, illegal, immoral and racist.

 

[m72mc]

its a medical problem. you need those addicted to get off the drugs not in prison.

 

[crink]

But how do you convince people that drugs should be legal?

 

[iratus]

Remember, there is a distinction between the federal and state jurisdictions. He wants to abolish the federal war on drugs-- the states are free to regulate drugs. In fact, all of them have adequate laws on the books for this.

Don't forget to mention the costs of the war on drugs, and the disparity of enforcement with regards to minorities. Do your homework, it's a very compelling argument if you can get it out the right way.

 

[jake]

1. See alcohol prohibition
2. Hard statistics that show the war on drugs is an abysmal failure (can anyone provide a link for this? I know the statistics are horrible, something like <1% of illicit drugs are stopped at the border)
3. Dirty needles, addicts should be treated with compassion, not thrown in jail (as long as they aren't harming others or private property of course)
4. The unfair targeting of minorities in the war on drugs
5. Individual choice and freedom

 

[ASayre]

(clearing)

 

[TheEvilDetector]

I am very good at arguing Dr.Paul's views with others. I have converted many of my friends. But there is only one argument I can never win, and that is on the war on drugs. I know that governement should not be able to tell you what drugs you can and cannot use but I have a hard time getting others to believe that were better off without government intervention in this aspect.

I believe that Ron Paul is against the federal government being involved in drugs.

That is the constitutional position.

I do not believe he has ever stated that he wants all levels of government to stop being involved, even if he did, he (as president of a constitutional republic) would recognise that under the constitution, he may neither prohibit the enforcement of nor coerce into passing any drug laws at the state or local level.

I believe that his view is that the War on Drugs is very unfair to minorities, too expensive and violates state laws eg. medical marijuana laws.

State/Local governments are generally more responsive to the people, therefore, each area may have laws and regulations better suited to the people living there.

 

[pcosmar]

The War on drugs is yet another war that cannot be won.
The cost is prohibitive, and it is a massive failure.
It destroys families, strips Civil liberty and has no end.
Humans have been using substances since the beginning of time.

What is the plus side again?

 

[tamor]

I do not believe RP is saying all drugs should be legal or not legal. I believe he is stressing that the federal government does not have the right to pass legislation negating state laws on this issue. Also, there is a difference between legalization and decriminalization. It should be up to the states..

 

[CountryRoads]

All the other arguments against the drug war work great because the drug war is illegal in itself under the constitution.

Think about this, however. Drug gangs thrive in jails. The Arian Brotherhood etc etc recruit people in jails and drug addicts who go to jails, or even just potheads or pot growers that go to jail can be forced to join a gang, move onto selling hard drugs or be killed or raped in jail. Jail does not rehabilitate, it debilitates. Think about that.

 

[m72mc]

But how do you convince people that drugs should be legal?

lets look at it this way... in my country sweden it used to be legal to use drugs, but not to sell. (now its not, but its usually a fine for using, but prison if you sell)

with prostitutes, its not illegal to offer, but to buy.

the reasoning for this is because, drug users and prostitutes are seen as victims, due to addiction or circumstances.

If a drug user goes to jail, he wont get off drugs, its easy to get that in prison.
so it wont solve the problem.

 

[Quick]

Just talk about alcohol prohibition. The government knew that it couldn't legislate virtue, and knew they had to amend the Constitution to outlaw alcohol.

Obviously, like all prohibition, it failed. It goes with the drug laws. Drug abuse is a medical problem as alcohol abuse is. If someone who has consumed alcohol kills someone, they go to jail. Same with any other drug. But to lock up non-violent drug offenders doesn't make sense. The Constitution gives the government no authority to say what someone can or can't consume.

Simply put.. you cannot legislate virtue.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes..

"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of Temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes at the very principles upon which our government was founded." - Abraham Lincoln

 

[crink]

Thank you. These are all such great points.

 

[idrake]

If you're in a group of friends ask them to raise their hand if they ever used illegal drugs.

Then ask those with their hands down to raise their hand if they'd take drugs if they were legal.

Typically, when I do this with 10 people.
4 raise their hand on the first question
1 person would take drugs if legal

So, if 40% took drugs despite the law and only 10% would take drugs without the law, then how effective is the law? Why are we spending 20+ billion a year when it doesn't even come close to solving the problem?

 

[trey4sports]

violates bill of rights
gov't was created to protect freedoms and liberties not set morals
prohibition fuels the problem
gangs are created due to prohibition
drug abuse is a moral problem, govt cant force you to have better habits
clogging prisons and jails for a worthless cause
only benefits the prison-industrial complex

 

[Duckman]

The only thing I can or will add to this is that IMO there has been alot of disinformation regarding drugs leading to a false belief on the part of the public that drug use can never be moderate or responsible like alcohol use can be, and instead always leads to life-destroying addictions. It is this false belief that perpetuates the reasoning that drugs should be outlawed at any cost.

 

[Goldwater Conservative]

If drugs are illegal, a black market will arise to continue supplying them. However, there will be far fewer suppliers, which means significantly higher prices and consequently greater profits. Those obscene profits give drug suppliers an incentive to become violent and the resource to buy arms, thus increasing crime (the same thing happened during alcohol prohibition).

On the demand side, higher prices means drug consumers are more likely to become bankrupt satisfying their habit, and when they need more money they too will turn to crime.

 

[maeqFREEDOMfree]

People should be able to use as many drugs as they want to so long as they are not infringing on any other person's personal liberties.

if i want to spend all my free time getting drunk at the bar (and take a cab) or my home, i'm able to do so.

why can't i do the same with a joint?

 

[Todd]

I am very good at arguing Dr.Paul's views with others. I have converted many of my friends. But there is only one argument I can never win, and that is on the war on drugs. I know that governement should not be able to tell you what drugs you can and cannot use but I have a hard time getting others to believe that were better off without government intervention in this aspect. What can i say to make people understand?

It is hypocrisy:
Two of the most addictive drugs in the world are alcohol and nicotine. Alcohol is the only drug that can kill you from detoxification (DTS). So why is it legal? I have watched someone almost die from coming down off alcohol..it ain't pretty.