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ORIGINAL: tng

In other words you don't have an answer -- didn't think you would.

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  Have you ever seen someone die from a heroin overdose?  Or even just witness how that addiction affects not only their life, but the lives of the people around them?

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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

I openly admit that addicts should be given treatment not incarceration.  However, "decriminalizing" would also mean that the people who are selling the drugs would not face the penalties they should and that is a problem.

As for marijuana, I tend to disagree.  In states where marijuana has become legal for medical reasons, the regularion on those medical reasons is laughable, as in anyone can claim they need it for their medical "problem."

I admit that alcohol abuse causes problems, but I disagree that alcohol abuse causes more problems that marijuana, and I have seen the problems that both can cause.

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ORIGINAL: tng

LOL, Aww that's sweet of you to say, but your lashing out like an grouchy she-bear is the best evidence that you don't really have anything to go on here, just some typical exaggerated fear mongering and insults used to deflect reasoned discussion and disguise the weakness of your position.

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  Have you ever seen someone die from a heroin overdose?  Or even just witness how that addiction affects not only their life, but the lives of the people around them?

Yes and yes, have you? But that's not really important, right? Its just more distraction. The question you want to avoid is if the harm that drug use causes justifies locking up millions of people in Crime University at enormous expense, saddling them with a record that will effectively cripple them for life. You're destroying their lives just as surely and far more effectively than the drugs ever do -- at least they "can" get off the drugs, there's no way to get off being a felon, is there? Are you sure the cure isn't worse than the disease?

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ORIGINAL: MrBukani

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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

I openly admit that addicts should be given treatment not incarceration.  However, "decriminalizing" would also mean that the people who are selling the drugs would not face the penalties they should and that is a problem.

As for marijuana, I tend to disagree.  In states where marijuana has become legal for medical reasons, the regularion on those medical reasons is laughable, as in anyone can claim they need it for their medical "problem."

I admit that alcohol abuse causes problems, but I disagree that alcohol abuse causes more problems that marijuana, and I have seen the problems that both can cause.

I disagree that alcohol causes less problems. I could storm this thread with links to support it, but its been done a million times.
Decriminalizing personal use does NOT mean its legal for dealers to push haddrugs.
And yes the medical shite in America is doing more harm to legalisation then good.

Should I say also I see what drugs can do?
Why do you think we dont have a crystal meth problem in Holland.
CAUSE WE HAVE GOOD DRUGS!
You have NOT studied the problems of alcohol vs cannabis, cause most studies support my view.
What you have seen in your personal life dont mean shit, sorry to say.
Only statistics can tell what is more harmfull.
And they all point to one thing.
Alcohol is the worst drug. The most related deaths and domestic violence etc.

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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

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ORIGINAL: tng

In other words you don't have an answer -- didn't think you would.

No, in other words, I think it is complete idiocy to make the statement you did.  Have you ever seen someone die from a heroin overdose?  Or even just witness how that addiction affects not only their life, but the lives of the people around them?  Legalizing such a drug isn't going to make that change.  Comparing the prohibition on alcohol to the "prohibition" of drugs like heroin is ridiculous and stupid and uninformed.  Not everyone who uses alcohol becomes an alcoholic, and many people can drink alcohol and be responsible about it.  This is not the case with heroin.  If you use heroin even just socially, you WILL become physically addicted.  There is no "addiction gene" that needs to be involved, it is a chemical reaction within your body that will happen no matter who you are.  Same thing with meth.  These addictions are ugly, deadly and dangerous to everyone around you as well.  Legalizing them isn't going to make for more "responsible" use of these drugs.

Look at the number of people who become addicted to prescription drugs.  They are taking a drug that they have obtained "legally."  It being obtained legally doesn't change anything.

But please, continue to believe there is nothing wrong with drug use.  Everyone is entitled to be ignorant and stupid.  Be a card carrying member of NORML.  Statements like the one you made aren't made because you are an intelligent, inquisitive young woman.  They are made because you are ignorant and uninformed and ridiculously naive.

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ORIGINAL: MrBukani

Morphine use it once and be on the horse forever.
Alcohol makes me wanna beat you up lets have more WAR!
Cannabis makes me say PEACE! lets have less of that?

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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady
We can easily agree to disagree (although I'm sure it is more difficult for you).  But just like people who use prescription drugs hasn't stopped them from buying them on the street, legalizing the same drugs isn't going to stop the problems that exist with people using drugs.  That's common sense. 

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But the interesting thing is that you have continually missed the part where I have openly said that drug addicts need help not incarceration.

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A group of distinguished Australians and drug policy experts point to the futility of the failed war on drugs and call again for decriminalisation of drugs. Not the first time, nor will it be the last.