Originally Posted by Jake10
I'd say legalizing drugs could solve the deficit problem.
That doesn't seem a reasonable argument, but yes, it would contribute greatly to that noble cause as well.
Why do people axiomatically assume that the problems we face today from drug abuse are caused or inflated by their legality? How can you argue (in one of Europe's least tolerant countries on this issue) against legalization by bringing up every case of addicts destroying their lives and the lives of others? It is a great probability that more people would try it, especially if sold in drug stores (merging the term's official meaning with the more comical one
), however, instead we would save a lot of resources to reinforce the barrier made possible between people who enjoy using drugs for personal ends and the true addicts who are crossing or have crossed beyond the boundary of drug abuse. Today, in almost every country, you can't ask authorities or your friends for help without noticing them you are a criminal, with greater consequences to your life than your actual abuse, and far more than the fact that I cannot destroy my body according to my wishes I find that... deplorable.
Truly, if 50 cents of every dollar spent on the War on Drugs were put on propaganda (which I will later rant on about, once legality is achieved) and efforts to stem use and abuse of drugs, we would be looking at smaller problems than today. The other 50 could be used to stem the deficit, which would likely provide a better economic opportunity for people and thus ensure they may smoke or not smoke pot, or heroin, with the prospect of a better tomorrow.
Also, when discussing the harm of third parties (recognizing the drug itself as a party) and cigaretters, I must ask the question again; does any one of you know of a person who died of lung cancer or other, "slow" causes related to smoking cannabis or heroin, let alone from anyone else doing it? Surely the prospect will change up if people are allowed to smoke it indoors in nightcubs, bars, restaurants and so on, but with comparison of the bare-existent number of people slowly killed by their own addiction it would be very limited, placing it close to nil.