Quote:
Originally Posted by susie123
People have been using psychotropic drugs since the dawn of time and it has been argued that altered states of consciousness have led to the birth of religions and culture.
The fact that science today can come up with new substances with these properties means that there will always be new experiences to try and there will always be people who want to experiment with them, as there have always been.
Surely the fact that illegal drugs support criminal activities is an argument for removing this connection by removing bans. Then substances could be sold under controls such as apply to alcohol and tobacco and the pushers would not have the upper hand. Then individuals would be free to decide for themselves whether or not to partake of any particular drug - as they do with alcohol and tobacco. The harm they may do to themselves, or not, would be up to them.
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I'm not entirely sure that legalising them would remove the criminal element.
The government would slap a tax on these recreational drugs...and then there would be those(criminals) who would try to sell them from illicit sources.....people would buy to circumvent the system, and so that they didn't feel like they were paying tax...I think most people like to feel they can steal a march on government taxes......duty free cigarettes are a rpime example of this.......I know people who have come back from Spain(or any other overseas destination with suitcases full of cigarettes/tobacco and booze.
The only advantage I can see for legalising recreational drugs is to improve the purity.......and regulate how they are sold. I'm still not in favour.