How should a society deal with drugs?

[JayTee]

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"Just because you don't prohibit something doesn't mean you're actively promoting its use."

My logic goes like this. We know that many drugs are highly addicting with a lot of negative impacts on our health and we know what that addiction can lead to. In my opinion it seems irresponsible of a society not to be against something that has this affect on us. Why leave it open for others to find out what kind of hell drugs has to offer?

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Your logic should be applied to unhealthy foods, alcohol, and tobacco first if your concern is detriment to all Americans. Here's an idea (note: I don't personally agree with this). Let's allow people to fund the war on drugs individually. If you care so strongly then you can choose to donate your money to it. The last I saw the cost of the War on Drugs was around $20 billion a year. If you can get 1/2 of about the roughly 180 million American tax payers to come along it will cost you around $220 this year. Good luck.

[ShakeZula06]

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I think its insane to get sent to prison for doing drugs. People should do what they want as long as they are affecting them selfs only. The war on drugs is a failure and cause mayhem on many different levels.

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This is very true.
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But how can we accept drugs to be available? what good comes from them?

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There doesn't have to be a good that comes from them. If it causes less harm keeping them legal then it does criminalizing it then it's the better alternative to keep it legal.

But, as to what good can come from it, I've had a lot of positive, fun times doing drugs. Drugs are a fun recreational activity that a ton of people enjoy. There not the end all and be all of life or fun, just another fun thing to do. What's the point of restricting it if that restriction only brings out negative consequences?

[pvn]

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Societies don't act. Once you accept that, the answer should be fairly intuitive.

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Of course, stupid of me, if you were to deal with drugs in the current society, what would you wish and for what reasons?

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I have no idea how to "deal with drugs in the current society". I don't interact with "society" I interact with people. This question makes no more sense to me then asking me how I would deal with golf equipment in the current society.

[andyfox]

Pokerholics don't kill hundreds of thousands of people while driving under the influence.

[Kaj]

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Pokerholics don't kill hundreds of thousands of people while driving under the influence.

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They should make a law against driving under the influence.

[Richard Tanner]

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Societies don't act. Once you accept that, the answer should be fairly intuitive.

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Of course, stupid of me, if you were to deal with drugs in the current society, what would you wish and for what reasons?

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I have no idea how to "deal with drugs in the current society". I don't interact with "society" I interact with people. This question makes no more sense to me then asking me how I would deal with golf equipment in the current society.

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We've been over this, when a group of people act with a common goal, it's a semantic argument to say either "a bunch of individuals acted" or "A group acted".

That said, drugs are only an issue as long as there's a welfare state. If I have to pay for your healthcare then I have a right to tell you what you put in your body. Of course, I'm not for a welfare state, so it's not an issue for me. Also, I'm a big fan of letting people do almost anything on their own property, so someone mainlining Heroin in their living room is super neato cool to me.

Cody

[hmkpoker]

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"Just because you don't prohibit something doesn't mean you're actively promoting its use."

My logic goes like this. We know that many drugs are highly addicting with a lot of negative impacts on our health and we know what that addiction can lead to. In my opinion it seems irresponsible of a society not to be against something that has this affect on us. Why leave it open for others to find out what kind of hell drugs has to offer?

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You do realize that recreational drugs do have some kind of value, right? They're fun. Incredibly fun, in fact. That's why people do them.

[pvn]

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Societies don't act. Once you accept that, the answer should be fairly intuitive.

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Of course, stupid of me, if you were to deal with drugs in the current society, what would you wish and for what reasons?

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I have no idea how to "deal with drugs in the current society". I don't interact with "society" I interact with people. This question makes no more sense to me then asking me how I would deal with golf equipment in the current society.

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We've been over this, when a group of people act with a common goal, it's a semantic argument to say either "a bunch of individuals acted" or "A group acted".

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No, it's more than that. It's a sloppy shortcut that masks *important* details. It hides the fact that there is coercive interaction going on. Saying something like "Bob doesn't like drugs" is one thing - bob has his own opinion. Saying "society doesn't like drugs" is another - some people in that society may LIKE drugs, even if they are a minority. The serious problem comes in when "society" then DOES THINGS using "society's opinion" as a motivation, or worse, as a justification. The fact that "society likes blue and hates red" doesn't mean people who happen to disagree with the hivemind lose their right to enjoy red.

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That said, drugs are only an issue as long as there's a welfare state. If I have to pay for your healthcare then I have a right to tell you what you put in your body.

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False. Two wrongs don't make a right. If I force you to accept a Picasso, do I suddenly have a right to dictate to you how you display it, what security arrangements you must make, etc? It's costing me a lot of money to do this for you!!!

[lehighguy]

The president of my colleges student council tried to rob a bank at gunpoint over poker debts.

My best friend and roomate in college lost $20k on poker and almost committed suicide.

[Kaj]

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[Person X] tried to rob a bank at gunpoint over [bad investments].

[Person Y] lost $20k on [the stock market]and almost committed suicide.

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