Drug Legalization - Page 21 - Political Forum

Aegis · 08-13-2007, 06:47 PM

[quote=The Libertarian;62344][b]

Quote:

Drug use and addiction are purely VOLUNTARY actions

Not quite true. Initial drug use is a voluntary act. Once a person is addicted though drug use is involuntary and serves only to support the addiction. If an addicted subject abruptly ceases drug use, dependant of course on the drug, some level of withdrawl begins which can be relieved by drug use or medical intervention.

emptypepsi · 08-13-2007, 07:13 PM

Though I am a fairly Libertarian minded individual, this discussion has made me see the logic in keeping Cocaine and other such drugs illegal. I still am for pot legalization, though. However, I am eager to hear more arguments on the matter.

dellgines · 08-13-2007, 07:16 PM

Are you for keeping cocaine and other such drugs illegal due to the individual consequences or for the overall social consequences.

It is easy to argue that the legalization of cocaine and crack could and probably would eliminate much more inner-city instability than it would create.

I am not sure how anyone who looks at the current statistics of crime in the inner-city would not come to this same conclusion.

Bradgriff · 08-13-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Libertarian

Yes, but you choose to put the substance in your body. Drug use and addiction are purely VOLUNTARY actions, and DO NOT MORALLY JUSTIFY CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

What about a guy I know who first got into heroin at 6 when his mother shot him up for the first time. Think he is influenced by the laws against drugs.

What about a beautiful woman I know who was pimped out by her father when she was 9, and the guys he pimped her out to shot her up.

"Purely voluntary......I think not!

dellgines · 08-13-2007, 07:26 PM

"What about a guy I know who first got into heroin at 6 when his mother shot him up for the first time. Think he is influenced by the laws against drugs.

What about a beautiful woman I know who was pimped out by her father when she was 9, and the guys he pimped her out to shot her up.

"Purely voluntary......I think not!" - Bradgriff

It is voluntary to stop. Secondly, those instances are extremely rare and should not be anything to base an argument off of.

99% of all drug use is a voluntary choice. As such the question that must be asked is whether this individual choice warrants the consequences that our society imposes on those who make that choice.

Crack babies are bad. Heroin addicted babies are bad. Is it better to have a system in place to control and treat individuals 'legally' as opposed to locking the mother or the father up and destabilizing whole communities and increase drug war violence?

The Libertarian · 08-13-2007, 07:38 PM

[quote=Aegis;62357]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Libertarian

[b]

Not quite true. Initial drug use is a voluntary act. Once a person is addicted though drug use is involuntary and serves only to support the addiction. If an addicted subject abruptly ceases drug use, dependant of course on the drug, some level of withdrawl begins which can be relieved by drug use or medical intervention.

Another statement that illustrates some confusion. ALL DRUG USE IS VOLUNTARY. No matter how addicted a person is, they make the choice. Alcoholics have a choice to not drink, yes withdrawal symptoms make it hard to quit. But it is never impossible. We need to make this clear when we legalize. One of the problems with the illegality of drugs is widespread ignorance on the issue, making it harder to address the root causes of many of the problems related to drugs(prohibition).

The Libertarian · 08-13-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

OK, let's try to get a handle on this debate. What are you in favor of legalizing? Just pot or all drugs?

WEB

Only by legalizing all drugs will the illegal drug market disapear.

The Libertarian · 08-13-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradgriff

What about a guy I know who first got into heroin at 6 when his mother shot him up for the first time. Think he is influenced by the laws against drugs. Purely the mother's fault. She should suffer the legal consequences and I believe for hard drugs they would be very severe. According to you, drugs made that happen?

What about a beautiful woman I know who was pimped out by her father when she was 9, and the guys he pimped her out to shot her up.

"Purely voluntary......I think not!

I don't understand what you are trying to point out here. This is a result of personal choices and irresponsibility. Drugs don't magically force themselves into people if that's what you are thinking.

Aegis · 08-13-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Libertarian;62387[QUOTE

No matter how addicted a person is, they make the choice.

No. Once addicted, drug use is an involuntary act to satisfy that addiction.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 08-13-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Libertarian

Only by legalizing all drugs will the illegal drug market disapear.

You like the Prohibition of alcohol analogy, right? What if I told you that I obtained and was offered alcohol while I was underage (and thus illegally) by:

* illegal access to my families liquor cabinet

* alcohol obtained from another underage drinker

* alcohol offered by a shopkeeper I was friends with

Then all of this applies to drugs as well, right?

Drugs obtained and used illegally by minors from:

* the stash of someone in the family
* friends
* store owners

Thus, even with legalization of drugs, drugs still get consumed illegally by minors AND millions more people do drugs and get addicted AND lastly, more powerful and more addictive drugs are continually invented by corporations.

This is a better situation?

WEB