ABC Fora.tv Should all Drugs be Legalised

[bufo marinus]

Summary

Although the media sporadically reports on major narcotic raids, the general consensus about the war on drugs is that small battles will not win this war. Despite all the money spent on drug enforcement worldwide, illicit drugs are still relatively cheap and widely available. Increasingly drugs are being viewed as a social problem rather than strictly a legal one.

 

So is it time to rethink traditional approaches to the illegal drug industry? Countries like Portugal and Argentina are forging ahead with drug reforms, but will Australia follow suit?

 

In this panel from the provocative Festival of Dangerous Ideas the argument is put forward that decriminalization and regulation would be the best solution to addressing the problems associated with drugs.

 

 

Bio

Greg Barns - Greg Barns is an author, political commentator and barrister.

He was an advisor to NSW Premier Nick Greiner and also for the Howard Government. He is also a spokesperson for the Prison Action and Reform Group.

 

Michael Duffy - Michael Duffy is an Australian radio presenter and newspaper columnist. He presents the Counterpoint program on ABC Radio National.

He was originally hired in an attempt by Radio National management to find, in the words of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a "right-wing Phillip Adams."

 

Norm Stamper - Norm Stamper is the former Chief of the Seattle Police Department.

He is an advisory board member for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing.

 

Alex Wodak - Dr. Alex Wodak is the Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.

He is also President of the International Harm Reduction Association and the author of Drug Prohibition: A Call for Change.

 

http://fora.tv/2009/10/04/Should_All_Drug_Use_Be_Made_Legal

Edited November 19, 2009 by bufo marinus

[sew850i]

good watch!!

 

downloading now as we speak..

 

props for the post Bufo.

 

peace!

[hobbez]

Interesting watch.

 

The 2nd dude was brilliant..

 

Cheers Bufo

[sew850i]

just thought of something.. if they decriminalise all drugs.. wouldnt that cause more violence??

 

like imagine if everyone was on coke. what would neighbourhoods be like then??

[mistyville]

That's right sew. Heaven forbid if that shit was legalised. I've just read Crunchy's thread on alcohol violence. We don't need anything else that sends people off their heads. Legalise cannabis. As far as I'm concerned, it's harmless. IIn moderation, of course)

[Crunchy]

i'd say legalize LSD and shrooms as well... im downloading the video to watch now, hopefully it'll provide me with some nice brain candy for the next hour

[sew850i]

exactly: on the video (dunno if you've watched it yet or not) some guy at the end was like: legalise cannabis for medical puproses and for personal use as well, they just laughed him off..

 

im not so much for the fact that the major dealers will hate to see some drugs decriminalised, they could set up shops and labs in the back and that way they can still make money. anyone with me on this?

[Crunchy]

exactly: on the video (dunno if you've watched it yet or not) some guy at the end was like: legalise cannabis for medical puproses and for personal use as well, they just laughed him off..

 

im not so much for the fact that the major dealers will hate to see some drugs decriminalised, they could set up shops and labs in the back and that way they can still make money. anyone with me on this?

 

sew thats exactly what happening now, illegal shops/labs without regulation or quality/safety control.

with legalization and regulation people will be more likely to go to legit shops/chemists, and not to these dodgy back alley labs.

Sure the criminals will try to hang on for dear life to an industry that has been extremely profitable for decades, but they wont be able to compete with the price and quality of legit, safely run and regulated businesses, as well as an assurance of safety that comes with government regulations (well.. more-so than there is now...).

If given the choice you would go to a nice chemist or speciality store over a dodgy cunt you met outside a club? even if the price was slightly higher at the chemist.

[hobbez]

exactly: on the video (dunno if you've watched it yet or not) some guy at the end was like: legalise cannabis for medical puproses and for personal use as well, they just laughed him off..

 

I'm pretty sure they only laughed him off because he didn't ask a question, just stated his opinion.

 

And as far as legalising hard drugs, I think they put forward a good case in relation to herion and cocaine by looking at countries that have harm reduction strategies. There is no way these drugs would ever be available like alcohol/tobacco and eventually cannabis.

 

I'd prefer it if Johnny the coke addict had to go to a treatment centre to get his fix, rather than breaking into my house and stealing my prized collection of golden zebras to sell for his coke habit.

[sew850i]

sew thats exactly what happening now, illegal shops/labs without regulation or quality/safety control.

with legalization and regulation people will be more likely to go to legit shops/chemists, and not to these dodgy back alley labs.

Sure the criminals will try to hang on for dear life to an industry that has been extremely profitable for decades, but they wont be able to compete with the price and quality of legit, safely run and regulated businesses, as well as an assurance of safety that comes with government regulations (well.. more-so than there is now...).

If given the choice you would go to a nice chemist or speciality store over a dodgy cunt you met outside a club? even if the price was slightly higher at the chemist.

 

ohh shit, makes a whole lot more sense now. thanks man.. so wtf is the government waiting for!? they'll rake it in like theres no tomorrow. but then im thinking thats where the problem arises with cannabis; theres no point for the government legalising it, taxing and regulating it if people can grow in their own homes..