24 May 2011, 4:32 pm
ValentineWiggin wrote:
Awesomelyglorious wrote:
Decriminalization is believed to have had positive effects though: http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... nalization
Even further, all that illegalization does is that it increases the cost of acquiring the material, however, drugs can still be found. A legalization program, however, can focus on making sure that the drug trade is regulated, and in putting the entire situation under some control. After all, the drug war is a complete waste of everybody's time and money and by NO reasonable measure can that drug war be considered a good policy, as all it creates is violence in the streets, and ever increasing escalation. Instead, I think that Gary Becker has a point in this post here: http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2005/ ... ecker.html Legalization with massive taxation can achieve many similar effects without half of the problems of a drug war.
Even further, all that illegalization does is that it increases the cost of acquiring the material, however, drugs can still be found. A legalization program, however, can focus on making sure that the drug trade is regulated, and in putting the entire situation under some control. After all, the drug war is a complete waste of everybody's time and money and by NO reasonable measure can that drug war be considered a good policy, as all it creates is violence in the streets, and ever increasing escalation. Instead, I think that Gary Becker has a point in this post here: http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2005/ ... ecker.html Legalization with massive taxation can achieve many similar effects without half of the problems of a drug war.
Yes. Because the only deterrent to illegal drug usage is monetary,
and state taxing of the purchase of the substance "controls" the effects of its use.
I can't wait til crack addiction is as common as tobacco addiction.
So you're saying that, once legalized, cocaine will be given a pass to advertise and undermine scientific studies for years like tobacco did? The main reason why tobacco is so popular is because it "took off" before their was common understanding of its effects and it was advertised to death towards children (as well as ads geared at women that tried to connect tobacco use to "independence"). It's very improbable that something like that will occur with crack if it's legalized. Furthermore, drugs like cocaine were legal in the 19th century (in an era when there wasn't nearly as much knowledge about their harmful effects) yet somehow civilization is still in tact.
Last edited by Master_Pedant on 24 May 2011, 5:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
24 May 2011, 4:52 pm
24 May 2011, 5:38 pm
24 May 2011, 5:53 pm
