Posted by Patty on April 15, 2002 at 14:10:48:
In Reply to: Re: Two points posted by Marcus on April 11, 2002 at 10:59:37:
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> Let me address your second point first. Tobacco can be easily grown at home. Who does that? Who would want to grow their own pot if it could be bought relatively cheaply. If the gov't legalized drugs should it even care to regulate pot? Alot of people bottle their own wine, but the gov't does little to regulate that.
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> And for your first point, my question is why is pot illegal at all? Why should the government have any say with what I put into my body. I can regulate myself better than the government can. Yes, drugs create harmful lifestyles, but a huge reason for that is the "War on Drugs". Streets wouldn't be so dangerous if the cost of drugs wasn't driven so high by legislation. If drugs were legal there would be no black market for it. The street would be a safer place for kids. You wouldn't have drug cartels taking over countries. Terrorists would have to find other ways to get money. Prisons wouldn't be overcrowded. Violent criminals could stay in jail where they belong instead of being released to make room for nonviolent drug offenders. Our legal system wouldn't be over burdened.
> Do you realize how many tax dollars have been spent either directly on the War on Drugs or indirectly to compensate for burdens the War on Drugs has caused? Its easy to say drugs are bad. I won't argue with that. My recommendations to anyone would be to stay away from drugs, they can ruin your life. All I am saying is people should be able to make their own informed decisions about drug use, and the gov't should finally be held responsible for the mess The War on Drugs has caused to communities like Kittanning, Ford City, Rural Valley, etc.
> > 1. I think a lot of society's views are summed up in your post. The laissez faire attitude towards pot, for instance - 'it's only pot, it's not that bad'. Agreed, BUT it is still an illegal substance and should be treated as such.
> > 2. Legalization/Regulation have a few great arguments, one of which you pointed out. The street drugs are/aren't at a certain 'purity'. Legalization would allow pharmacists/dealers to regulate the purity and amounts that a person could purchase (such as grain alcohol exists today). Also, I would LOVE to see pot legalized so that the government could tax the bejeezes out of it. The only drawback is that pot is so easily home grown - how would the govt be able to regulate that sector?
Marcus:
Why should the government have any say with what I put into my body. I can regulate myself better than the government can
maybe you can, but there are many people who cannot, will not ie, drunk driving, high on you name it. for the protection of everyone else in society, drugs must be controlled, kept illegal.