Columbia Neuroscientist calls for decriminalization of ALL drugs

[OriginalMonster 80]

​yup was still living there

 

was to young to pay attention to society or news tho. what was the result?

"Nearly a decade and a half after decriminalizing all d--gs, the country has seen d--g use decrease by most measures, and dramatic declines in overdose and disease transmission. All the while, they've saved an enormous amount of money by not pursuing criminal charges against people for low-level uses, and protected a significant percentage of their population from the life-altering stigma that accompanies incarceration."

 

When done correctly decriminalizing decreases, or at least does not increase, d--g use. Education makes a difference, but success in Portugal has shown that harsh punishments do not deter use. Similar amounts of people will use d--gs regardless of whether they have harsh punishments or are decriminalized, so why spend millions of dollars on punishment and ruin the lives of those who only need help or are recreational users? Drug dealers are a different story, but punishment for possession of d--gs for personal use has made no overall difference in d--g use, as evidenced by the system in Portugal, and only costs money unnecessarily. If the lack of an increase or even slight decrease in use isn't enough, the "dramatic declines in overdose and disease transmission" shows the true societal benefit as people are using more responsibly and less afraid to seek help because they won't be punished for saving their own or others' lives.

[Economy 52,846]

"Nearly a decade and a half after decriminalizing all d--gs, the country has seen d--g use decrease by most measures, and dramatic declines in overdose and disease transmission. All the while, they've saved an enormous amount of money by not pursuing criminal charges against people for low-level uses, and protected a significant percentage of their population from the life-altering stigma that accompanies incarceration."

 

When done correctly decriminalizing decreases, or at least does not increase, d--g use. Education makes a difference, but success in Portugal has shown that harsh punishments do not deter use. Similar amounts of people will use d--gs regardless of whether they have harsh punishments or are decriminalized, so why spend millions of dollars on punishment and ruin the lives of those who only need help or are recreational users? Drug dealers are a different story, but punishment for possession of d--gs for personal use has made no overall difference in d--g use, as evidenced by the system in Portugal, and only costs money unnecessarily. If the lack of an increase or even slight decrease in use isn't enough, the "dramatic declines in overdose and disease transmission" shows the true societal benefit as people are using more responsibly and less afraid to seek help because they won't be punished for saving their own or others' lives.

​iinteresting thanks for telling

 

My liberal and socialy progressive Portugal ...

 

who took longer to legalize same s-x marriage than my other Nationality (Canada)

[Princess Die 1,864]

I would not be surprised if you're actually a d--g abuser / dealer at this point. Bye.

 

If you add a "G" to your name, you would have "Judge", which is something you do rather well. 

[Dangerous Man 9,245]

If you add a "G" to your name, you would have "Judge", which is something you do rather well. 

 

[Better Day 5,766]

yes. Decriminalise d--gs 

 

#Liberal4Life

#TheCapitalistMonster

[HighwayGuy 1,498]

Definitely a lot of the time people die from d--gs not because of the d--gs but because of the other dangerous chemicals put in it from criminal gangs to save money such as rat poison 

If it was legal it could be regulated to make sure it was safe as possible, taking people to jail for possessing their own d--gs is just wrong imo 

[Luc 4,776]

Yes. But strictly regulate it. Or just check everything that crosses the border and check everywhere for hidden factories and you'll gt there too, but this is bureaucratic, expensive, and not liberal.

[TiphEret 1,320]

Regulation seems a good way to deal with it. I don't think you can stop people from using it if you don't try to understand why they come to use and if it's life conditions it's gonna take forever. Plus he makes a good point regarding prisons, a lot of people complain that they costs tax payers money, when this money could be saved.

Plus illegal d--gs feeds cartel, and all the criminal activities on a large scale.

[Luc 4,776]

​I know as much as him, he just had connections to get into those fancy schools. That makes no difference. On ATRL there's a thread about a neurosurgeon who believes in the afterlife.

A mess. You should respect somebody who's spent years and years doing research on this. Fact is, you don't know what's the best because you simply take stances from conservatives and make them your own

 

I don't think it's reachable politcally, and the focus should be on legalizing weed for now. But I think that it could actually help. State-d--gs, which would reduce criminality, murder, psychological problems, health issues caused by unsafe d--gs and also help countries, especially countries with high d--g criminality like Colombia and Mexico.

But I think that other than countries like Colombia and Mexico, and developed countries, it should not be done in undeveloped countries because it will have an averse effect of what it's supposed to do (I think).

[Economy 52,846]

Regulation seems a good way to deal with it. I don't think you can stop people from using it if you don't try to understand why they come to use and if it's life conditions it's gonna take forever. Plus he makes a good point regarding prisons, a lot of people complain that they costs tax payers money, when this money could be saved.

Plus illegal d--gs feeds cartel, and all the criminal activities on a large scale.

I would also tax it. Illegal d--gs are always on the pricy side because u can only get it in black market

 

if u legalize it, not only can u regulate it to control it better, but u can also tax it and so the general population can benefit from ppls bad habits (since they are gonna do it anyway)

 

The Liberals in my Country wanna legalize it if they get elected in October elections. But then Provinces could just block it so back to square one  

[TiphEret 1,320]

I would also tax it. Illegal d--gs are always on the pricy side because u can only get it in black market

 

if u legalize it, not only can u regulate it to control it better, but u can also tax it and so the general population can benefit from ppls bad habits (since they are gonna do it anyway)

 

The Liberals in my Country wanna legalize it if they get elected in October elections. But then Provinces could just block it so back to square one  

​I also forgot the taxes part! It's another plus! I think the only thing ti be against it is moral that we shouldn't legalise something harmful but we do it for so many things yet nobody complains.

I remember that book from a Swedish dr she said that if sugar (refined sugar) would have been "invented" nowadays it would be forbidden because it's so addictive like...d--gs. And harmful, yet everybody eat sugar...

[Economy 52,846]

​I also forgot the taxes part! It's another plus! I think the only thing ti be against it is moral that we shouldn't legalise something harmful but we do it for so many things yet nobody complains.

I remember that book from a Swedish dr she said that if sugar (refined sugar) would have been "invented" nowadays it would be forbidden because it's so addictive like...d--gs. And harmful, yet everybody eat sugar...

​i think we definitely should tax it. its also bad for your health, so that way they help pay for their healthcare costs (45% of Government spending here is healthcare)

 

Just like tabacco is heavily taxed, and fast food has a 1% surcharge (should be higher) above the general sales tax, d--gs definitely should

 

but yeah theres the regulation benefit too. Plus it would be less "bad ass" and cool and thus less motivating to do it

[Goosey 3,017]

A mess. You should respect somebody who's spent years and years doing research on this. Fact is, you don't know what's the best because you simply take stances from conservatives and make them your own

Colombia is a narco-state if I recall correctly, the USA had "Plan Colombia" to combat d--g cartels and insurgents. So this Colombian neuroscientist could have other motives...

[Luc 4,776]

I would also tax it. Illegal d--gs are always on the pricy side because u can only get it in black market

 

if u legalize it, not only can u regulate it to control it better, but u can also tax it and so the general population can benefit from ppls bad habits (since they are gonna do it anyway)

 

The Liberals in my Country wanna legalize it if they get elected in October elections. But then Provinces could just block it so back to square one  

​The consequence of taxing it too much is that the black market (and with that criminality) will open up again to compete with the expensive legal d--gs. That's happening in Greece with tabacco: about 20% of tabacco is illegal with no VAT or extra taxes, because of the high price and probably also cheap neighbours.

[Economy 52,846]

​The consequence of taxing it too much is that the black market (and with that criminality) will open up again to compete with the expensive legal d--gs. That's happening in Greece with tabacco: about 20% of tabacco is illegal with no VAT or extra taxes, because of the high price and probably also cheap neighbours.

​well, i never said to put a really high tax, i just said tax it.

 

Sales tax in my Country is 5% at Federal Level... and 0% to 10% at Provincial Level (depending on the Province). But some specific items are exeptions... Like cigarets get taxed more, and some items like milk, bread, fruits and vegetables dont get taxed at all

 

i think like a 30% tax is reasonable... or maybe a tax per unit like they also do with tabacco like taxing different d--gs per gram