make it legal?

[justineo]

What do you think would happen if we legalised all drugs in the UK?

[soozmac]

we'd all have a really good time!!

[jenky]

Despite andy's perfectly reasonable answer, there is also the prospect of legalisation appearing as condoning the use of drugs (I' m talking mainly about the drugs that are at the root of so many crimes today) and encouraging people to dabble where perhaps they would previously have not. The sad truth is that from where I'm sitting now, I know I could buy nearly any drug that takes your fancy with virtually no difficulties.

I don't think that many people could argue against the person's right to choose whether or not to take drugs, it's just when that person's habit starts to affect others that it becomes a problem, such as the drunken idiots that constantly cause trouble up and down the country. As it stands, drugs practically are legal in all but name, however the tax that could be collected from their sale would boost the nations coffers enough to help rebuild the inner cities that those same drugs have savaged.

[jake-the-peg]

NHS costs would skyrocket.

Assuming that there would be a large increase in usage (which seems a reasonable assumption)

The number of road traffic accidents would go through the roof as would the cost to the NHS of treating accidental overdoses and psychiatric conditions.

A large infux of drugs would make it as impossible to keep hard drugs out of the hands of children as tobacco is currently and you'd effectively legalise Euthanasia

There would be a sudden surge in drug tourism - which would probably not be good for the countries reputation overseas - A lot of international companies wouldn't want to invest in a country where all drugs were legal.

Contrary to Andy's opinion I believe the criminal element would flock here to use the UK as a jump off place to the rest of the world. After all we would have trouble extraditing them for something that was legal here. Other countries would have to search massive amounts of imported goods from the UK.

We'd become international pariahs

On balance I'd say bad idea

[Octavius]

I imagine it would become taxable, so you would still have street dealers and black market dealers trying to sell it tax-free on corners.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Octavious, why do you say that? How many moonshine dealers are there? Not many!

Personally, I agree with Andy. From what I've read, it doesn't seem as though there would be a great increase in usage. In fact, many commentators think there might well be a fall.

One of the major difficulties of legalising all drugs is that it might require the UK to deal with criminals abroad, since they are the ones controlling supply.

It should be remembered that if all drugs were legalised, commiting criminal acts under the influence wouldn't be.

In terms of the NHS, I can't see how the cost would rocket - but then I don't forsee a rise in consumption. Regardless one would cover the costs. Illegal drugs are, by their nature, untaxed but the public picks up the tab for dealing with its casualties. Legalised drugs would be taxed and therefore should cover the costs of the treatments.

The major benefit is that it decriminalises many people who currently take drugs and... er... that's it. Most drug takers are not criminals other than their usage of substances which are illegal. It also ensures that supplies are measured and clean - no more epidemics of junkies dying because someone's cut it with rat poison etc. Less social stigma about drugs would mean it were simpler for users to get health.

Furthermore, it removes the profits from the dealers, people who frequently engage in other even less pleasant occupations such as people trafficing. Drug money pays for crime so legalising removes that income stream from criminals.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Cont.

That leads into another thing; legalising does not equate to 'Make available in the supermarket'. I don't believe that anyone is suggesting heroin should be available to kids!

For all that, on balance, I do think that the benefits outweigh the negatives (although those are certainly there and very real). Personally, it won't make any difference to me since I don't indulge, so there's no vested interest in my argument!

[justineo]

Good answers. I, like Jenky, could also go to a local pub and buy most illegal drugs but just because they are available doesn't tempt me to go and buy something I wouldn't normally have.  If heroin was being given away I wouldn't try it, but if I did want it, it being illegal wouldn't stop me either.

[Gooner_Badge]

Put it this way...............Ciggies, DVD's, clothes, etc etc are all legal to buy in this country, but people still buy them cheap, i.e knock off.

Everyone loves a bargain .. so if drugs are legalised, all it will do is send the black market prices down, thus making them even more available than they are now.

[BillyNoMates]

The UK economy would take a large downturn.

[jake-the-peg]

Waldo - why do you believe that decriminalisation would not lead to an increase in consumption?

It certainly wouldn't stop those who consume now and there must be those who don't because it's illegal so logically I'd expect a significant increase.

Why do you think that's incorrect?

[Octavius]

If you remove the profit from the dealers then they would find something stronger, more addictive, more harmful and damaging to sell illegally.  And wouldn't you get even more junkies/burglars breaking into shops selling this stuff in order to get their fix/sell on the street because of the level of addiction that some drugs command?

[Little Lady]

I read an article a couple of months ago in mixmag which was my boyfriends of the time, it was basically saying what would happen if they made ecstacy legal, with the lib. dem's in power and that they are nothing like a lot imagine they are not nowhere near as powerful as they used to be and are cut with god knows what! They said that if it were legal it would be safer and available to buy in clubs at different strengths, afterall you can die from alchol overdose you just have to be more careful with these, and like Andy said about alcohol being discovered now, because it has been around for such a long time it wil only take time before these things will become legalised as there is not alot the government can do to stop such a huge amount of drugs coming into the country other than to search everything, it takes time for people to become used to having these things around and when they do things will become more slackened, i can't really imagine heroin going that way at least i hope to god it does not, they have made an ingredient in that stuff that now counteracts to methodone which is a heroin replacement and just bounces of it so people can still get off on this stuff with methodone which is supposed to stop the effects of it so much, that is why we are hearing of more people dying of the stuff recently. I am not against legalisation as i think there are more benefits than not they will need to have a way of controlling it and i am sure there would be a rise to start with but if people were to know what was going into it rather then not they would have it from a known source rather than off the black market, there would not be as much dealing going on and better knowledge of drugs in general as i think that so many people do not know the effects of these things and what they can do to you or even how they may actually help you in some ways in very small doses.

[Little Lady]

sorry if i have upset anyone with my answer but i do come from a family with 2 drugs councillors in and know a fair bit more than the average person might.

[undercovers]

i am not related to a drug councillor but somehow still feel I am able to contribute to this discussion, just to choose one drug as an example - heroin - i strongly believe this should be decriminalised, as has been said before this does not mean available in the supermarket, what i suggest is drop-in centres for users where they are administered a safe and pure product by trained nurses, to take part in the scheme doctors would need to refer the patient (e.g. patients already addicted). I believe this coupled with education would slowly see the use of the drug drop and the effects on society (e.g. crime, homelessness, antisocial behaviour) all but disappear in a very short space of time. Users would be able to hold down normal jobs, remain in good health and add some thing to society, rather than having to scour the streets worrying about where their next hit is coming from.

As for ecstasy use, I think the government need to admit they have lost the battle and make the drug available at licensed premises (in clubs). Where a trained person would provide the drug and offer advice and help as needed to the users, also refuse sale to those drunk or already screwed. Obviously this is an imperfect solution, but I feel it would be a significant step forward and would help protect the health of clubbers in the UK whilst putting criminal gangs out of business, and raising much needed revenue for the tax man.

The point is not drugs for everyone, but a sensible system of controlled useage coupled with education on the dangers.