Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmful
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Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulThey're illegal because people are prejudiced against the idea of being "high".
The goverment would rather let you take dangerous medicines with harmful side effects, rather than let you take a medicine which is more effective but gets you high.
Take cannabis for example, it has been found to be more effective at treating cancer than chemotherapy, whilst at the same time far less harmful and with less side effects.
It's also found to be more effective at preventing Alzheimers than commercial drugs prescribed by doctors, and can treat things like multiple sclerosis.
Believe me cannabis is just one of many many examples (albeit the best known) of medicinally superior drugs which are banned simply because they get you high, not because they are harmful.
For example hydrocone is used for post-surgical pain relief, however they add acetaminophen to prevent people taking enough hydrocone to get high off. However acetaminophen is toxic and causes serious liver damage leading to thousands of emergency room visits and deaths per year and less dangerous than taking just Hydrocone.
If psychoactive drugs are illegal because they're harmful, then why is it legal to take more harmful non-psychoactive drugs?
This leads me to the conclusion that the government would rather kill you or force you to take far more dangerous medicines than let you get high...
Read more here:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...-the-war-drugs -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulI always believed they were banned due to potential affect on society they would have.(Original post by Stefan1991)
They're illegal because people are prejudiced against the idea of being "high".
The goverment would rather let you take dangerous medicines with harmful side effects, rather than let you take a medicine which is more effective but gets you high.
Take cannabis for example, it has been found to be more effective at treating cancer than chemotherapy, whilst at the same time far less harmful and with less side effects.
It's also found to be more effective at preventing Alzheimers than commercial drugs prescribed by doctors, and can treat things like multiple sclerosis.
Believe me cannabis is just one of many many examples (albeit the best known) of medicinally superior drugs which are banned simply because they get you high, not because they are harmful.
For example hydrocone is used for post-surgical pain relief, however they add acetaminophen to prevent people taking enough hydrocone to get high off. However acetaminophen is toxic and causes serious liver damage leading to thousands of emergency room visits and deaths per year and less dangerous than taking just Hydrocone.
If psychoactive drugs are illegal because they're harmful, then why is it legal to take more harmful non-psychoactive drugs?
This leads me to the conclusion that the government would rather kill you or force you to take far more dangerous medicines than let you get high...
Read more here:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...-the-war-drugs -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulMaybe, however their predictions were pretty wrong as we can see society hasn't collapsed due to people being high all the time.(Original post by bacforever3)
I always believed they were banned due to potential affect on society they would have. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulI'd argue only heroin or crack potentially has the ability to make people less productive members of society, ironically two drugs which were invented because drugs were made illegal. However there are people who take heroin who are upstanding functioning members of society.(Original post by Reflexive)
Yea being high is potentially harmful though, as people realise how good it feels and are less productive members of society. A balance needs to be struck.
Alcohol I guess too for some people, but strangely that's legal nonetheless?
I guess we're just worker ants, only valued in relation to how useful we are to the capitalist economy. But getting high every so often in reality doesn't affect this. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulAlcohol is one the biggest contradictions when ti comes to drugs. It kills more people than other drugs yet it is perfectyl legal - and taxable.(Original post by sally12379823)
Not in the case of alcohol
I'm not saying it should be made illegal, or all drugs should be made legal but this blanket view that all recreational drugs are bad except alcohol is blinkered and outdated.
To be honest the government, if they legalised cannabis for example could make a fortune out of tax on it and solve the debt crisis! -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulFunny but I find that I'm a lot more productive when high. I am of course talking when on amphetamines, downers obviousley not.(Original post by Reflexive)
Yea being high is potentially harmful though, as people realise how good it feels and are less productive members of society. A balance needs to be struck.
I think the main argument FOR legalisation should be that then we could control the ingredients, make sure they're pure and hence cause less damage due to unknown constituents.
For example -
acid. If it were legal we'd know that every tab or bottle we bought is indeed acid, and a trip will be fairly mellow and last 8-12 hours.
At the moment when you buy a tab - it's more than likley to be bromo, hence a trip is intense and lasts anything upto 36 hours. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulMe too, incredibly more productive. No wonder Freud wrote so much.(Original post by ArcaneAnna)
Funny but I find that I'm a lot more productive when high. I am of course talking when on amphetamines, downers obviousley not.
I think the main argument FOR legalisation should be that then we could control the ingredients, make sure they're pure and hence cause less damage due to unknown constituents.
For example -
acid. If it were legal we'd know that every tab or bottle we bought is indeed acid, and a trip will be fairly mellow and last 8-12 hours.
At the moment when you buy a tab - it's more than likley to be bromo, hence a trip is intense and lasts anything upto 36 hours.
But not many people take stimulants to be more productive, they take them for lesiurely reasons. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulThey should at least legalise medical cannabis. It's absolutely ridiculous that it's still illegal while being legal in most of western Europe & parts of the USA...
To be fair I haven't done much research but if I felt cannabis might get me through cancer I would take it anyway. Screw the law, when it's something as bad as cancer you should try everything to beat that bitch.Last edited by Ewan; 29-03-2011 at 13:01. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulI find this hard to belive.(Original post by Stefan1991)
Take cannabis for example, it has been found to be more effective at treating cancer than chemotherapy, whilst at the same time far less harmful and with less side effects.
I would rather canabis be legal than alcohol - it would make people more mellow and sleepy rather than violent and stupid etc etc. Alcohol is a stupid drug but its been in our culture for thousands of years, so its hard to make illigal.
By my opinion that alcohol should logically be illigal, I dont think we should introduce canabis as legal. As for more hard-core drugs, they really mess up peoples lives and I dont want that to be any easier... -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulI do agree, if I take anything I take it for leisure BUT I often find myself cleaning up my house, picking up and finishing work or etcetera...(Original post by Reflexive)
Me too, incredibly more productive. No wonder Freud wrote so much.
But not many people take stimulants to be more productive, they take them for lesiurely reasons.
Plus psychedelic drugs are great for artists and creative people.
Derren Brown was a huge acid user back in the day, and has actually said that that's where many of his ideas stem from - from when he was tripping. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulYea acid made me trip balls. Talk about opening the doorways of perception! Wow.(Original post by ArcaneAnna)
I do agree, if I take anything I take it for leisure BUT I often find myself cleaning up my house, picking up and finishing work or etcetera...
Plus psychedelic drugs are great for artists and creative people.
Derren Brown was a huge acid user back in the day, and has actually said that that's where many of his ideas stem from - from when he was tripping.
I just think there are so many things to think about with making all drugs totally legal, as wonderful as they can be. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulWhich drugs would you say are "hard-core"?(Original post by Hanvyj)
I find this hard to belive.
I would rather canabis be legal than alcohol - it would make people more mellow and sleepy rather than violent and stupid etc etc. Alcohol is a stupid drug but its been in our culture for thousands of years, so its hard to make illigal.
By my opinion that alcohol should logically be illigal, I dont think we should introduce canabis as legal. As for more hard-core drugs, they really mess up peoples lives and I dont want that to be any easier...
Of course it's hard to believe when it is drummed into you that it's harmful, but the science behind it is quite clear, cannabis can treat cancer and has a multitude of real medical benefits to such people as suffering AIDs and other diseases.
MDMA/Ecstasy is a class A drug, this would lead you to believe it is extremely harmful. You can go to jail for 7 years for possessing it. But there is research being done on ecstasy for treating eating disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Plus there is very little harm in taking it, and it's not addictive.
LSD and magic mushrooms are class A drugs, yet they are perfectly healthy for you, much healthier than fast food. They can be used to treat anxiety disorders. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfula source for these claims?(Original post by Stefan1991)
Take cannabis for example, it has been found to be more effective at treating cancer than chemotherapy, whilst at the same time far less harmful and with less side effects.
It's also found to be more effective at preventing Alzheimers than commercial drugs prescribed by doctors, and can treat things like multiple sclerosis. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulI don't believe that cannabis can treat cancer as effectivley as drugs specifically designed for that. How on earth is cannabis going to treat cancer? It might releave some symptoms of stress etc etc but its not going to kill fast-growing cells like chemotherapy does!(Original post by Stefan1991)
Which drugs would you say are "hard-core"?
Of course it's hard to believe when it is drummed into you that it's harmful, but the science behind it is quite clear, cannabis can treat cancer and has a multitude of real medical benefits to such people as suffering AIDs and other diseases.
MDMA/Ecstasy is a class A drug, this would lead you to believe it is extremely harmful. You can go to jail for 7 years for possessing it. But there is research being done on ecstasy for treating eating disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Plus there is very little harm in taking it, and it's not addictive.
LSD and magic mushrooms are class A drugs, yet they are perfectly healthy for you, much healthier than fast food. They can be used to treat anxiety disorders.
You are naming the least harmful drugs. I know some of those you named are relativley safe chemically. But drugs like heroin etc etc (can't remember all their names and don't want to go on the internet to find them because I'm at work) just destroy peoples lives - If you think they don't you have lived a very sheltered life. -
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Re: Drugs aren't illegal because they're harmfulCannabis won't beat the cancer?? Just relieve the pain associated with MS and certain cancer treatments.(Original post by Ewan)
They should at least legalise medical cannabis. It's absolutely ridiculous that it's still illegal while being legal in most of western Europe & parts of the USA...
To be fair I haven't done much research but if I felt cannabis might get me through cancer I would take it anyway. Screw the law, when it's something as bad as cancer you should try everything to beat that bitch.
