Why are some drugs illegal?
The only answers I can find, suggest, that some drugs/substances are illegal due to the harm they cause. Is this really a good reason to criminalise people, stigmatise people? Looking at the wider picture, I can see harm is not just directed at the user but their family, friends and society.
The family and friends suffer due to the lies, stealing, possible violence, ill health and also the stigma. could legalisation change these, if it was done properly?
Society suffers the harm from the violence, crime and stigma. Could/would this change if these substances were legalised properly?
What do I mean by 'Properly'? Well, I'm not that naive, that I would suggest Mr Cameron or future prime ministers suddenly declared that users no longer faced prosecution if they were to use 'drugs'. But what if, trained pharmacies/services were to provide safe areas/places where people could use their substances? Licensed premises where such substances could be purchased and consumed? Does this sound familiar? They could be called a 'Public House'? Though I presume that during the passage of time this may be abbreviated or shortened so that it rolls of the tongue a little easier.
I'm getting ahead of my self a little. lets take it back a touch. Imagine, instead of the British tax payer funding 'treatment' in the way of alternative substances, which are then controlled by pharmacies, GP prescribing, accompanied by support services and therapies. The substances are purchased, as they are currently albeit illegally. Would it be to much to imagine that the government could then tax the product?
The global drug trade is estimated to be worth $320 billion of which the illegal or 'black market' accounts for 8% about $256,000,000 (Math is not a strong point).
Would the British government not like a piece of that? especially in the current climate.
You might think that the slice Britain would get, would not be worth the harm, destruction and crime that legalising drugs would bring. Hang on a moment, under the current system the government gains nothing from the illegal drug trade but yet has to pay for 'treatment'. Although I cannot find the full figure, it is estimated that the NHS side alone costs £160 million per year! I don't work for the NHS, so I'm guessing that this figure is only a part of the overall cost. Drugs are Illegal but they are still widely used and probably used somewhere near you.
The system is not working, the previous governments over the last 30+ years have not tried to 'Tackle Drugs' or 'Change Lives' but brush an issue which affects millions under the carpet by throwing money at it, hand over fist, cripple people with convictions because they wanted to put something in their body which other people dislike. people still use drugs and I believe that the issue is too big and far to scary for these "leaders" of our country to handle. they do not have the wisdom or strength to see they have been doing things backwards.
Yes, drug use may increase, but has this not already been predicted due to the financial state of the country? how long would the party last? at which point would it become common place for people to treat their body in a way that they choose?
How long can we as a 'Society' dictate what people should and should not use?
If you still believe legalisation or De-criminalisation is wrong I would like to hear what your plan would be? ask your self, do I disagree because I'm scared? or because my morals would not allow it? if this is the case, then legalising would not mean you had to use any substance. Please carry on with your alcoholic drink and remember to put your cigarettes in the bin provided.
Please remember that this is only my opinion, one formed by seing the harms illegal drugs can cause. It does not mean that any government in this generation would actually have the courage to try to Tackle Drugs or dream to Change Lives
