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Originally posted by smooth
Why can't it be a question of both one's freedom and what's best for society?
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You can, but ultimately the rights of the individual should be considered first. At least thats how its supposed to work in America.
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Originally posted by Macheath
I think the problem is the views on legalization are so polarized.
Look at cigarettes and alcohol. These have been legal (except for a few years) in western society for a hell of a long time yet we still have troubles with them. We don't fully know how to help alcoholics properly. We have trouble figuring out how to protect the majority without infringing on the rights of the individual.
If it were legalized, some people would still abuse it just like they abuse cigarettes and alcohol now. These people would slip through the cracks because of the old polarizing opinions. Many legalizers would, in their triumph pretend that nobody was suffering;
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Well right now its the legislators and law enforcement who pretend no one is suffering every time they make a drug bust and congragulate themselves for keeping someone from getting high for a night. We're in the same boat we are in now, legal or not legal. At least if drugs are legal we will probably have less people in jail, and those who choose to use a drug responsibly have the freedom to do so.
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while many prohibitionists would petulantly cross their arms and declare that, "īt's your problem now hippies!"
It would take a lot of cooperative effort and clearheadedness to make smoking a joint just like going to the pub for a quiet drink.
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The problem exists even while drugs are illegal. Everywhere you go.. people are high. Next time you go out to eat.. guess what? People in the resteraunt are high. Next time you go to a movie.. there are people there who are high. And guess what.. when alcohol prohibition was in affect, you could go to a party.. and guess what? People were probably drunk.
I havnt heard anyone make a rational argument as to why tobacco and alcohol should be legal and other "recreational chemicals" should be illegal. If someone can make that argument here, please do. I would like to hear that side of the debate.