Decriminalisation of drugs... your thoughts?

CheapCharlie

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I didn't say Portugal wasn't a success.

The Portugal statistics are very clear, the behaviour of hard core drug users hasn't changed.

Portugal is a success with a large drop drug users

What they have now is far far better than what they had before
 

CheapCharlie

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Jun 12, 2015
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A relevant article calling for a truce on drugs
Time to call a truce in the war on drugs
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/time-to-call-a-truce-in-the-war-on-drugs/

some key points from the article:
* Dr James Freeman looks at the evidence; and the evidence shows prohibition has failed, and decriminalising drugs ought to save lives and deliver both social and economic benefit.

* I think it’s time we admit defeat and look towards harm minimisation and decriminalisation. Portugal and the Netherlands have both demonstrated that this approach does not cause the sky to fall in.

* The history of how some drugs came to be illegal in Australia and around the world is interesting. Up until the late 19th century there was minimal regulation of drugs. The first law to be passed was a ban on smokable opium which was said to be the evil Chinaman’s habit and corrupting our fine white women. Further restrictions on narcotics followed in the early 20th century. A soldier leaving for Gallipoli could have walked into a pharmacy and purchased an ounce of cocaine, but upon his return from the war would have found it banned.

*In 2017, there were 1,224 deaths on our roads so the death rate from illegal drugs is 50 per cent higher than the road toll and yet all that is being done is more of the same “Just Say No” policy which has been proven by time not to work.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That’s exactly what we are doing now with our war on drugs. It’s never worked, and it continues not to work. So what would work?
 
Portugal is a success with a large drop drug users

What they have now is far far better than what they had before

Opinion trying to be passed off as fact.

Not to mention it totally ignores the objective of the Portugese changes in drug laws.
 

CheapCharlie

Norm Smith Medallist
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Opinion trying to be passed off as fact.

Not to mention it totally ignores the objective of the Portugese changes in drug laws.

We discussed all this at length previously in this thread
I presented you with plenty of facts , all of which went against what you were saying.
Lets not debate the success of Portugal yet again
 
... all of which went against what you were saying.

You mean like this?

Some random drug user in a video makes for sensationalist viewing which doesnt repesent the actuality of what is happening

Multiple docos tracked down the same drug addict to give his opinion, so they could play it on ACA.

Yeah. Nah.

The 2 docos that I have watched both championed the Portugal approach. But don't let facts get in the way of your ignorant opinion.
 

CheapCharlie

Norm Smith Medallist
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You mean like this?



Multiple docos tracked down the same drug addict to give his opinion, so they could play it on ACA.

Yeah. Nah.

The 2 docos that I have watched both championed the Portugal approach. But don't let facts get in the way of your ignorant opinion.
No not like that.. from a month or so back

Great!
So u agree portugal is a positive example of decriminalising drugs?
 
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I would never have picked this:

Acute Pulmonary Physiologic Effects of Smoked Marijuana and Oral Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Healthy Young Men

Donald P. Tashkin, M.D., Bertrand J. Shapiro, M.D. and Ira M. Frank, M.D.



Abstract

Acute pulmonary physiologic effects of smoked marijuana and oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol were investigated in 32 healthy, experienced male marijuana smokers. After smoking of marijuana assayed at either 1 or 2 per cent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, specific airway conductance increased immediately, reached peak levels at 15 minutes and was still significantly elevated at 60 minutes. In contrast, specific airway conductance decreased after both tobacco smoking and deep-breathing maneuvers that simulated marijuana smoking. Inhalation of 1250 μg of isoproterenol caused specific conductance to rise to less than 60 per cent of the average peak increase observed after 2 per cent marijuana. After ingestion of 10, 15 and 20 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in 12 subjects, specific airway conductance rose significantly as compared with placebo, attained peak levels three hours after ingestion and remained elevated for four to six hours. These findings indicate that both smoked marijuana and oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol cause definite dilatation of the airways lasting as long as 60 minutes and six hours, respectively. (N Engl J Med 289:336–341, 1973)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197308162890702
 
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Portugal is a success with a large drop drug users

What they have now is far far better than what they had before
Opinion trying to be passed off as fact.

Not to mention it totally ignores the objective of the Portugese changes in drug laws.
Portugal, post-Salazar was a pretty unique place that required a unique solution. A great result for them no doubt. But I don't see them being comparable to Australia in any sense. We'd more likely follow the behavioural trends of decriminalisation in the US. Have you had a look at early results in the US "marijuana" states?
In any case Portugal isn't a shining light of Europe, they're better in some regards and worse in others comparative to their EU counterparts.
edr2018-fig2.11.png
edr2018-fig3.9.png
 

CatFan79

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Remove the burden of blame from the person who chose to take the drugs and onto the person who produced them?

No!

Why this push to exclude people from personal responsibility in our society these days?

Why are these mironic kids taking this crap? They obviously have a lack of strong role models in their life.

Why is there a market for these dealers?
 

CatFan79

Norm Smith Medallist
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I think the politicians opened the door when they made alcohol more and more expensive.

Don't drink, don't do drugs. Wow that was hard. :rolleyes:

Yet if the Government introduce pill testing then they become responsible for what these morons ingest... Again, excusing these weak fools from personal responsibility. No thanks.

Ultimately the burden on the person taking the pills is their mortality, should we delve into the whole mechanics of natural selection?
 
Don't drink, don't do drugs. Wow that was hard. :rolleyes:

Yet if the Government introduce pill testing then they become responsible for what these morons ingest... Again, excusing these weak fools from personal responsibility. No thanks.

Ultimately the burden on the person taking the pills is their mortality, should we delve into the whole mechanics of natural selection?
The war on drugs is a con job, Ehrlichman 'fessed up. You've been had mate, stop cheering preventable death.
 
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