BattleMoose wrote:I certainly think we need to move towards decriminalisation. Although I am exceedingly uncomfortable with decriminalising things like heroin and meth. Regardless law enforcement should leave users the hell alone and only focus on those who are profiting from the drug trade.
I would like to see a staggered approach, decriminalise cannabis and ecstasy, something similar to the Netherlands approach, see what changes, what were the benefits and negatives to society as a result and then adjust towards the harder more damaging drugs.
At the moment though, I am not sure I could ever agree with decriminalising and trading of drugs on the order of heroin. Although I don't think possession should be criminal.
If it became a medical matter, then some reasonable approaches may be found.
Meth is so awful. Not because people want a high of some kind.
People want that, for as many reasons as there are people. More.
There are more reasons than there are people. I am sure of it.
I want coffee in the morning. Do I need it? no! It is additive.
I have gone through the headache for three days several times.
I still want coffee. One day I want it to get me going,
Another day I want it because it reminds me of people I have loved.
(shrug) It's a drug.
If drug use becomes a medical matter, we can move toward sane living.
Many drugs allow for sane living. Very few are No Go drugs.
Meth is so awful because of the way it is made.
That is what I came to believe after doing the reading and doing the interviews.
What are Meth users looking for? Is there a safer way to deliver that?
Meth may be a special case.
What is safe and produced by drug companies that will fill the needs of The People?
Cocaine and Heroin have been with us a long time.
We can live with the drugs. We can not and should not live with poor behavior from our people.
I do not know much about the way The People live. I have been around heroin addicts. I did not know they were heroin addicts for a long time. They had a laid back lifestyle. (shrug) I thought they were easy going people. Their home was clean and they had interests that were interesting to me. One day they said they were sick.
Sick? I have a background in Nursing. I was ready to step in and take care of everyone.
As I was doing an assessment it became clear. They would be back up and feeling fine when their friend came in from The City.
I was sad about it. I was able to do little things they were not up to, that day.
Then they moved away to The City. Heron addicts can be as Normal as your next door neighbor.
They can also be as strange as your Father's weird uncle. The drug does not make the person.
What does? Each person is a product of both Nature and Nurture.
Beer, Pot, Tomatoes, tobacco. These things can be produced by any person with a little ambition and some luck.
These things should be in the same store on different shelves.
Remember; It has not been that long sense only crazy people ate tomatoes. They were believed to be poison, by most.
The more concentrated and complex drugs need professionals to make them and monitor them.
The more complex drugs and the use of those drugs needs professional oversight. I don't want to take on producing any drugs.
I have an education that tells me, "With all my education, I am not qualified to do that."
I know there are people, I have talked to them, that believe they are qualified to make, use and monitor these very complex substances. I think they are wrong. I also think many would turn to good compassionate professionals, if that were a choice.
What are we aiming at? To stop loss of life? Then no automobiles and all teen age men must be constrained.
It is not loss of life that is our final goal; it can't be. We will never beat death. We will never beat existential angst, either.
As smart as we are, we will never beat stupid, either.
It is Quality of life that we must be aiming at. We want more and better for ourselves and each other. Right?
If we are truly doing our best, it will be good enough. We are falling so short it is shameful.
Life is, just, an exchange of electrons; It is up to us to give it meaning.
We are all in The Gutter.
Some of us see The Gutter.
Some of us see The Stars.
by mr. Oscar Wilde.
Those that want to Know; Know.
Those that do not Know; Don't tell them.
They do terrible things to people that Tell Them.