Drug Legalization

SweetLikeSugar · Jun 3, 2011

Pot would be a start, but ultimately i'm for all drugs. Once you criminalize something you create an underground society dictated by power and violence, not the greatest thing in the world.

So you feel that heroin, crack and crystal meth should be legalized?? Seriously??? :eek:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

Has anyone had a change in mind regarding the subject since you've began your nursing career?

I used to be pro decriminalization of marijuana, but now want it kept illegal.

The more that I see and know about "recreational drugs" , even marijuana, the more I want them kept out of public's hands. A disproportionate number destroy more than just themselves, they often suck up public dollars on "disability" or in rehab, they are difficult to care for, they often endanger public safety. Their self inflicted disease and injuries are expensive, and trying to provide adequate pain control is quite difficult and often dangerous to the pt. They frequently spread diseases among themselves and others through shooting IV drugs, skin popping.

We have "failed" in the war on drugs.....I feel that if we have kept some people from drugs or limited their exposure, than we are holding back some of the floodgates opening, dumping more damaged people into the system.

We have failed to balance the budget, to achieve real equality and justice, and to prevent teens from getting pregnant - Does that mean, that we don't even try?

Will legalizing drugs stop gangs from wreaking havoc? Doubtfully, as they would invariably find something worse.

We have legal alcohol and tobacco and they do gross harm. I would be perfectfully fine with making either or both illegal. While I do like an occasional margarita, my life would be just as fulfilling, if I had to do without, especially if it meant less harm to others, that I would not have to detox anyone repeatedly just to have them return a few weeks later, with acute pancreatitis. Or watch people suffer tremendously and die as they suffocate from emphysema.

The longer that I work as a nurse, the more people that I meet that say,"Drugs should be legal - I handle mine without any problems"......the more I realize that most are fooling themselves and that drugs are a crutch in life, that weakens its' user.

And that those that "need" recreational drugs to relax/help them, really need to get help in dealing with those issues in a practical matter, rather than masking the symptoms.

Many people may dislike this opinion, but it is how I feel.

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

Actually cocaine use to be legal and was the key ingredient in coca cola. Many drugs started off legal and ended up illegal. As for some drugs, we use them in the hospital settings already (not just the usual narcotics but forms of meth and coke as well), but under close supervision.

As for people who go to jail for using drugs, well... thats sketchy (I would say rehab would be more appropriate) because they are physically hurting themselves. As for the people selling drugs - well, they definitely deserve to be in jail, technically they are enabling and killing people (their users, even if it's a choice, their basically holding the gun. If someone says "I'm suicidal" and YOU shoot them, whose at fault?). Yes I agree tobacco and alcohol companies are legally selling drugs, and killing people (or contributing to people killing themselves). Hey, if they make those illegal, I'm all for it. People might be ****** they can't get their nicotine and alcohol legally - but I'm sure marijuana users feel the same.

Many drugs aren't legal because the government cannot make money off of them and there will always be illegal/underground selling of drugs.

I do not personally believe in drug use, or making it legal. I can see where you're trying to go with this, but I do not think it's a good idea. We have a hard enough time trying to regulate alcohol use. And don't get me started on cigarettes, we have young teens smoking cigarettes and getting addicted early. We really don't need to make other drugs more accessible.

rntofnp2014 · Jun 3, 2011

Not happy with legalize "ALL". Rather see liquor and tobacco made a controlled substance instead. That said, I'm all for cannibus legalization. I've seen where it has helped many patients whether pill form, smoke, or food additive. Certainly cannibus has redeemable qualities and unlike the other, "ALL" category and including liquor and tobacco, cannibus hasn't ever killed anyone. Research: www.norml.org

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

I think making drugs legal would be horrible :crying2:

Know what would be 100x worse than legalizing, taxing, restricting, and regulating pot? :confused:

What is 100x worse is using my tax dollars to continuing the war on drugs: therefore enabling massive organized crime, gang violence, militarizing police departments and their super aggro SWAT raids for everything, supporting the removal of all 4th amendment rights, maintain the highest incarceration rate in the world by throwing pot heads in jail for years where I have to pay for them with my tax money instead of letting them go about their "self-abuse" of sitting around laughing at the TV and being a working citizen. :eek:

The war on drugs has NOTHING to show for results.

Colorado recently legalized pot in everything but name. Basically, go to the doc, tell them you stubbed your toe a couple years ago, get a Rx, buy pot from a legal dispensary. The result? Increased tax revenue and the illegal pot smuggling, gangs, and drug dealing have drastically DECREASED. That is about it. Now if they would just pass some laws to make the dispensaries less visible.

As a public health issue, the war on drugs is a disaster.

A prestigious international panel staffed by world leaders came to the same conclusion: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110602/wl_nm/us_drugs_commission

The AMA sees the use of cannabis as medicine http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5614233-503544.html and wants the FDA to reclassify it as no longer a schedule I.

I think nurses have a place in this debate. It's not like the druggies are very good at organizing. Or we can let the arch-conservatives call the shots while the drug companies kick back and laugh about charging $120 per pill for some antinausea meds.

So by your argument we should legalize sexually abusing children as well, eliminating the underground society of pedophiles. If you really think that drug usage hurts no one but the user you are very wrong.

This statement is beyond idiotic. Do they teach logic anymore? How is one person introducing harmful chemicals into THEIR OWN body equal to sexually assaulting ANOTHER PERSON, a child? :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

I laugh when specious emotional arguments pop up: "Think of the children! Oh, won't someone please think of the children?" But, "smokin' dope=child rape" really takes the cake.

taalyn_1, CNA · Jun 3, 2011

Im for legalized pot use, I dont see the harm at all. Its a lot less dangerous than smoking or alcohol. But I would not legalize any other "street" drug. Its never gonna happen though. The war on drugs has been effective in showing us how the general population can be lead into a biased opinion by media manipulation. Pot smokers should not be jailed, the dealers well maybe, but the regular joe smoking a blunt after work to relax.. nah. Just my opinion, and yes I know its not the popular one, but hey we are still in america for now.

Turd Ferguson · Jun 3, 2011

This statement is beyond idiotic. Do they teach logic anymore? How is one person introducing harmful chemicals into THEIR OWN body equal to sexually assaulting ANOTHER PERSON, a child? :uhoh3:
I laugh when specious emotional arguments pop up: "Think of the children! Oh, won't someone please think of the children?" But, "smokin' dope=child rape" really takes the cake.

I don't think she was directly correlating "smokin' dope=child rape", as you put it. She was making the observation that one of the OP's arguing points was that making an activity illegal just leads to more problems (and it does... just look at prohibition). So by the OP's logic, nothing should be made illegal because it will just lead to these underground groups finding a way to cause more trouble.

One person introducing harmful chemicals into their own body does not only affect them. Talk to any family that has ever had a family member go through the struggles of addiction in any form. Just because the chemicals are entering your body only does not mean you are the only one affected by them.

In my opinion, your statement is "beyond idiotic" because you took it literally and failed to look at it in an abstract manner. They still teach critical thinking in nursing school, right?

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

Drugs will NEVER be legal in this country as long as the Government and CIA is involved in the drug business. Making them contraband creates an environment where the Drug Cartels make insane profits which in turn find their way to our law enforcement and elected officials. The drug cartels in Mexico make BILLIONS which from a profit standpoint makes them as powerful financially as Exxon and Goldman Sachs. Don't think for a minute that the people who run the cartels don't have paid lobbyists in Washington working on their behalf.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 3, 2011

I assume you are talking about "street" drugs, not EVERYTHING. The Netherlands tried this tactic years ago, to legalize marijuana and give out free needles to the addicts for safety sake. Total flop. People came from all over the world to sleep in the streets and parks, taking advantage of the system and in general creating a locale for useless (to society) addicts. Recently the law was repealed. I believe they restrict the needles to citizens only. These people need more than free access to their crutches, they need free access to mental health.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 3, 2011

Drugs will NEVER be legal in this country as long as the Government and CIA is involved in the drug business. Making them contraband creates an environment where the Drug Cartels make insane profits which in turn find their way to our law enforcement and elected officials. The drug cartels in Mexico make BILLIONS which from a profit standpoint makes them as powerful financially as Exxon and Goldman Sachs. Don't think for a minute that the people who run the cartels don't have paid lobbyists in Washington working on their behalf.

...and it ain't new!

vald96 · Jun 3, 2011

i am kind confused of what drug you are trying to legalize....if its controlled DEA is on top of that right now believe me........there are regulations,policies covering the issues on drugs....

lrobinson5 · Jun 3, 2011

I don't think she was directly correlating "smokin' dope=child rape", as you put it. She was making the observation that one of the OP's arguing points was that making an activity illegal just leads to more problems (and it does... just look at prohibition). So by the OP's logic, nothing should be made illegal because it will just lead to these underground groups finding a way to cause more trouble.
One person introducing harmful chemicals into their own body does not only affect them. Talk to any family that has ever had a family member go through the struggles of addiction in any form. Just because the chemicals are entering your body only does not mean you are the only one affected by them.
In my opinion, your statement is "beyond idiotic" because you took it literally and failed to look at it in an abstract manner. They still teach critical thinking in nursing school, right?

No matter what way you meant for it to go across, to compare sexual assault and drugs in the same breath is a divisive and manipulative tactic. Just like when people compare marrying a cow to two gay couples getting married. Maybe they can be seen as similar, but the reason you are comparing them is to make your point of view sound better, or the other point of view sound ridiculous in this case.

As for me, I would much rather see tobacco and alcohol go next, but all that would happen is a black market and an even larger amount wasted on prosecuting the moonshine business. I don't think that making something legal will cause more people to use it. I am not a smoker or a drinker, and if they make pot legal it wouldn't change my desire to go try it out.

I think the main argument here is where do you want the money to go? Right now we spend so much money punishing people that have a problem, and so many people are making millions by selling drugs to these troubled individuals. I would much rather prosecute the dealers to the fullest extent of the law. Putting a crack addict in jail doesn't help that person get better, which should be our focus.