Drug Legalization

Nurses Activism

Published

I am adamant about the legalization of all drugs and substances, but I don't get much support from other members of the nursing community. Are my ideas that radical? Has anyone had a change in mind regarding the subject since you've began your nursing career?

Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

And now even some well known members of the US Congress, namely Reps. R Paul MD and B Franks are coming out for the legalization of some currently illegal drugs.

Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
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.

Finally! Someone else who understands logic and rhetoric!:up:

I'll confess, I have the same issues with alcohol, and to a lesser extent tobacco, that I do with illicit drugs. I personally would have no issue with 100K tons of pharmaceutical grade meth and coke dropped on the street. Things would be exciting for a week, then settle down substantially.;)

The legalization argument is a logical fallacy, as is the "war on drugs". Legalize it, and the gangs will do what the gangs did with cigs and alcohol- hijack tax-stamped shipments for resale, and keep the illicit side running.

If we want to win the war on drugs, marginalize the drug culture. Pee & blood-screens for public assistence, and no health, housing or food freebies for users. We're starting to do that with smokers & at risk of stroke patients(counselling and higher premiums/cancellation of policy for non-compliance- of course, these people work, but essential carrot-and-stick still applies.)...

Also, I'm not a sociological acolyte. My perception is that individuals are unwilling to sacrifice individual desires, but still demand their needs(trauma care, narcan, rehab, food, housing, child-care) from society, thereby creating a subculture that is self-gratifying and self-replicating. The behavior is "criminalized" because it is destructive to the society. E.g., individuals placed in predomination to the society results in anarchy- might makes right.

I have many reasons for my opinion. To begin with the drug war has failed, put many non-violent offenders in the penal system and caused it to become overcrowded. It has funded the mexican gang violence by raising the prices and profit of all drugs sold in america. People will use drugs whether they are legal or not, you should not be imprisoned because of something you did that hurts nobody else but yourself. We should put out effort on educating people about the harmful effects of consistent drug use as opposed to telling them it's just wrong because it's wrong. I believe drugs can be regulated and controlled much like alcohol and tobacco. Take a look at the drug laws in Portugal and the studies that have been done about the success of these laws.

I have a problem with the statement "you should not be imprisoned because of something you did that hurts nobody else but yourself."

We are all connected in some form. Just imagine how many people die from drivers under the influence. Have you considered the incidents of theft that exist whether filed or unfiled because of individuals trying to feed an addiction? How many family members are negatively affected by certain drugs? It's only so long before it hits home.

Illegal drugs have the potential to affect every community. It does not matter whether you are directly or indirectly involved.

You may be more successful with this argument in regards to preventing ticketing for not weaing seat belts, but legalizing all forms of drugs is not one of them.:uhoh3:

I'd rather a man go to jail for doing illegal drugs than to eventually wait for him to rob my grandmother for a quick fix or kill my brother in an accident in order for him to go to jail later. (prevention)

Specializes in ICU.
Finally! Someone else who understands logic and rhetoric!:up:

I'll confess, I have the same issues with alcohol, and to a lesser extent tobacco, that I do with illicit drugs. I personally would have no issue with 100K tons of pharmaceutical grade meth and coke dropped on the street. Things would be exciting for a week, then settle down substantially.;)

The legalization argument is a logical fallacy, as is the "war on drugs". Legalize it, and the gangs will do what the gangs did with cigs and alcohol- hijack tax-stamped shipments for resale, and keep the illicit side running.

If we want to win the war on drugs, marginalize the drug culture. Pee & blood-screens for public assistence, and no health, housing or food freebies for users. We're starting to do that with smokers & at risk of stroke patients(counselling and higher premiums/cancellation of policy for non-compliance- of course, these people work, but essential carrot-and-stick still applies.)...

Also, I'm not a sociological acolyte. My perception is that individuals are unwilling to sacrifice individual desires, but still demand their needs(trauma care, narcan, rehab, food, housing, child-care) from society, thereby creating a subculture that is self-gratifying and self-replicating. The behavior is "criminalized" because it is destructive to the society. E.g., individuals placed in predomination to the society results in anarchy- might makes right.

Really? Comparing the rape and molestation of a child to the legalization of drugs, you guys are stretching just a little bit. But hell, lets see if i can make some ridiculously insane comparisons of my own that make absolutely no sense

1. All non-religious persons could transfer their thoughts and beliefs to others, therefore they should all be executed.

2. If a child is old enough to be alone in a shopping mall, they are old enough to work in the sex industry.

3. If a person is allowed to take a life in self-defense, we should make murder legal.

4. According to the bible women are supposed to be submissive, therefore there is no such thing as rape in a marriage.

5. If a person is diagnosed with a mental illness, they should be locked up or executed to prevent harm to anyone else.

6. If we legalize drugs, we should legalize child abuse.

I guess it's like the bible says in passage 5:16 "You can't cure stupid."

I have a problem with the statement "you should not be imprisoned because of something you did that hurts nobody else but yourself."

We are all connected in some form. Just imagine how many people die from drivers under the influence. Have you considered the incidents of theft that exist whether filed or unfiled because of individuals trying to feed an addiction? How many family members are negatively affected by certain drugs? It's only so long before it hits home.

Illegal drugs have the potential to affect every community. It does not matter whether you are directly or indirectly involved.

You may be more successful with this argument in regards to preventing ticketing for not weaing seat belts, but legalizing all forms of drugs is not one of them.:uhoh3:

I'd rather a man go to jail for doing illegal drugs than to eventually wait for him to rob my grandmother for a quick fix or kill my brother in an accident in order for him to go to jail later. (prevention)

I understand what you are saying completely, I just can't buy into it considering how drugs are treated in our society. If people were serious about preventing everything you just said, alcohol would most certainly be illegal again. The problem is it is socially acceptable to go get smashed at a party, just not get high on any of the other drugs. I would prefer that all drugs are illegal, but that doesn't work. People WILL get their alcohol, just like they WILL get whatever fix they need. Whether it is illegal or not, if they need the money to buy crack, they are still going to rob your grandma, the only difference is where the money is going.

I do not take any drugs, never have, don't have a desire to. I just think that the alcohol prohibition utterly failed, and it isn't a far stretch to compare it with the war on drugs.

Specializes in icu/er.

6 times as many homicides are committed by people who are drugged up as that is comittted by those who are looking for money to but drugs with. most crimes are committed by those who are on drugs not by those who are looking for a way to finance their drug use. dea report 2003. alaska legalized pot in the 70's but it was a disaster and was recinded.

6 times as many homicides are committed by people who are drugged up as that is comittted by those who are looking for money to but drugs with. most crimes are committed by those who are on drugs not by those who are looking for a way to finance their drug use. dea report 2003. alaska legalized pot in the 70's but it was a disaster and was recinded.

I can't find anything about it being a disaster. They were never able to rescind it, but instead changed the legal limit from less than 4 ounces to less than 1. While I am all ears for every argument about public safety, I think at the very least marijuana should not be considered on the same level with other drugs like heroin and crack/cocaine.

Specializes in icu/er.

mary jane is a gateway drug. if it was legal it would be just another mind altering substance that would allow a infinite amount of idiots to get behind the wheel and kill inocent people.

mary jane is a gateway drug. if it was legal it would be just another mind altering substance that would allow a infinite amount of idiots to get behind the wheel and kill inocent people.

I disagree. The reason people don't smoke pot is the same reason people don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes: they don't want to. If pot, crack/cocaine, ecstasy, heroine etc. were made legal tomorrow I wouldn't go out and have any of them. I wouldn't even try them once. The type of people that get behind the wheel while drunk or high are the type of people that don't care about the laws in this country or the safety of others. Do you think they care if it is legal or illegal?

My only point is the same issue I have ALWAYS had with this debate....alcohol and tobacco for all their faults...are still LEGAL...it says alot about the personalities involved that pot is not. Yet they are still willing to take the "risk" associated , to indulge.

Specializes in icu/er.

i disagree with you, the main reason many many people dont smoke pot is they dont have access to it and the risk of getting busted is to great of a concern. i have been to plenty a party where the issue of "who has some pot they want to sell" has stated. now if you legalize this stuff people will eventually try it out of pure curiosity, pure pressure so on...i also believe that if u got a fella that is a alcoholic and is a smoker..he/she would eventually start tokin a joint.

i disagree with you, the main reason many many people dont smoke pot is they dont have access to it and the risk of getting busted is to great of a concern. i have been to plenty a party where the issue of "who has some pot they want to sell" has stated. now if you legalize this stuff people will eventually try it out of pure curiosity, pure pressure so on...i also believe that if u got a fella that is a alcoholic and is a smoker..he/she would eventually start tokin a joint.

Then by definition wouldn't that make alcohol and cigarettes gateway drugs? All I am saying is if you look at the alcohol industry, there isn't a street gang selling hooch on the black market. Marijuana is the only drug I would ever accept to be legalized, the rest of them should be decriminalized. People addicted to drugs need help, not imprisonment. Drug dealers are the ones that should face steep punishments.

+ Add a Comment