Comments on: Congrats! US now imprisons more people than China

By: Mark Hill

Mark Hill — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:36:40 +0000

I am pretty confident that habitual IV drug use destroys your veins etc.

Needle drugs carry a whole new level of nastiness I just can’t be tolerant in my attitude towards.

By: Terje (say tay-a)

Terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:27:08 +0000

Pommy – please cite something to support the claim that heroin destroys the body. I’ve posted details that suggests a possible increase in kidney damage in the “Heroin” thread but even that is questionable. I think you’re propogating something of a myth however I’m willing to see evidence that suggests otherwise.

Would you accept that we should ban hate speech if I can cite data showing a link to hate crimes?

If we question all wife beaters and examine why they did it I’m sure we can find a long list of things that should be banned. Female insubordination would no doubt make the list. Should we ban female insubordination? I’m sure sexual frustration probably rates a mention. Not sure if you can ban that one.

I agree with your accessment of alcohol. However prohibition makes things worse.

By: Mark Hill

Mark Hill — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:10:21 +0000

“Haevy alcohol…”

Bullshit. I like to drink, I don’t pick fights and I don’t abuse women.

I’ve got no doubt cocaine and meth are bad, and they might really mess you up.

The fact is the laws aren’t worth the cost, and most of the time, it remains a private matter.

By: pommygranate

pommygranate — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:59:31 +0000

The problem i have with drugs, and especially alcohol, is that it does impact on others’ lives. Heavy users of drugs are not the gentle weed-smoking caricatures that are portrayed in Hollywood. Heroin, for example, utterly destroys the body as ever increasing amounts are needed to gain the same high.

Heavy alcohol use causes men to become aggressive – to fight each other and abuse women.

I had a very close friend who was a habitual cocaine user – supposedly a ‘mild’ drug. He ended up taking so much to maintain the highs , that it changed his personality beyond recognition. He ended up beating his wife unconscious.

To say that drug taking is a private matter with no implications for others is nonsense.

By: John Humphreys

John Humphreys — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:49:38 +0000

Pommy — heroin has never robbed anybody. Without human use, it just sits there. The argument that it leads people to do naughty things is the exact same argument used against free speech. But ultimately, we must blame humans for their actions, and not blame words or drugs or guns. That’s the meaning of responsibility.

And just like free speech, the argument in favour of legalisation is that free people should be able to do whatever they like with their own property so long as it’s voluntary and peaceful.

By: Terje Petersen

Terje Petersen — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:32:22 +0000

I’ve created a new topic to discuss the medical implications of heroin use. Call it my attempt at myth busting.

http://alsblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/heroin/

By: Brendan Halfweeg

Brendan Halfweeg — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:22:18 +0000

Pommy,

If you want to ban the use of drugs on your property and expend your resources on convincing people that drugs are bad, mmmkay, then that is your business. The government should not be involved in how people use their own bodies.

I’m with Terje, I’m surprised to hear this ban drugs malarchy from you.

By: Terje (say tay-a)

Terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:46:23 +0000

In my second paragraph at #33 I meant to say “Clearly moral rights and legal rights are not the same thing …”

Pommy – use of clean heroin has no notable medical implications unless you overdose. Promoting intolerance and hatred is a far more despicable pass time. I’m surprised that you are seriously taking such a position.

By: Tim Quilty

Tim Quilty — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:36:10 +0000

People don’t have a right not to be gaoled?!?!? That’s like libertarianism without the liberty? Sort of an arianism?
And you take offence at Sukrit’s little bit of anti-americanism? I’m sure you had a sudden rush of blood to the brain and had no idea what you were typing, right?

(you may be able to tell I’m reading these posts from the bottom up…)

By: Tim Quilty

Tim Quilty — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:30:04 +0000

Well, that’s rubbish… There is no more cost to society of allowing someone to mainline heroin as there is to allowing them free speach. Legal heroin would stop the theft and the violence and pretty much the medical care. The cost to society comes from blocking the right to mainline heroin.