Legality of drugs and other substances

Benjamin Davies started this discussion 9 days ago.

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Should drugs be legal?

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Benjamin Davies’s avatar

All drugs should be legal because people have a right to do what they want, as long as it isn’t violating the rights of others.

Battle tested
Benjamin Davies’s avatar

People on drugs violate the rights of others way more often.

Criticism of #4058Criticized1
Benjamin Davies’s avatar

If they violate rights they should be punished by the law, that applies regardless of if they take drugs or not.

Criticism of #4059
Ben GK’s avatar

Define legal, please.

Benjamin Davies’s avatar

Not prohibited by law.

Dennis Hackethal’s avatar

Getting someone hooked on an addictive substance to get repeat business is predatory. It’s not an honest way to do business. Even if consuming drugs was legal, maybe the selling of drugs should still be illegal.

Criticism of #4058Criticized2
Dennis Hackethal’s avatar

But that way, you pretty much ensure that only scumbags sell drugs. And they definitely don’t care about their customers.

Criticism of #4131
Dennis Hackethal’s avatar

Related to #4062, making any part of the drug trade illegal just gives gangs and cartels a leg up over law-abiding citizens.

Criticism of #4131
Benjamin Davies’s avatar

Drugs are a net negative for society.

Criticism of #4058Criticized1
Benjamin Davies’s avatar

The purpose of the law isn’t to minimise negatives and maximise positives. The purpose of the law is to uphold the rights of people.

Criticism of #4137
Benjamin Davies’s avatar

Legalising drugs will bring lawful competition to cartels and gangs, breaking geographical monopolies that perpetuate other (actual) criminal activity.

Benjamin Davies’s avatar
2nd of 2 versions

Drugs are a net negative for society.
(This branch of the conversation has been moved to #4137)

Benjamin Davies’s avatar

Those who advocate making most/all drugs illegal tend to think alcohol should remain legal, despite alcohol having many of the same problems as drugs.