Quote:
Originally Posted by Shotsie
I highly doubt that, if anything it would make them worse because we are a nation of over excessive consumers. I think addiction rates would skyrocket if hard drugs like cocaine and heroin were to be decriminalized. I'm all in favor of legalizing marijuana, just not the harder shit.
|
I disagree. I used to think this way but here is why I have changed my mind.
Sure, we would likely see an uptick (at least at first) in users and potential addicts. However, since we are no longer wasting billions jailing people and fighting a war on drugs that we can't win we can use a fraction of that money to get these people help and educate people about the dangers of drugs. Look to smoking as an example. 50 years ago damn near everyone smoked. It was just part of life. Now smoking rates are at all time lows and dropping.
Also, the free market will curb drug use naturally through drug testing at work. My brother works of a construction company that randomly tests. In addition to random tests if there is an accident on the job everyone on that site has to test. If you come back dirty and were not directly involved with the accident you still get a 30 day suspension without pay. The second offense is 90 days the third you are fired. If you come back dirty and were involved in accident you have to go before a board that will either suspend you for 90 days without pay of fire you. If you get the suspension that is your one and only warning if it happens again you are fired.
So my brother is not about to throw his career away because he wants to smoke a little weed or do some drug. There are a ton of companies out there just like that.
I think a combination of education, treatment and testing on the job would keep the numbers about where they are now and we would free up billions and billions of dollars every year.