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Should Cocaine Be Legal?
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Post by
MyTie
1) Making it legal or illegal will not affect its usage as much as you think. Therefore, usage isn't the point I'm argueing.
Good point. But can we agree then, that
if
it is within the government's power to effectively restrict its use, then the government should do so—and beyond that it's not a question of whether it should be done but whether the government is capable?True. I can agree with that. Furthermore, I would argue that the government's attempts to control cocaine have been ineffective. It would be much more effective to eliminate the competition (dealers), and then exercise regulation in the interest of the community. The only way to do this is to make it legal (as far as I'm aware).2) Personal responsibility comes BEFORE you do cocaine in the first place. Same with drinking. It comes BEFORE you get smashed and get behind the wheel. If I were to get drunk I would drive. I would be violent. I would not be in control. So, I exercise that self control by not allowing myself to get drunk, or to do cocaine.
So, since we are drawing the alcohol/cocaine responsibility parallel... should getting drunk be illegal?
You said yourself: "Exercising self restraint while drinking is a different story, but you can't exercise self restraint while smoking or doing cocaine". Clearly you put them in a different category, as do I. I believe the two cases are different, and should be treated differently by the government.
You missed my point, or maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'll reword my point: Cocaine self control comes before useing it the first time, unlike alcohol, which can be used in moderation, so they should not be compared. I think in essence we agree, but my wording was easily misunderstood earlier. Cocaine Regulation =/= Alcohol Regulation, although they are both things that need personal responsibility.
Post by
184848
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Post by
MyTie
I really wish there was a correct response for this debate.
Just... don't hate. Hard drugs are some of the worst mistakes anyone can make, but it can't be one more reason for people to harbor hatred for others.
P.S. I'm really glad this topic is being treated more maturely than past debates.
All good debates have grey areas. There is rarely a definate 'correct' response. Biases and opinions abound.
I am also glad it has stayed flame free for the most part. Except for that Malgayne guy. He's really bitter. Kidding.
Post by
172996
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Post by
TheMediator
Anyway, legalizing marijuana, cocaine, heroin or any other won't necessarily solve the users problems.
Don't lump marijuana with cocaine and heroin, alcohol is much closer to cocaine than marijuana is.
Post by
MyTie
Anyway, legalizing marijuana, cocaine, heroin or any other won't necessarily solve the users problems.
Don't lump marijuana with cocaine and heroin, alcohol is much closer to cocaine than marijuana is.
Marijuana is a terrible drug. Cocaine is a terrible drug. Alcohol is a terrible drug....
I lumped them all together. Please point out where I am wrong. Or... were you just trying to defend marijuana, as if it were a good thing?
Post by
TheMediator
Anyway, legalizing marijuana, cocaine, heroin or any other won't necessarily solve the users problems.
Don't lump marijuana with cocaine and heroin, alcohol is much closer to cocaine than marijuana is.
Marijuana is a terrible drug. Cocaine is a terrible drug. Alcohol is a terrible drug....
I lumped them all together. Please point out where I am wrong. Or... were you just trying to defend marijuana, as if it were a good thing?
That quote was from zapato. Anyways, yeah, I'm trying to defend marijuana as if it were a good thing, it shouldn't even be considered a drug IMO, considering the stigma attached to the word. I almost rather call it a herb.
Post by
172996
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Post by
MyTie
That quote was from zapato. Anyways, yeah, I'm trying to defend marijuana as if it were a good thing, it shouldn't even be considered a drug IMO, considering the stigma attached to the word. I almost rather call it a herb.
How trendy of you. Off topic though. Please keep it on legalization of cocaine.
Post by
172996
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Post by
MyTie
Off topic, again.
By that definition, bits of broken glass is a drug. But, I digress.... please please please discuss the potental for legalizing cocaine and the implications thereof.
Post by
TheMediator
Just as an FYI to anyone thinking that marijuana isn't a drug...
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.
With that being said, I don't think that anything that can alter any normal function should be legal. Prescription drugs are a different story, although they can be as abused as the illegal drugs and create a high as well. Legalizing anything won't solve any problems, except for maybe the budget deficit.
Uhhh... you're taking one definition of drug and applying it to another context. Caffeine should be banned by your logic.
This is the definition you meant to take I believe....
Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids or hallucinogens. They may be used for perceived beneficial effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and behavior. Some drugs can cause addiction and habituation
Also this -
Off topic, again.
By that definition, bits of broken glass is a drug. But, I digress.... please please please discuss the potental for legalizing cocaine and the implications thereof.
Post by
172996
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Post by
184848
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Post by
334295
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Post by
MyTie
Legalizing anything won't solve any problems
Did you read what I said on page 9 MyTie?
Obvoiusly, the repeal of prohibition solved many problems, and pertains at least loosely to the organized crime factor, which is also a factor here. I could also cite the legalization of speech in the USSR improving human rights.
You are going to have to work more on explaining what you mean by this, and how it pertains to cocaine. As it stands, you're not saying much.
Edit: @Montezuma7 - cite a reference to the racial thing. I find it hard to believe that was the reason cocaine was made illegal. Anyway, if it was back then, it is not a racially motivated arguement right now. Let's keep on topic please.
Post by
172996
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Post by
172996
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Post by
TheMediator
Sorry about off-topic, but:
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug
So
technically
, yes... although:
Some governments define the term drug by law. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act definition of "drug" includes "articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals" and "articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals." Consistent with that definition, the U.S. separately defines narcotic drugs and controlled substances, which may include non-drugs, and
explicitly excludes tobacco, caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
Just reading this should be enough to show why it shouldn't be legalized:
Cocaine
(partilcularly the Effects and health issues section).
Although the plus (not that I support it) would be taxing part of the $77 billion....
Your second quote supports the counter argument not yours - it includes all those substances but it makes exceptions for tobacoo, caffeine, and alcohol... it wouldn't need to make an exception for them if they weren't drugs.
Post by
149406
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