Is started this thread because of a remark about growing coca-crop. I know that right can be wrong and wrong can be right, but the rules prohibit the usage of softdrugs.
In Holland we have a serious debat in parliament whether or not to legalize the selling of cannabis (amongst others). I have done some thinking about it and would vote for a yes on legalization. Actually I can't think of a sound reason not to do it:
a) Booze does more to wreak havoc in society then softdrugs.
b) A considerable amount of cops would do better things like chasing actual criminals instead of checking up to this.
c) There is a big tax-advantage if you would and could tax the selling of softdrugs. (We already tax prostitutes and earn quite a buck doing so)
d) The people doing more drugs are the same people who are doing drugs already, illegal!
e) You would deal a big blow to international drugdealers who now make billions selling this stuff.
f) You could bring the drug problems in a clear and controleable framework from which you could start fighting hard drugs more efficient.

I know of the American attitude towards softdrugs (you nearly cruxified Clinton for it) but would legalizing it be a serious option. If not, why not?

define "soft-drugs"....

nope

Well if you started this in reference to Coca. Coca is the base element of Cocaine not a soft drug in any of it's forms bazuko, blow, crack whatever. It's a hard drug on both the Narcotic schedule and legend. The only way it could be considered a soft drug is if you want to stick a wad of coca leaves in your mouth and chew on em. Feel free. Once it's refined it's a hard drug.

Soft drugs- Marijuana are gateway drugs. In my experiance I have never arrested a crack addict, heroin junkie, meth head or pill popper who didn't start out as a dope smoker.

Not to mention the fact that the same people who traffic in hard drugs traffic in soft drugs.And soft drug use is not an exclusive use among drug users. One of the most popular items being sold right now is "Boy & Girl" which consists of a balloon of Marijuana and a balloon of heroin. Double your pleasure double your fun .

Cops having better things to do than look for soft drugs, like chase actual criminals. Well actually anyone in possession of marijuana is an actual criminal since possession of same is a criminal offense. And the great thing about marijuana is you don't really have to look for it you can find it dope smokers generally find you. They commit other crimes.

Well my story doesn't include any chemical based drug or drugs already known as hard drugs. Different ballgame different rules all together. But:

C

ops having better things to do than look for soft drugs, like chase actual criminals. Well actually anyone in possession of marijuana is an actual criminal since possession of same is a criminal offense

They wouldn't be if you would legalize it. The ones who actually commit the crimes like break ins, theft etc. are mostly trying to score a shot of .... hard drugs. My experience overhere is that the soft drug scene is actually quite mellow. Most of them are tourists experimenting with something and then go home. If seen scores and scores of Americans, Brits, Germans, French blowing away, with hardly any trouble. The troubles caused with soft drugs are easily swept away if you would legalize.
So if you are against, you are against. But don't mix up hard drugs, with it own set of problems, with soft drugs!

(We already tax prostitutes and earn quite a buck doing so)

Sorry here in America we like to stick to some values. Such as not legalizeing prostitution, or have an army of stoners wandering around our streets pedelling drugs to our kids.

Ever consider that theres sometings a little more important tham money such as a nations moral base.

Oh please Rabs, overthere they hand out guns so every twisted kid can walk into his school and blast away.
If your statement was true hten the porn industry would be considerable less and there wouldn't be any prostitutes. Fact is: they are there so why ignore this? Why not try to control this and yes, earn at the same time.

Fact is to: that we don't have "army of stoners" walking our street and there is very little dealing going on. Why pay for lousy drugs for a lot of money when you get good quality (checked by the medical services for bad chemicals) for a reasonable price. Closing your eyes doesn't maki it go away!
And I know that there are many things more important then money. But if everybody thought so world-trade would be on it ass, because the truly unscrupuloused people will be found in the top of many MNC's.

All drugs should be legalized, because the fact that they're illegal doesn't affect their availability. If they became legal, the state could put taxes of them and organized crime would lose an important source of income. Also, the "war on drugs", which costs a lot, would stop.

Originally Posted by 03USMC

Soft drugs- Marijuana are gateway drugs. In my experiance I have never arrested a crack addict, heroin junkie, meth head or pill popper who didn't start out as a dope smoker.

Tobacco is a gateway drug: Everyone who is a dope smoker smokes cigarettes or has smoked cigatettes before they started smoking pot. Alcohol is also a gateway drug: Most people who smoked weed have already drunk some alcohol before that. Air is a gateway drug: Everyone who's done any drugs is strangely addicted to breathing air.

In closing: "If you live in a free country you have the right to put whatever you want into your own body. Anything else is b******t!"

Penn Jilette on "Penn & Teller B******t!" episode "The War on Drugs"

Closing your eyes doesn't maki it go away!

But when we strat giving out harsh punishments for drug posession it sure as hell will. When we actually secure our borders it sure as hell will. Oh sorry because were America we dont have the right to enforce our borders .

If your statement was true hten the porn industry would be considerable less and there wouldn't be any prostitutes.

Big diffrence downloading something off the internet and going out and haveing sex with random women. At least IMHO

fact that they're illegal doesn't affect their availability. If they became legal, the state could put taxes of them and organized crime would lose an important source of income. Also, the "war on drugs", which costs a lot, would stop

.

Like i said, stricter enforment harshing punishments. And yes i do beleive legality effects supply. If you legalized drugs the price of drugs would drop and guess what more people would buy them. Ive seen them effects "soft-drugs" can have on people, you should at least have to pay a lot to do that to youreslf.

Originally Posted by Ted

Well my story doesn't include any chemical based drug or drugs already known as hard drugs. Different ballgame different rules all together. But:

C

They wouldn't be if you would legalize it. The ones who actually commit the crimes like break ins, theft etc. are mostly trying to score a shot of .... hard drugs. My experience overhere is that the soft drug scene is actually quite mellow. Most of them are tourists experimenting with something and then go home. If seen scores and scores of Americans, Brits, Germans, French blowing away, with hardly any trouble. The troubles caused with soft drugs are easily swept away if you would legalize.
So if you are against, you are against. But don't mix up hard drugs, with it own set of problems, with soft drugs!

Hate to break it to ya. Very little Marijuana is grown in anorganic grow type operation. The reason being this. Growers are in it for a profit, the more and better weed they produce the more money they make. Be it from open field cultivation with nirate fertilizers ala the Sinoloa Cartel and Pacifico Cartels or indoor and hydrophonic grows that require more fertilization due to lack of natural elements to produce the big buds.

Different rules? Nope dealers and traffickers are dealers and traffickers. Dosen't matter what they peddle. Ask the family of SA Enrique Camerena. They do whats necessary to protect their business regardless of whats in the bundle.

Really dope smokers don't commit crimes, like armed robbery, burglery, auto-theft color me freakin surprised I guess I've been dealing with anmolies for 10 years. Imagine that. A dope smoker will commit crimes in order to get his weed. To include beating a dealer to death for his stash.

Legaliztion does not fix the problems, treatment might. Legalization gives the growers and producers a black market to sell on thereby increasing the amount on the streets.

And no where in this country do we hand out guns to twisted kids. Thats an assinine argument.