Comments on: Be Careful Where You Step

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:51:54 +0000

Personal production of non-distilled alcohol is permitted, but distillation requires some kind of license I’m pretty sure. Making heroin (assuming you have raw opium) requires quite a bit more than fermentation, and possibly involves dangerous chemicals and procedures.

Cannabis, on the other hand, requires nothing more than water and sunlight.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:36:01 +0000

Alcohol kills more people than all of the illegal drugs combined, and causes a much large cost to society. The exemption for personal use is in effect for alcohol.

Most of the problems associated with drugs are secondary to the drugs themselves.

Mass production would require normal regulation, but personal production for personal use should not be regulated as it is a waste of resources.

The sale of alcohol requires licensing and taxes, and that should be applied to any intoxicant sold commercially.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:23:23 +0000

You can regulate without legislating morality. That’s my point. We insist on regulation for legally prescribed pharmaceuticals and heroin should be no different. Cannabis does not fit in the same category, is my point. It is an herb, not a drug, and anyone can simply grow it if they want and should not be prosecuted. Regulations should still prohibit sale to minors and should have normal agricultural controls, taxes on non-medical purchases, etc.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:17:47 +0000

That’s a pretty weird way of dealing with things. I was thinking more along the way of New York or Florida, but in any case you can legally make small quantities of alcoholic beverages for you own use in every jurisdiction I’m aware of.

One of the major problems with heroin is the lack of consistency. Almost every OD and every fatal OD I encountered was the result of an unexpectedly high concentration of the drug. Legal manufacturing and quality control should nearly eliminate that problem.

You can’t legislate morality or intelligence. Stupid people do stupid things. Self-destructive people will self-destruct. The most society can do is to ensure that the people have consistent information and there are programs for those who want to quit.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:51:31 +0000

Alcohol is treated differently in different states. In Pennsylvania, you can only buy liquor at a state store, wine at a state or wine store, beer by the case at a distributor or by the sixpack at a bar, and further restrictions on days and times that these establishments can be open.

The restrictions for alcohol are not the same restrictions appropriate for heroin, in my opinion.

Nor for cannabis, which should be simply legal to grow and possess for anyone 21 and over.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:43:51 +0000

Treat them like alcohol, the solution for the last Prohibition.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:58:51 +0000

We should end the war on drugs mentality but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t regulate drugs. Prohibition does not work, that is well proven by history and our present circumstance. Still, the same regulations are not appropriate for cannabis and heroin. One of these is beneficial to health and has no risk of causing an overdose fatality. The other…

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:32:45 +0000

Actually, Michael, wait until he has to pay for the Shrubbery’s “credit card abuse” and starts looking at the cost benefit ratio of the “war on drugs”. That is the weakest link in the current policy – it is hyper-expensive with hypo-effectiveness.

It doesn’t work, will never work, breeds corruption, and spends money we don’t have. Legalize and tax all drugs, because capitalism is the American way – let the market decide.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:32:09 +0000

I’m a little late to the thread, but I’ll chime in as well and say that I’m for Kucinich at the moment and only object to Edwards on the ground that he says cannabis should remain illegal except for medical use, lest we send the wrong message to the children. I’m glad he came around on medical, it means I’m protected if he wins, but I can’t vote to put my friends in jail.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:43:26 +0000

(Oops. In the Kuttner quote, please make that “governance.” If I could type…)

I am pretty much down to deciding between Kucinich and Edwards, that is, if they are still on the Texas ballot by the time of the primary. Dodd has my respect now, but not my vote, not without more solidity on issues such as jobs and trade, among others.

There are circumstances under which a presidential candidate cannot be Mr/Ms Nice Guy. As noted, Edwards and Kucinich, especially Edwards, both know how to turn opponents inside out when necessary. In this election… it is necessary.