<snip> I think you'll find that the drug that causes by far the most havoc
is perfectly legal. We should ban alcohol and legalise marijuana. Ever seen
stoners fight? <snip>
Soz Maggie, but that is bollocks.
Illegal drugs, and alcohol (to a much, much lesser extent), are the direct
cause on the level of criminal activity. Feeding a habit is responsible for
Assaults, burglary, theft, shoplifting, vagrancy, begging, robbery as well
as a multitude of Pubic Order offences. I am not saying that alcohol does
not cause problems as it clearly does but not to the extent of illegal
drugs.
Most folk convicted of drug offences are offered drug rehab and in the case
of heroin addition a prescribed substitute, in these cases the offender (as
they are now classed due to the crime) are monitored by Probation and have
to attend regular drug testing. However, these things only ever work if the
offender wishes to give up the drugs and in the majority of cases they
don't.
Making drugs legal would only increase the levels of criminal activity as
folk currently taking drugs would still be offending and those that would
take the newly legalised drugs would add to the tally. Drugs would still be
as addictive and folk still need to feed the habit.
Comparing the crime stats for Drugs versus Alcohol does not give the full
picture. Alcohol production is quality controlled, has particular supply
laws attached to it and (importantly for govt revenue purposes) taxed at
production level and then via vat at the pub. In order to make drugs legal
would then mean that it has to be the subject to the same processes, etc.
This would then have a direct impact upon the quality and cost, yes the
quality would increase, but then this can potentially cause problems in
people that would take the same amount of a purer substance. Improving the
quality would increase the costs, increasing the costs would lead to people
taking things back underground, mixing in talc, etc and then knocking it out
at a cheaper price.
For those interested, when it comes to drug testing heroin spends much less
time in the body than cannabis, approx 4 days compared to 3-4 months.
But then that is my opinion, however, I do see the impact of these things on
society in my work as a Magistrate where, as well as convicting and
sentencing on these crimes I also get to spend time with various other
agencies within the criminal justice systems. Last week I was at a Youth
Offenders Institute (age 15 to 18) where 85% of the inmates were there as
punishment for a crime where drugs were related.
Right then what's on the telly.
_______________________________________________
the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators
accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors.
Leedslist mailing list
[email protected]
http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist
and the hardest time in a sailor's day is to watch the sun as it sails away
