Hard Drugs
|
Hard drugs such as cocaine and
opiates are dangerous, both to the users and those around the
users. They are addictive as well, so the “right to
choose” argument is weaker than it is for softer drugs like
marijuana. On the other hand, making these drugs illegal subsidizes
dangerous criminal gangs, and diverts users from the dilute forms
(coca leaf tea, smoked opium gum) to the more concentrated forms
(crack, heroin).Finally, because discreet drug use is operationally
a victimless crime, we require police state tactics
in order to have any chance at successful enforcement. |
Should we change our laws against
hard drugs? |
A. No. Keep the laws we have on the books, and
enforce at current levels. |
B. No. Keep existing laws and extend vigorous
enforcement. Treat rich white users as harshly as poor minorities
caught with hard drugs. |
C. Increase the penalties for possession to
those for dealing so the courts don’t have to prove intention
to distribute. |
D. In addition to existing enforcement, seal
the borders so cocaine and opium cannot get into the country. |
E. Keep the laws, but back off on some of the
more aggressive police state tactics (no knock searches, civil
asset forfeiture...). Instead, seal the borders and search for the
drugs at border crossings instead of doing dangerous no-knock
searches on citizens. |
F. Yes. but legalize the more dilute forms only
(cf. coca leaf, smokeable opium). |
G. Legalize hard drugs for licensed users only.
(Like Timothy Leary’s proposal. License drug use like we
license drivers and pilots.) |
H. Legalize dilute forms for licensed users
only. |
I. Legalize hard drugs for limited
jurisdictions only (Nevada, Indian reservations…), like we do
for casino gambling today. |
J. Legalize dilute forms of hard drugs for
limited jurisdictions only. |
K. Legalize dilute forms for licensed users
within limited jurisdictions. |
L. Legalize all hard drugs period. Punish
only those who cannot handle their highs and hurt others. |