Lib Dems to vote to decriminalise all drug use

Lib Dems to vote to decriminalise all drug use

www.independent.co.uk

The Liberal democrats are to call for the decriminalisation of all drugs, including heroin and coc aine, to be considered urgently by the Coalition Government in an effort to cut levels of addiction.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This is very exciting. Although in my mind only a halfway step towards leagalising, it is good that the topic is now in open debate. Lets hope that the MSM don't jump in with their usual fearmongering and missinformed opinion.

It looks pretty certain that this will pass into LibDem policy:

Senior Liberal Democrat sources predicted last night that the motion would be overwhelmingly passed, automatically making it party policy.

This means that hald of the UK's coalition government will officially sanction the decriminalisation of all drugs. This is such a progressive step for the UK, and follows the lead of Portugal, a country who has been in the news recently for the success of it's drugs policy.

There is no garuntee that this will be part of the parties election manifesto however. No matter - thhe fact that this will elivate the topic into a wide public debate can only be good.

www.independent.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

This is one of two things:

1. A lie.

2. Diversion from the mess our country is in.

Either way, Republicans have house majority, so maybe it's just the quarrel of the week.

reply to post by EmVeeFF


I believe the OP's thread concerns the UK and not the United States.

Just trying to clarify...

Originally posted by EmVeeFF
This is one of two things:

1. A lie.

2. Diversion from the mess our country is in.

Either way, Republicans have house majority, so maybe it's just the quarrel of the week.

This is in the UK

reply to post by Shamatt


Portugal was forced to decriminalize drugs because they had the highest hiv problem in the world. It's also important to note that instead of people serving jail time when caught with drugs they go into forced rehabilitation at a far greater cost to the state.

Also it is important to note that the amount of long term drug users has skyrocketed in that country since they've done this.

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by Shamatt

 

Portugal was forced to decriminalize drugs because they had the highest hiv problem in the world. It's also important to note that instead of people serving jail time when caught with drugs they go into forced rehabilitation at a far greater cost to the state.

Also it is important to note that the amount of long term drug users has skyrocketed in that country since they've done this.

Stats on the costs of treatment as opposed to imprisonment please.

Ha, you got me.

I'd say it still applies, I'm sure you guys aren't doing to much better over the pond, no?

reply to post by EmVeeFF


What has this to do with America? Try this for size and see if this would happen in the USA? The majority Party is a CONSERVATIVE party that is in coalition with the minority LIBERAL party.

It would be like John McCain being President, with Barack Obama as Vice President, with all the Representatives and Senators being in Office. (As the U.S is a two party system, the UK being a 3 party system, with an additional dozen other "minority" parties as well. If that was America nothing would be done as everyone would be in government. i.e. Republicans slash taxes, and then Democrats get the monies out of voters other ways. It would be easier to do f@@k all. And that, my friend, is what is happening in the UK. 5 years of f@@k all.

Stephen.

reply to post by bugsbunny1967


I think he replied to that in the post above yours.

As for decriminilisation, I'm for it - as long as we are educated on it too.

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by Shamatt

 

Portugal was forced to decriminalize drugs because they had the highest hiv problem in the world. It's also important to note that instead of people serving jail time when caught with drugs they go into forced rehabilitation at a far greater cost to the state.

The reason behind the action does not deminish the success of that action, nore does it mean it would have any less success in the UK.

Originally posted by kro32

Also it is important to note that the amount of long term drug users has skyrocketed in that country since they've done this.

This is not true. Perhaps you should read the very interesting information in this thread, which shows how very succesful Portugal has been:

Ten Years After Decriminalization, Drug Abuse Down by Half in Portugal

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by Shamatt

 

Portugal was forced to decriminalize drugs because they had the highest hiv problem in the world. It's also important to note that instead of people serving jail time when caught with drugs they go into forced rehabilitation at a far greater cost to the state.

Also it is important to note that the amount of long term drug users has skyrocketed in that country since they've done this.

I thought they did decriminalize drugs use there but wasn't sure. How come rehab is costing more than prison sentences? I wonder what the numbers are for drug users in general, more, less, about the same? Who sells the drugs, street dealers or coffee shops? Time for me to get googling

edit: Found this article, the title is promising.

5 Years After: Portugal's Drug Decriminalization Policy Shows Positive Results

www.scientificamerican.com...

In the face of a growing number of deaths and cases of HIV linked to drug abuse, the Portuguese government in 2001 tried a new tack to get a handle on the problem—it decriminalized the use and possession of heroin, coc aine, marijuana, '___' and other illicit street drugs. The theory: focusing on treatment and prevention instead of jailing users would decrease the number of deaths and infections.

Five years later, the number of deaths from street drug overdoses dropped from around 400 to 290 annually, and the number of new HIV cases caused by using dirty needles to inject heroin, coc aine and other illegal substances plummeted from nearly 1,400 in 2000 to about 400 in 2006, according to a report released recently by the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C, libertarian think tank.

Dealers definitely still get shafted

Under the Portuguese plan, penalties for people caught dealing and trafficking drugs are unchanged; dealers are still jailed and subjected to fines depending on the crime. But people caught using or possessing small amounts—defined as the amount needed for 10 days of personal use—are brought before what's known as a "Dissuasion Commission," an administrative body created by the 2001 law.

Originally posted by kro32
reply to post by Shamatt

 

Portugal was forced to decriminalize drugs because they had the highest hiv problem in the world.

No, I'm pretty certain Africa has the highest rates.

It's also important to note that instead of people serving jail time when caught with drugs they go into forced rehabilitation at a far greater cost to the state.

Statistics? Sources?

May as well post how many people are benefiting from rehab as opposed to incarceration while you are at it.

Also it is important to note that the amount of long term drug users has skyrocketed in that country since they've done this.

Source, statistics, stats?

Now, if they could just decriminalize the ownership of a firearm, England would be a great place. People are going to have to be armed to shoot the heroin zombies lumbering around.

reply to post by navy_vet_stg3


Nah, if they are Romero zombies a machete will work.

Snyder zombies will pose a much greater threat tho, methinks

On topic, I believe legalizing drugs will help remove that 'forbidden fruit' stigma... and I support it as long as sufficient education and documentation of users is in place.

Try this:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

In the post above yours. It is very interesting to see how Portugal is winning this battle.

Originally posted by navy_vet_stg3
Now, if they could just decriminalize the ownership of a firearm, England would be a great place. People are going to have to be armed to shoot the heroin zombies lumbering around.

Have you ever had the pleasure of actually being in the company of someone on heroin? They don't move So if you had a gun it would be akin too shootin' fish in de barrel

It's the coke & crack heads you'll need a gun for. Is crack a problem in the UK?

An added benefit will be less people will be concerned
with political policies and the state of the country.


More sedated sheep

Mostly you alarmists are Full of #e.....It has been shown more than once that decrimnalisation and treatment as well as proper education reduces drug dependencies in society.
Major drug addictions diminish with this approach and the whole cannabis issue is moot.....Its basically harmless to humans......
Does not desserve the smear campaign all these decades....
Cannabis laws provide a ready source of fairly easily managed prisoners for the private prisons.
These are just victums of the whole prison system.
Laws which provide jail time should be for serious offenses not cannabis.

Originally posted by Swills
Have you ever had the pleasure of actually being in the company of someone on heroin? They don't move

So if you had a gun it would be akin too shootin' fish in de barrel

It's the coke monkeys & crack heads you'll need a gun for. Is crack a problem in the UK?

edit on 5-8-2011 by Swills because: (no reason given)

I've seen some coming down off of heroin after they were arrested. If I could have, I would have shot them. I think it would have been best for all involved. It's not about a fair fight, so shooting fish in a barrel is fine with me.

Yes, the crack heads are a bigger threat. Reminds me of when a cop was asked why he carried a .45. His answer, "Because they don't make a .46." .45 ACP, the anti-crack head.

Back on drugs now. Smoke up people. You just make me more employable. I'm all for drug legalization, however employers shouldn't be forced to hire someone who's jacked up their brain. Just my opinion. Anyway, I'd probably smoke weed once a year if it was legal. I wonder what the Mexican cartels would peddle if drugs became legal in the U.S.?