Peter Parka
Well-Known Member
Alright, I 'm not stupid, I'm never going to find a politician I am completely happy with, I just vote for the least worse choice. Seeing it was between him and a guy who still thinks there are WMDs in Iraq and the war was right, it wasn't too difficult who I voted for. I just cannot believe this guys latest blog though. He really has no idea!
Legitimisation of drugs will mean more illegality
I see that so-called legalisation of drugs is back on the political agenda. A number of MPs, led by former Labour Cabinet Minister Bob Ainsworth, have been calling for legalisation.
But, leaving the ethical arguments to one side for the moment, can drugs ever really be legal? Let us say drugs were legitimised tomorrow. Like alcohol and cigarettes they would inevitably be taxed. This would mean that drugs - like alcohol and cigarettes - would be available on the black market. Therefore, the dealers would still be needed - to supply that market. In addition, just as with various strains of tobacco and drink, there would be restrictions. What would happen? Those who wanted the stronger purer variety, would simply buy them off the black market, meaning that drug dealers would be as ubiquitous as ever.
As Alasdair Palmer writes in The Daily Telegraph:
"The reason is simple: making an activity legal does not necessarily stop there being a colossal illegal market. Sex between adults is legal, but that has not prevented the development of a huge sex industry, controlled by criminal gangs who kidnap, rape and enslave the girls involved"
So, even the utilitarian arguments for legitimising drugs are fundamentally flawed. And that is without the strong moral case against destroying society by giving the green light to mass substance abuse.
http://roberthalfon.blogspot.com/
Legitimisation of drugs will mean more illegality
I see that so-called legalisation of drugs is back on the political agenda. A number of MPs, led by former Labour Cabinet Minister Bob Ainsworth, have been calling for legalisation.
But, leaving the ethical arguments to one side for the moment, can drugs ever really be legal? Let us say drugs were legitimised tomorrow. Like alcohol and cigarettes they would inevitably be taxed. This would mean that drugs - like alcohol and cigarettes - would be available on the black market. Therefore, the dealers would still be needed - to supply that market. In addition, just as with various strains of tobacco and drink, there would be restrictions. What would happen? Those who wanted the stronger purer variety, would simply buy them off the black market, meaning that drug dealers would be as ubiquitous as ever.
As Alasdair Palmer writes in The Daily Telegraph:
"The reason is simple: making an activity legal does not necessarily stop there being a colossal illegal market. Sex between adults is legal, but that has not prevented the development of a huge sex industry, controlled by criminal gangs who kidnap, rape and enslave the girls involved"
So, even the utilitarian arguments for legitimising drugs are fundamentally flawed. And that is without the strong moral case against destroying society by giving the green light to mass substance abuse.
http://roberthalfon.blogspot.com/
