Words simply fail me-

[Nephythys]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Just over the United States northwest border, addicts will soon be able to get their fix from the Canadian government in the form of free heroin administered by nurses and doctors on the taxpayer's dime.

"They're using heroin. They'll continue to use heroin. What we're trying to do is prevent them from getting something irreversible like HIV, hep [hepatitis] C and overdose death,” said Dr. Martin Schechter, the director of the heroin program.

Free Heroin

[Alex]

I agree it is wrong to give it away for free. The government should at least grow their own poppy and process it themselves and then sell it at non-profit prices.

The real benefit isn't even the reduction in transmittable disease but the elimination of the black market and ancillary criminal activity that goes along with it. Of course, 431 participants in all of Canada won't change much. They should just legalize it and create a healthy functioning above-board market for it. And all the other illegal recreational drugs too.

[Nephythys]

It fractures the mind to think that they expect the taxpayers to pay for this. If I lived there I would be livid!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I agree it is wrong to give it away for free. The government should at least grow their own poppy and process it themselves and then sell it at non-profit prices.

The real benefit isn't even the reduction in transmittable disease but the elimination of the black market and ancillary criminal activity that goes along with it. Of course, 431 participants in all of Canada won't change much. They should just legalize it and create a healthy functioning above-board market for it. And all the other illegal recreational drugs too.

Here, here. The vast majority of problems associated with drugs are problems resulting from the fact that they are illegal. Murders, theft, destitution, addicts not receiving treatment, exhorbitant law enforcement costs, organized crime. All would be drastically reduced, some of it eliminated, simply by legalizing it. If it's sold through legal channels, people won't be killed for owing their brother's roomate's buddy's connection $1,400. If it's legal, the government would be collecting tax on its import and sale rather then spending billions to fight a losing battle. If it's legal, people won't be too afraid of being arrested or losing their job to seek professional help if they need it. If it's legal, proper research can be done to determine drugs' effects and find effective treatments for problems. If it's legal, the market will set reasonable prices rather than crime syndicates extorting as much as they can so people will have less need to knock over the local liquor store for the next fix.

If it's illegal, people still get their drugs, it just requires theft and murder to do it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

It fractures the mind to think that they expect the taxpayers to pay for this. If I lived there I would be livid!

I've heard of this before. It's not like methedone has been a much better solution. And it's quite possible that this small taxpayer expense will offset the much larger expense these people would incur if they're getting their drugs off the street and end up with AIDS or hepetitis.

[Name]

Yes, we need to start legalizing drugs, for all the reasons GD described. It just doesn't and hasn't made sense to me to spend billions on a fight that will never be won. When the government can make a massive profit off taxes on it, and maybe reduce the income tax burden on all of us.

[Nephythys]

I'm unsure of my stand on that- but I sure as hell would not want my tax dollars going to pay for some addict to get a "fix"

[SacTown Chronic]

The drop in crime would be mind-blowing. The only crime that wouldn't drop would be the steal-to-afford-my-fix crowd.

I bet the police and prison guard unions would fight like hell against any legalization efforts. I also wonder if the powers-that-be are really interested in a reduction of the crime rate.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham is among supporters who say the heroin giveaway will let junkies shoot up without having to resort to theft or prostitution to buy their drugs. Breaking that cycle of crime, they argue, is the first step toward turning an addict's life around.

“I’m not a medical expert, this is not my field. I'm an expert in public safety," Graham said. "And if this will help reduce the crime rate — I'm all for it."

Good thing you don't have to pay taxes in Canada.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I agree it is wrong to give it away for free. The government should at least grow their own poppy and process it themselves and then sell it at non-profit prices.

The real benefit isn't even the reduction in transmittable disease but the elimination of the black market and ancillary criminal activity that goes along with it. Of course, 431 participants in all of Canada won't change much. They should just legalize it and create a healthy functioning above-board market for it. And all the other illegal recreational drugs too.

Exactly!

There will always be Heroin addicts, but the black market dealers are the ones the benefit from the sale of drugs.