Words simply fail me-

[Name]

as long as the net revenues are greater then the costs to produce, there will always be a profit in production.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Users use whether it is legal or not, and I doubt any significant increase in users will be evident if legalized. Therefore, supply and demand doesn't work as you are thinking it will.

I would have to completely disagree with you. In my experience, there are plenty of people that do not do drugs very often simply because it is harder to get than booze. I used to be heavily involved in that kind of thing. With heroin you're talking about hardcore addiction - yes, they'll get it anyway they can. But with more recreational, less addictive drugs, you'll get people who simply use when it's around. I feel the same way about alcohol - if it were completely unavailable tomorrow, I wouldn't go to the black market to get it, but as it is, I'll pick up a six pack at the supermarket.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Huh? How is there no profit in meeting demand? By definition, there's always profit in supplying the demand.

My assertion is that demand does not increase enough to make it worth while for the drug companies.

Also, I'm sure Columbian drug Lords and the Mexican cartels will really be happy allowing their business to go legit. There is no way they will stop exporting cocaine, basically saturating the marketplace and driving prices down so that it will be unprofitable for legit companies.

Those who are producing and selling illegally will not stop doing it illegally simply because there are legal outlets. They want their profits and will be unwilling to share them with drug companies. I would even predict a certain amount of violence directed at board members of companies that would produce. Why do Columbian drug lords assassinate judges in Columbia? Because the judges enforce laws that cut into their bottom line. These people are evil and ruthless and it is about the money. If the demand does not completely dry up, they will be fighting for their illegal profits whether it is legal or not.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

Not sure what is wrong with the way I phrased anything- considering all I said was I would not want my tax dollars going for this.

You phrased it quite well. Straight to the point and stating your opnion on it. I see nothing wrong with the posts I've seen.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Those who are producing and selling illegally will not stop doing it illegally simply because there are legal outlets.

Bootleg alcohol stopped when Prohibition was tossed.

If the drug cartel starts making money without blood, they'll be happy, I think.

[Sheila]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I would have to completely disagree with you. In my experience, there are plenty of people that do not do drugs very often simply because it is harder to get than booze. I used to be heavily involved in that kind of thing. With heroin you're talking about hardcore addiction - yes, they'll get it anyway they can. But with more recreational, less addictive drugs, you'll get people who simply use when it's around. I feel the same way about alcohol - if it were completely unavailable tomorrow, I wouldn't go to the black market to get it, but as it is, I'll pick up a six pack at the supermarket.

Although I probably would react the same way as you, CP (although my last experience with illegal substances was when I was 20), I think this argument is not true for many people.

If you look at the countries where heroin and other drugs have been legalized, those countries have a huge problem with the vast numbers of people who become addicted and are no longer contributing members of society. Just the stories coming out of the Netherlands are scary.

So although in principle I agree with legalizing drugs, I'm not sure that it's the right thing to do either.

[Not Afraid]

Alcohol has been legal for a while now and there are nore alcoholics than ever before with numbers growing daily. Alcohol-related death is the #1 cause of death (combining all health matters caused by alcoholism).

Personally, I think heroin would be my drug of choice were it legalized. It give they type of "high" that I prefer.

And, there are no "less addictive" substances except maybe pot - and that's another discussion.

[Claire]

I don't know about elsewhere, but in Oregon, meth is a HUGE ass problem. Every crime everywhere in the state is blamed on meth addiction. Prostituting children, stealing the metal from bridges to sell, stealing cold medicine (which is now pretty much under lock and key now in Portland), neighborhoods going to hell because there's a meth lab on every street corner, you name it, it's all being done.....because of addiction to meth.

I'm not sure what can be done about it. It doesn't seem like legalizing it and manufacturing meth in a "safe lab" is the solution.

I don't think it's any different with heroin. It's just too dangerous....the high, the addiction, the associated health risks.

Legalizing pot on the other hand....my position has wavered over the years. Currently, I'm leaning toward a controlled legalization of it. But who would control it and how? I have no freaking clue!!

I'm not completely averse to the program they have in Canada....I like where they want to go with it, but it's hard to stomach the concept here in the tax-paying States.

[Not Afraid]

Why is Pot different? You can't drive after smoking it? The same legal laws would apply. Maybe it's addicting, maybe not (medical opinion differs) but alcohol is addicting and logal. I just can't "get" it.

Of course, I'm one who says either make alcohol illegal or legalize the lot of it.

[Claire]

I guess my beef is with the physical toll that heroin and meth take on the body versus something like pot.

Kelly's uncle is......as I type.....wasting away to nothing and dying due to the effects of alcohol on his various systems. His liver is shot, as are several other vital organs and he's just waiting to die.....nothing can be done. So I have seen the mess that alcohol can do a body (and a family--he's got three grown children that he basically ditched 20 years ago, because alcohol was more important). But it's such an extreme case.

I have nowhere special I'm going with this rambling post....my thoughts on all of it have shifted over the last several years, so I don't have a firm stance anymore.