Drug Reform

A question about : Drug Reform

Isn't it time the drug laws in the UK were reformed? We need to put an end to laws punishing people for making choices for their own bodies and minds and punishing those with an illness (that's right addiction is an illness)

We should take into consideration the drug reform happening around the world in places such as america with the growing legalization of Cannabis and Portugal who legalized all drugs in order to eradicate drug addiction.

I believe the time for change on these outdated ill informed laws is NOW

What are your opinions?

Best answers:

• Yes, we should change the laws in this area. However I don't agree they should be legalised. Instead they should be combining punishment for users with treatment and far more money needs to go into this area.
• I agree they need reformed but only to be stricter, I have seen the damage that drugs do to people, not 1 of them is safe as some people claim
• Yes the laws need to be changed.
  Posession - 1st offence Ј10000 fine, Second offence 5 years 3rd - 10 years see where that is going.
  Dealing - 1st offence 5 years, second 20 years, third - no parole.
  Soon sort out the junkies
• Shouldn't this be in the polls forum? I don't think there is a MSE campaign on this?
• Isn't it time the drug laws in the UK were reformed? We need to put an end to laws punishing people for making choices for their own bodies and minds and punishing those with an illness (that's right addiction is an illness)
  We should take into consideration the drug reform happening around the world in places such as america with the growing legalization of Cannabis and Portugal who legalized all drugs in order to eradicate drug addiction.
• The trouble is that most folk only have the propoganda in the media and movies by which to judge all and any type of drug use. Of they were interested enough to research the subject they would see that they are being led up the garden path and it's all about money. Cannabis is illegal, it's illegal to posess or grow in the uk and in court you cannot use the defence of "medical nessecity" . If you are chums with the government though you can legally grow cannabis in the uk and sell it all over the world as "medicine" . I could go on about this all day but the ignorantly blissfull amongst us are unable or uncomfortable with the idea that everything they think they know as fact is propoganda and their egos won't let them see the truth behind all of the lies , it's a complete waste of time attempting to educate people who think they know it all already. If anybody is in any way interested I would strongly reccomend they seek out a copy of "The cult of pharmacology" by Richard DeGrandpree because I'm not wasting any more of my life trying to educate the ignorant.
• The poll is much too simplistic. Someone who wants to make possession a hanging offence and someone who wants complete freedom of use would both click the Yes button.
• Totally agree with this, much better places to put our money and resources!
• I voted yes, I am not certain on how this could be implemented in the UK but when it comes to Cannabis, I feel that a good start would be to decriminalize it like they have in Amsterdam.
  I like the idea that I could go to a local coffee shop, get high and chill out.
  Some like to get their high from, Tobacco, Alcohol and some, like me THC. I work all week and like most, relax at weekends. If you look at the mainstream view of Cannabis in places like here (UK) you will find a trend, that Cannabis is ''used'' by ''chav'' types and ''dole dossers'' don't believe me? Just watch an episode of Jeremy kyle.
  I mean, we have Tobacco and Alcohol which in my view do so much more worse than good, and then we have Cannabis which I struggle to criticize and I am not being bias. Yes like any drug Cannabis can be abused, but in moderation I really do not see an issue with it at all, I really don't.
  It is funny how some places in the world have it as a legal herb and others illegal. I am still, to this date to read an article on why Cannabis should remain 'illegal', especially when drugs like Tobacco and Alcohol are legally available worldwide.
• The drug laws should indeed be tightened up. Users should be dealt with as criminals and made to do cold turkey until they are dried out.
  Drug addicts are pandered to like babies but very most often THEY made the choice and THEY should pay the price. For every drug addict, there are many, many victims who suffer in their wake - the burglary victims, the theft, the cheating, the muggings, and so on.
  If the drug addicts are dealt with the drug dealers will have no one to supply to. And I am being serious.
• I will tell you of just one example.
  A very stable family consisting of Mother and Father (both birth mother and birth father) sister and her husband with twins living locally (both birth parents to the twins) a brother and another sister.
  No divorce in the family. Lovely clean home, both parents worked and these parents doted equally on all of their children. Waves of support without spoiling or neglect. Very keen on what their children were doing and took interest in their desires and ambitions.
  All the children were loved, no neglect, no abuse, no "underlying" issues. He became a heroin addict. He left many victims in his wake yet HE was treated as the ultimate victim. Poor little druggie, not his fault.
  He made the decision, showing off in front of his friends, playing the big I am. He stole off anyone who gave him a chance and lied through his teeth all the time. I knew them very well. His mother and father could not have been any more loving or any more supportive.
  For that support, they were rewarded with heartache, family valuables being stolen by him, false burglaries when it was he himself and other druggies and dealers damaging their property and family car out of trying to get at him for money he owed.
  He made a choice and he should have done cold turkey in a room on his own to dry out.