Why are illegal drugs illegal?

I don't get it.

If I want to take drugs it should be my choice weather I do or not. Its obvious that taking a drug can be harmful but you acknowledge that by taking it, you may be risking your life and this have nothing to do with the Police etc.

What's you opinion on this?

asked Aug 26 '11 at 11:58

JBurnham
56●2●3●7

Thanks to everyone who answered! I don't understand that if Cigarettes aren't illegal why drugs should be. If the Governments would tax them and everything they could make a lot of money. Whilst I never had, and never will do bad drugs/cigarettes etc. I think we should follow the lead of Holland.

(Aug 29 '11 at 17:48) JBurnham

Try setting up a tobacco shredder in your garage and distributing the products and you'll soon find out that it's not as 'legal' as you imagine! Tobacco sales are strictly regulated, and tobacco products are increasingly less freely available. There is a law proposed in the UK to ban the public display of tobacco products in shops for example.

The 'lead of Holland' is widely misunderstood. Although there are certain categories of drug which are classed differently than in most countries regulation is no less strict.

As for the suggestion that it is only your own life that you put at risk, try telling that to the families of people killed by drivers on highs, or mugged for the money necessary to feed a drug habit, or injured by needles carelessly discarded.

(Nov 17 '12 at 09:16) dunfiddlin

17 Answers:

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Consider the following;

The laws against abuse of such drugs are actually there to protect the people, not take away rights.
Such law protects the would-be abuser as well as the people around that person.
While causing self bodily harm is imminent, violent behavior from drug abuse may cause person to hurt others.

No, don't even talk to me about how weed doesn't harm the user or the people around him. I've seen people who die from marijuana, due to indirect effects of the drug itself.

answered Aug 26 '11 at 12:11

Billy Aoki
3.7k●27●37●78

Drugs are illegal because they do not pay contributions to the goverment as tabaco and alcohol does, some tabaco and alcohol have the same effects as drugs but since they pay they are legal. Thats why some alcohol is illegal and it's a crime to sell it or home make it; they simply not pay.

(Aug 27 '11 at 08:06) Patxi

Hmm? I didn't know alcohol had the same tax thingy as cigarettes until recently. I'm not a big drinker, only once every few months and I don't smoke. :P

(Sep 08 '11 at 23:34) Billy Aoki

I just think it's funny that where weed is illegal, cigarettes are not. Same thing with caffeine and cocaine, the difference is close to nothing, but still cocaine is classed as a heavy drug. Alcohol is not forbidden, I know plenty of people who died because of alcohol, more people die from alcohol than heroine or cocaine. Coffee is more poisonous than a LSD pill is. The reason why many hard drugs are illegal is because we don't know their long time effects. well there are many legal drugs which we have no clue what the long time effects are.. it's just stupid

answered Aug 26 '11 at 14:54

Yarvaxea
4.0k●56●72●113

The reason certain drugs are illegal is that without the illegality of those drugs, the powers at be couldn't use it's "war on drugs" to confiscate highly addictive drugs from small time growers/makers whom are simply trying to make a living amongst rampant poverty and "destroy" them(resell them) and at the same time, arrest anyone trying to do the same as them, thus eliminating their competition and enslaving all whom use these drugs to their will at the threat of arrest, raid, and/or deportation.

(Aug 27 '11 at 03:14) zman

"Same thing with caffeine and cocaine, the difference is close to nothing." What are you smoking?

I drink a lot of caffeine, yet i am not stealing to get my next fix, i don't find myself in the bad part of town in an ally having withdrawals debilitating if i don't have it. When i do have it, i am still able to function and think clearly, just not go to bed.

maybe chemical they are very similar, but the effects they have on the system are very different.

(Nov 17 '12 at 09:44) trueb

3	Unfortunately, drugs users don't just affect themselves, but they also affect those who are around them. That is why certain drugs should be illegal. answered Sep 09 '11 at 22:17 wordkev 676●10●15●23

Certain drugs are illegal most likely because of the consideration of the health of many. Certain drugs shouldn't be used and certain drugs shouldn't be used publicly. But, I never liked the thought of using drugs, because I never knew what could come of it. It may also be to prevent people from getting themselves into unfortunate situations in life. All in all, though, I don't have any idea why they are illegal. I do agree with you that if one had a choice, one should acknowledge the harms the drug can do to you, but having a choice.... especially at a young age, probably will not suffice in a good choice.

answered Aug 26 '11 at 12:05

windowstechtalker
641●23●27●37

There is, of course, no such thing as an illegal drug. What is illegal is the manufacture and sale of drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) without licence. It is a very subtle ploy by the pro-drug lobby to suggest that their intoxicant of choice is in some kind of special category but of course it is not. If these drugs were 'legalised' they would still be subject to regulation and without doubt prescription only (assuming you could find a doctor mad enough to sign such a prescription!

answered Nov 17 '12 at 09:03

dunfiddlin
1.2k●4●18

1	OMG, holy crap, thanks everyone. I needed an essay topic for school and this is great, especially with all the opinions posted here. This forum is amazing. answered Nov 18 '12 at 00:04 Brett 116●6●6●11

Certain drugs are illegal for the following reasons:

A drug could be very dangerous for your health, and could cause death.
If someone takes a drug, it could cause you to be violent as a result.

The laws are here to protect both a drug user and other people. Other legal drugs may not cause as much damage and/or side-effects.

answered Aug 27 '11 at 08:41

Ryan1996
91●2●3●8

I'd say this is a moot point though. Cigarettes cause Lung Cancer, Emphysema, and as demonstrated by Jim Morrison can destroy a good voice.

Take a look at domestic violence in the united states, a good number of those cases are alcohol induced rages, so really neither of these points would be 'valid' per say.

(Sep 09 '11 at 14:02) HWLights92

yeah cigaretts do cause lung cancer after years of use.

many illegal drugs can cause death with the slightest of overdoses

(Nov 17 '12 at 09:46) trueb

0	DIdn't the gov develop most of those drugs? answered Sep 09 '11 at 00:25 avrgboy 1.6k●141●153●183 Back then it was all about making money, and not much of the health benefits/issues. (Sep 09 '11 at 02:51) Billy Aoki

If the government's war on drugs hurts us more than drug legalization would, then somebody needs to make the government stop hurting us. Forty Years Is Enough.

answered Sep 17 '11 at 20:48

Kevan
196●1●6

I'm sorry Kev, but as it is right now legalizing drugs like cocaine, meth and similar ones would be the start of the end of the world. And it's not like we don't already have enough problems to start a catastrophe.

(Sep 18 '11 at 04:56) Billy Aoki

You reckon you'd start doing coke if they'd just make it legal? If you wouldn't, who do you think would? www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2011/06/23/the-drug-war-what-is-it-good-for/

(Sep 19 '11 at 02:02) Kevan

Personally, I wouldn't. But there are millions others who find the urge to try something new as long as it's proven to be legal, without even thinking of the actual pros and cons of consuming such a drug in the long run.

Also, your link seems to be dead.

(Sep 19 '11 at 02:10) Billy Aoki

0	Drugs do bad things to good people answered Sep 18 '11 at 05:29 joosthere 216●18●20●28

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