Thread: Ecstasy on the Rise...What's your take? :D

What do you mean by recieve no benefits? If it were legal they could tax it...

I would guess that actually the majority of voters have used drugs at some point.

Good ideas though. I asked the question because I really have no clue...

Originally Posted by Xei

What do you mean by recieve no benefits? If it were legal they could tax it...

But it's not. So at this point they don't. That second sentence hit it on the head.

Unless you count the fact that certain civil-service authority organizations receive/spend tons of money on "fighting" drugs.

Which is a matter of perspective, I suppose.

Uh think about it for a bit. The question is 'why do governments make it illegal'.

The answer isn't 'because they can't tax it because it's illegal because they can't tax it because it's illegal because'...

If it were legal, which is whole point of the question, they could tax it, so there's an incentive.

Originally Posted by Xei

Uh think about it for a bit. The question is 'why do governments make it illegal'.

The answer isn't 'because they can't tax it because it's illegal because they can't tax it because it's illegal because'...

If it were legal, which is whole point of the question, they could tax it, so there's an incentive.

I'd say there's only psychological reasons at this point. Like inground societal bias against marijuana. Also, a lot of folk think drug use and drug-related crime would go up if legalized.

Originally Posted by Xei

Uh think about it for a bit. The question is 'why do governments make it illegal'.

The answer isn't 'because they can't tax it because it's illegal because they can't tax it because it's illegal because'...

If it were legal, which is whole point of the question, they could tax it, so there's an incentive.

I'm sorry, it appears I misunderstood/incorrectly answered your question. Oops. Please disregard what I said there; I hope I wouldn't give an answer using such poor reasoning unless I missed something.

You're definately correct, there are quite a few incentives to legalizing many drugs. So why persist on keeping it illegal, is what you're asking?

You know, that's a damn good question. One I wish I had an answer to myself.

I knew Cyclic was a drug-head

~

Originally Posted by O'nus

I knew Cyclic was a drug-head

~

Pretty ignorant and arrogant of you.

Even though acatelophobic misunderstood your question "It also provides a useful scapegoat for the government; one in which they can assume moral authority over, and also find a multi-demographic enemy with which people can relate to."
That sums it up.
It was started for monetary reasons. Hemp = awesome paper, clothing, rope etc. crop. Forests = quick, destructive, but very profitable paper. I'm sure you know the story by now. But to sum up quickly, William Randolph Herst was a "yellow journalist" (meaning he printed outright lies, just off the top of his head, to sell papers and his own opinion). He owned a newspaper company and they used tree paper, Hemp was taking off because some Hemp farmers invented the decorticator, which made Hemp farming profitable. Hearst didn't like this so he printed bullshit stories about "blacks smoking this drug Marihuana and raping white women", "people going crazy after one hit" etc. You know all the Reefer Madness stories.
The Gov banned it without realising they were also banning Hemp.

So that's the REAL reason. Money. It was covered up as racism because of the fears of that time (1930's).

Now though, it is because the government has something they can appeal to every demographic on. Except for young kids now, which are progressively loving drugs and/or hating the government and their drug war.
But with everyone besides this generation of kids (who get reliable information on the internet, untainted by government bullshit), being "tough on drugs" wins instant votes.

Also they can say that "oh all this murder, rape and theft isn't OUR fault, it's all these drugs!"
If only people would realise that drug related crime is directly the governments fault....

Anyway. I feel like saying something about MDMA now but I'm in such a shit mood from talking about the drug war. Thanks guys

Originally Posted by Xei

Uh think about it for a bit. The question is 'why do governments make it illegal'.

The answer isn't 'because they can't tax it because it's illegal because they can't tax it because it's illegal because'...

If it were legal, which is whole point of the question, they could tax it, so there's an incentive.

The answer? To appear "tough on crime." If there are three words more corrosive to a free society, I don't know what they are. All it takes is one parent to spearhead a movement to outlaw drug X because it lead their previously golden child into a deviant lifestyle consistent with the criminal element, and the politicians will line up at their door, with the AARP and The 700 Club trailing behind.