Its Time to Decriminalise Drugs
Posted by the shadow at 02:55, 28 Aug 2005With the announcement that Indonesian authorities are to spot search all Australian tourists to see if they are carrying drugs, I think it is either time for tourists to give up Indonesia as a holiday destination, or seriously consider whether they want their lives ruined by draconian and stupid laws that see young people facing sentences of 20 years and life, and others condemned to death.
And before any of you bleeding hearts out there start whining to me about your young sons/daughters falling victim to drugs, spare a thought for all the young Australians killing themselves off in motor vehicles lately.
And none of them were killed by drugs;they were killed by a mixture of stupidity,alcohol and speed.
Now we are hearing that the laws maybe changed to stop teenagers carrying passengers.
Too little, too late.
If people want to drink they are going to do so whether it is legal or not.If they want to take drugs the same thing applies.
If you want to take drugs in a third world country where the law can sentence you to death for carrying a little cannabis, then you are a fool.
What annoys me is all the tut-tutting here in this country,by power-hungry suits who keep saying they told them so.
They are dangerous drugs,they say, and these countries have their own legislation to cope with the use and possession of them,so you had better obey their laws.
First world countries could take the iniative and decriminalise drugs, thus leading the way for third world countries to follow, but this will not happen.
For the very reason that control of the use of drugs is control of the people.
Or sheeple, whatever fits.
If you like being controlled by government so that whatever you put in your body has to be legislated to death, then say nothing.
If you want to stop this ridiculous situation then now is the time to speak up.
Is Indonesia targeting Australians for any reason?
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it sure ain't a wombat.
Work it out for yourself.
It is about time Australia stood on whatever little bit of dignity it has left and told Indonesia to lay off.Failing this, they should immediately take steps to decriminalise cannabis and work towards decriminalising hard drugs.
The money spent in advertising at present to warn people of the problems associated with drug-taking could be better spent educating teenagers in schools about the effects of these drugs.
Some families make a point of teaching their children how to drink, by introducing alcohol to them in their teens a little at a time.This leads to intelligent use of alcohol and thus they are not prone to the binge drinking so prevalent among the youth.
There are more deaths of youths in car accidents, 3 at a time, 4 at a time, 5 at a time, every single week across the nation, than can ever be attributed to drugs.
Kids today are victims of velocity,martyrs to the motor car, and primed with alcohol,they are bombs waiting to go off.
In Europe they are banning vitamins,in America you cannot buy an over the counter medication containing codeine.
If you want your power to go to the government then allow them to continue eroding your rights.
If you prefer power to the people, it is time to decriminalise drugs.
And when the anti-drug people write to abuse me, remember that I will not even read what you say unless you can prove to me why alcohol should not be made illegal as well as drugs.
After all, alcohol is the happy drug, and the one most used to kill oneself.
shadows
Bookmark/Search this post with
- the shadow's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Comments
1 May 2004
6 years 28 weeks
.
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
for that ugly 10 pound growth on your shoulders before you are mistaken for the Loch Ness monster.
hehehe..
30 April 2004
1 hour 28 min
Hi Shadows,
Please take care with your tone - there is a fine line between debating agressively, and being outright abusive. I think you're crossing that line here.
Peace and Respect
Greg
-------------------------------------------
You monkeys only think you're running things
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Never mind, I already know the answer.
And if you think that is abusive ask the posters here who read the filthy blogs written by your friend above on women.
Over and out!!!
What a relief!!
22 February 2005
4 years 25 weeks
DEJA VOU.........
DISCLAIMER:the opinions and veiws in this post are mine only and do not nesessarily reflect those of others.
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
love you floppy,
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
I agree with you about the need to rid ourselves of government controls and that includes, among other things, legalizing drugs. If I can have my caffeen, alcohol, nicoteen, why can't others have what they want. Live and let live is my motto; but, if more people don't start learning about personal responsibility, I'll be supprised if anything lives. And, if we want to kill ourselves, in my opinion that's our business!
What do you think?
kennc
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Kennc, It all boils down to personal responsibility.Some people never will learn to be responsible for themselves,Some learn it early.
shadows
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
You know, say things every now and then about how we could feed all the starving people.
Nobody replies, nobody cares.
Now you complain that Australians are more likely to be charged, unfairly perhaps, for endulging in a luxury of their choice.
So this is my heartfealt reply to those Australians deprived of their recreational drugs:
Get over it.
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
I replied to your first blog about starving people in third world countries.
I don't know the answer.
Why are you so horrible all the time? Did someone knock you back? Did you get fired from your job?
I bet if we put together the actual words and articles (not on this site) that we have both written about feeding the starving, and the actual work done, I am talking about actual work for charities that do this, you would find that I have done more than you have to help the situation.
You do not know me.Those that know me know that I have worked for these people for 40 years or more.
You can put up all the blogs you like DEMANDING that something be done about feeding people and it won't work.
It is the power mongers who want their profits, and it is governments who let them that you need to tackle, not us.
Ordinary people can give money, but money is not enough.It is a change of attitude that is needed.
For a start we need people to recognise that black people and yellow people in these starving countries all bleed like we do.
They are human like us and are out genetic brothers and sisters.
I am sick of your attitude earthling.We know why Oscar is like he is, he is a sicko.I've read what he has written about what he thinks of women and homosexuals.What is your excuse?
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
Science has proven that Racial Theory is Bunk, to use a relatively polite word! We are one race with minor differences in appearance.
The problem with capitalism is the idea of promoting people to their highest level of incompetence. It's good business to feed the poor and help the needy; but, the idiots in control don't understand that building economies in poor countries, along with, feeding the poor and helping the needy until they can get on their feet and help themselves; because, then they can help others to get on their feet and help themselves.
As for power, it's the most addictive drug on the face of this planet and the one drug that I would ban. This is why I am in favor of very small government or no government at all. As you have pointed out, it is the desire to have and hold onto power that is turning this world into crap, to use a relatively polite word!
You're a Socialist and I'm a Capitalist; but, I think there's room in this world for both of us!
What do you think?
kennc
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
You can see that it doesn't work.
The big companies take all the money out of third world countries without even paying decent wages.
And so do the small employers.
The first time I went to Africa I was appalled by the ordinary little shops even that would not pay a decent wage to Africans.The theory being that you didn't need to.There were so many of them starving and wanting work to buy a bit of food that they would work for practically nothing.
And 99% of charities working in Africa do nothing for the people.The charity workers drive around in their SUVs patronising the people who cannot find money to eat.
Governments have stopped tribes killing and eating animals that were once their traditional food, yet they will allow trophy-hunters in to the country to do just that for a big fee.
Governments interfere with tribal problems that make situations worse...see Rwanda.
First world countries pay exorbitant amounts of money to African leaders who are corrupt instead of doing something for the people.
While a few people are allowed to get filthy rich, and I mean FILTHY rich, at the expense of the many,then it just doesn't do it for me.
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
Nothing works until people that know what they are doing get into control. Secondly, while you were responding, I added to my post.
I believe in the potential of capitalism as strongly as you believe in socialism. At the moment, neither system is working! Without a market economy developed by sane capitalists equally sane socialists don't have a chance to develop a socialist system. People really don't care; but, capitalism run by competent capitalists, not the idiots in power now, has the potential to give them a reason to care in the form of incentives. I don't believe that socialism has that potential. But, capitalism can coexist with socialism in a manner that is mutially beneficial.
What we need to do is work together to change the power structure instead of debate the relative merits of capitalism and socialism. The way things are socialism doesn't work either and you know that too.
What do you think?
Kennc
22 February 2005
4 years 25 weeks
Argentina could be a good case study of what you are referring to.
DISCLAIMER:the opinions and veiws in this post are mine only and do not nesessarily reflect those of others.
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
thefloppy2
Both Argentina and South Africa would be excellent case studies! Thank-you.
kennc
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
there is a solution, that will work after a period of 30 years or so.
Institute a policy of agricultural overproduction, as the Europeans and Americans an Japanese have. Overpay the farmers for product. It is that simple.
You and I giving money is not a solution, if the olicy of deliberate over-production is not in place. That is what you have to tell your government.
You problem with excessive penalties for drug trafficing is very small compared to that.
Young people will be stupid under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or of nothing.
Smugglers do not transport drugs because they try to help the poor people who need them. They transport whatever they can make a profit on. The relatively harmless drugs you talk about are just the current market. These very same individuals would be smuggling something else under different laws.
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Earthling, how are you and I going to do this? You need governments to
bring in these changes.Trust me, if there was any way that I could see to do it, I would.
I tried for 15 years to make people here aware of the problems in Africa and no one was interested.
And you know what?
No one is interested now.
And you know why?
Because as soon as the situation in Africa becomes totally intolerable,most of Europe and America are going to waltz in there and take over the country.
Another 10 years should see an end to it.
And saying that the problem there is so huge that we should ignore what is happening in the drug world here is like saying, well you're dying of cancer anyhow so why should we worry about that huge boil on your penis.
You cannot call it small potatoes because you think there are bigger potatoes that need frying.
ALL the potatoes have to be cooked.
shadows
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
We need the people who find the money, like Bob Geldof and his friends, and those who listen to them.
They, and the World Bank, have some control. So that is who we have to talk to. And if you regularly talk to organizations that help in these matters, they have to know about this too.
It is amazingly simple.
Oh yes, our common friend (forgive me for this one), Paul Wolfowitz, is now the president of the World Bank. He would just be the gentle, compromising guy to do this.
I should talk to him, shouldn't I ?
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
The World Bank is not going to do a damn thing to help starving people in Africa.
Putting Wolfowitz in charge is like putting Dracula in charge of the Blood Bank.
Maybe that's the reason.
Find out what the World Bank has done to India with all the dams which they don't need and don't want.
Find out who is going to profit from said dams.
Read Arundahti Roy to find out what she thinks of the World Bank.
That is not the way to go.
Why did Bob Geldorf and Bono not proceed with this quest for aid for Africa? Why go so far and no further?
They know damn well that excusing them their debts is no help to the ordinary citizen in these countries.
Ask them why.
Ask them, seeing as how they are the ones who can get the attention, to get in there and finish the job.
You don't start something you cannot finish.
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
At the moment, the World Bank is a very bad joke. But, with competent people in authority it doesn't have to be a joke. The idea is good; but, the people in authority are incompetent meglomaniacs. If the power structure doesn't change, we are going to have one big blood-bath on this planet; because, people will only put up with so much. We need to work to eliminate power structures. Whether you know it or not, capitalism doesn't require a social class structure to work.
What do you think?
kennc
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
I'd be interested to hear.
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
shadows
{Since I can edit after I post, this will be an expanding comment; because, it is long, I'm a slow hunt and peck typer, and I have a few things coming down at the moment.}
First, the world bank has to be restructured into bank that is truely a "World Bank". At the moment, it is a "Wealthy Nations and Special Interests Bank". This will take time, atleast 10 or 20 years. To do this, wealthy nations and special interests are going to have to be made to understand the dire consequences of not doing it. They are out numbered billions to one, and the poor will not put-up with the treatment that they are receiving forever, and, just for the record, I'm a capitalist from the poor, not the rich! The consequences of not restructuring the world bank and actually helping the poor and needy to get on their feet are frightning at best, and the fat cats that run this world are soft and afraid to die and/or lose everything that they have, which is exactly what is going to happen if things don't start changing very soon. I know that I sound horrible; but, I'm calling it like I see it! I'm sorry!
Second, {To be posted}
What do you think?
kennc
22 February 2005
4 years 25 weeks
you are absolutly right with your ideas of what should be. I feel the same way. Shadows is right to but is looking at it in a superficial way. ( sorry shadows but By looking at the Iraq war, it really is a storm in a teacup compared to what it will take to make change). Now you may have a go at me if you wish. But the blood bath that will have to happen to make big changes to the world is far greater then any conflict we have seen so far.
There is another thing that could bring great change though, that is a natual disaster of great preportions.
Back to blog topic.....greed has currupted every facet of our society so deeply that I think we need a lot more then a few drug decriminalisations. ( is that a word....bloody big one ).
Shadow...the world is turning to shit. I'm sorry. And it'll take a lot to change it. The rich get richer...the poor get poorer... young people die for preventable reasons...the goverments tend all their high class shin-digs....give the voters a little nibble of hope now and again...we all fall in line for another 4 years then we bitch again... what changes....nothing....banks record their highest profits every year...insurance companies don't pay up because of small print..( interpreted their way )and have record profits.
Bill Gates gives .01% or less of his overall profits and thinks his genorous..hehe..our goverment donates 1 billion to Indonesia to the tsurnami and then collects 1 billion in extra revenue of fuel tax.
Argentina become a military worry to UK so now their broke and in debt they can never repay. Saudi Arabia was a safe haven in the middle east and in bed with US until Americans pointed their finger as Asama's birth place and money haven......then the bommings started...
Their is a big game being played out and we are just pawns to live and die at others will.
We can gain back our freedom.....if we dare....
DISCLAIMER:the opinions and veiws in this post are mine only and do not nesessarily reflect those of others.
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
{I thought that I could Edit my World Bank post. I can't so I will post here.}
Secondly, the world reserve currency will change and the dollar will weaken. This time there will be more diversification; because, no single will be safe enough. The Chinese Yuan and the Euro should be the strongest currencies; but, other currencies should be relatively strong also, i.e. the Swiss Frank, the Indian Rupee, the Japanese Yen, etc.. This will severly weaken the hold that the United States and other western countries have on the World Bank and, hopefully, strengthen the U.N. as a whole. (Note: I don't really trust the U.N.; but, it's better than nothing and maybe it can move its headquarters to a Neutral Country, i.e. Switzerland, Belguim, New Zealand, Thailand, Japan, etc..) This should take 7 to 15 years. This whole process is the most important step in creating a World Bank that is truely a World Bank!
What do you think?
kennc
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Kennc I would absolutely love to agree with you that people will only put up with so much, but you are wrong.
Before the war in Iraq began there were the biggest peace demonstrations in the history of the world held in a number of large cities.
Did it change anything?
No.
The war went on as planned, and when election time came and they could have voted the war-mongers out they didn't.OK they did in a couple of countries, but mostly not.
And as for a blood bath...look towards the Middle East, it is already happening.
Just because it is not happening where you live, does not say it is not happening.
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
Shadows
Forget western countries. Think 10 times worse than the Belguin Congo as a best case senario. After what they did in Vietnam, nobody wants a democrat running a war! You really don't understand American politics.
Western countries will do nothing to prevent the blood bath that is going to happen until it too late. The United States and many other is depending on the second coming of Jesus Christ to solve all of their problems.(TO be continued)
kennc
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Earthling, I am not sure about the drug laws in Canada, but I do know that all their laws are becoming more and more draconian and restrictive.
I suggest that instead of ridiculing what is going on you do three things.
Check out how many Canadians are in Indonesian and Taiwanese jails for excessive sentences for having tiny amounts of drugs.
Look at America ( the country you mostly base all your ideas on) and see how many lives have been destroyed by the three strikes you're out law, which applies to drug crimes as well as others.
And gauge how long it will be before Canada has the same problem where young people who could be related to you, or could live next door to you, are sentenced to die for what could be a put-up job by the Indonesian police.
And then tell yourself that you should just get over it.
shadows
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
Drug consumption here is more or less the same as it is in the USA, and the sources and trafficing routes are the same. Laws about what is
permitted and not permitted are quite similar. Basically, you don't get in trouble for consuming, you get problems when you hold significant quantities or when you move them across boundaries.
After all that, with enforcement as it is now in the western world, roughly the same people would be consuming as are now.
Nobody gets sentenced to die in Canada.
So I don't think it is a very big deal. Get another route.
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
constitute your problem.
With sympathy,
shadows
30 April 2004
1 hour 28 min
Hi Earthling,
Your argument is a red herring. I think worldwide starvation is such a big problem that it could invalidate just about any controversial debate, if accepted as a red herring (eg. deaths from the Iraq war versus deaths from starvation). However well it has worked in this case though, there is still a very good debate to be had on the topic of restriction of human rights in the case of personal drug use.
As you point out further down, legalisation (or decriminalisation) would put pressure on actual illegal drug dealers, would allow for far better quality of drug rather than badly cut street cocktails, and would remove issues of paranoia from the set/setting of the experience. Which are actually three of the major arguments against drug use to begin with...
Peace and Respect
Greg
-------------------------------------------
You monkeys only think you're running things
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
I was expressing my personal dissapointment that decriminalization of drugs, which likely does have overall benefits, receives so much more attention than a real solution to starvation.
Decriminalization would have negative effects as well, most obviously increased drug use. Some percentage of the new users would suffer severe health effects, just as some percenentage does now.
Some people are in favour of complete legalization on ethical principles, such as the right to live one's life the way one wants. Some people argue, correctly in my estimation, that drug law enforcement has become so intrusive that it is no longer acceptable, and that it is not reducing the probematic part of drug usage enough to justify this. However, most people that I have met who are in favour of legalization just want cheaper, risk-free drugs and could not care less about their freedom. But you can of course argue that this is still harmless, and that it does not detract from the more principled arguments.
On the other hand, I remain convinced that my proposed solution to the starvation problem would work. I am not just bemoaning the problem to distract from another one, I am offering a solution that has worked everywhere else.
1 June 2004
1 year 12 weeks
Every year around New years time we hear and read how Police are doing such a wonderful job controlling the many thousands of party goers celebrating the years end.
Such an amazing turn around from the bad old days 20 years ago when over one thousand would get arrested each year due to violence and obscene behaviour due to excessive alcohol consumption. Why to the change when last News years party where one hundred thousand people celebrated on the Gold Coast were there less than 10 arrests.
Because the kiddies were all using chemicals, and not alcohol. My children, like most others in the western world will try drugs in their teenage years. Breeding and social conditioning will not stop these people from being rebellious and trying things. Because this is the case and these drugs are manufactured in backyard laboratories, why not legalise and control the manufacturing process so that the consumers and their parents are aware of the contents of these tablets.
The govt may even earn some tax revenue from this, and it could be used for further drug education programs.
As far as the random searching in Indonesia is concerned, that announcement has ruled that country off my family’s tourism list permanently. Tourists cannot trust the Police in Bali, and should not. Money buys everything. Every level of everything is corrupt, and is corruptible. Every Caucasian is a target, and it would appear that Aussie accents are a specialty on their menu.
Imagine, sitting in a restaurant or bar in Bali and being approached by the local police. They test you and your wife for drugs by demanding a urine sample. How is this process completed? Do the two police go and get a female officer to accompany your wife to the local toilet? Doubtful, more like one goes with you and the other male policeman ( a big smile on his face) follows your wife. Feeling comfortable? I’ll bet your not. You make sure that your three-year-old son follows you, so that you can keep a close eye on him. You are in a strange place after all.
But you are not too concerned because neither of you have consumed any illegal or dangerous drugs. The tests are finally complete and the police officer announces that your wife’s test was positive and that she was under arrest pending further tests and charges. You are free to go.
What do you do now? Who do you contact? Your Visas are only current for three more days, and you were to fly home the next day. Your son is inconsolable, because strange men with guns have taken his mother.
Five days later your wife is released after your Indonesian legal team demand controlled testing and the results proved that the test kits used by the police had detected a drug used in your wife’s prescribed medication for influenza 6 weeks previously.
Your finally leave Indonesia, thousands of dollars poorer after the legal costs, facing the thought of coping with your wife’s mental trauma because of the arrest and the subsequent forced strip search.
AAiek
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
If people cannot see what is happening with all this drug testing etc they are stupid.
You have to take over control of your own life.
shadows
2 March 2005
5 years 33 weeks
shadows
You are right!
kennc
14 July 2005
29 weeks 3 days
if that happens,the legalizing of drugs, i think i am gonna start a new carrear has a drug dealer ,i will be rich :).(just kidding)
Everyone has the free will to decide what to do with their lives.
LEgaliZZeeee Love & Peace
good days to all
22 November 2004
5 weeks 1 day
Legalization would lead to governemnt regulation of the drug market, thus cutting into the profit margins of the drug dealers.
But of course the risks would be lower, so maybe that balances out.
28 August 2005
4 years 17 weeks
Okay...all these points and arguments truly are good...if not a little cliched.
There is a movement in Canada that promises to be THE major conflict of this "War on Drugs"...and it began with Marc Emery.
Marc Emery is the leader of the green party in Vancouver...a Hotspot in liberal Canada. He sells Marijuana seeds...so lucratively...that the DEA wants to extradite him and jail him! If they succeed..they set a nasty precedent...if we rally enough support in Canada and the world...we can start to fight back against this Hypocritical War. If we capture Canada's media and political scenes with this issue...then we are really in the running...and marijuana IS the first step to legalization...or...the RESPONSIBLE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. That last bit was a little vague...contact me personally if you want to hear more theory and get some serious networking done.
thesleeperawakens@msn.com
1 May 2004
21 weeks 14 hours
Hi Shadows and all,
Who is it (really) that forbids us the use of substances, what are their reasons- make them specify and deliver 'pudding'.
Remember , in the case of hemp f.i. it was never illegal until the fascists started to rear their ugly heads. In the states there were some blatent commercial interests at work that time aswell.
On the whole it has been the (petro)chemical/ pharmaceutical industries that have sponsored the war on nature and uncontrollable- produce. " if you cant patent it- there's no value in it". The church too has never been very supportive of herbal remedies, selling prayers much less backbraking.
Some broader background of intolerancethe gnostics had some sensible insights 2,000 years ago;
Gnostics were aware that the Archontic powers, and their human representatives, harbour the intention to deprive humanity of the experience of heightened awareness, that is, cognitive ecstasy typical of shamanic practice with entheogenic plants. In fact, the program of patriarchy, right down to our day, has always opposed experimental contact and communion with Sacred Nature in altered states. (snippet from http://www.metahistory.org/ )
So you see if we want to change the current law, we the people should demand a serious explanation, why it is so essential to the common good that these laws should remain enforced. The fact that these cause great stress and harm to many, not to mention costs of incarceration, and many billions of 'dirty' money flowing into the pockets of greedy and corrupt egomaniacs aswell as funding terrorism, should be left out the arguments.
This is about how far will you let governments go in prescribing what to eat, smoke, drink and yes believe, questions like this are ultimaately not about pot or mushrooms or what have you. It's about the goverments legitamacy to tell YOU what not to do and enforce these non-commendments infringements in a ridiculously draconian way, dare i say totally at the expense of the general public who gets screwed at both ends.
" do unto others as you would have them do unto you "
24 June 2004
4 years 50 weeks
Fantastic answer Tox!
I wish I could take your post and have it published all around the world so people really know what is happening.
And you clarified it for me as well.
shadows
1 May 2004
21 weeks 14 hours
Hi Shadows,
Feel free to use any of it, no need to ask or quote me. I do think 'the people' will be forced sooner than later to take a position as to how far they let other interests prescribe them what to do. Today its mushrooms, vitamins tomorrow it could be ...anything that suits them.
" do unto others as you would have them do unto you "