What we need to do is treat drug addiction as a health problem, not a crime.
That way, people get accurate information about the risks and can seek help if they want to change their behavior without the risk of being thrown in a box for a few years and not given any help at all. That way, people can get access to cleanly made and refined substances, which mitigates many of the health impacts which stem from chemicals left from processing or extraneous substances in the drugs (eg, plant matter in your weed).
We've already tried what we're trying with weed with alcohol - and it was a completely and total failure. People who like altered states of consciousness aren't going to listen to being told no, and what we get instead of legal providers and healthcare professionals is gangsters and incarceration.
Prohibition is a failed policy every time we've tried it. Repurpose the funds to cover the health impact of the legalization, and we're all better off.
Despite how backward Queensland is when it comes to our laws, the support offered for heroin addicts is quite amazing. Suboxone treatment costing $40 a fortnight instead of thousands per month, a 24 hour free needles exchange (next to the police headquarters funnily enough, but they leave you alone), amazing counselling services.
Hell, they've just started distributing Narcan to regular people, so you can stop an overdose instantly. I've always found it quite amazing how much they do to support addicts, and it's an excellent thing.
That way, people get accurate information about the risks and can seek help if they want to change their behavior without the risk of being thrown in a box for a few years and not given any help at all. That way, people can get access to cleanly made and refined substances, which mitigates many of the health impacts which stem from chemicals left from processing or extraneous substances in the drugs (eg, plant matter in your weed).
We've already tried what we're trying with weed with alcohol - and it was a completely and total failure. People who like altered states of consciousness aren't going to listen to being told no, and what we get instead of legal providers and healthcare professionals is gangsters and incarceration.
Prohibition is a failed policy every time we've tried it. Repurpose the funds to cover the health impact of the legalization, and we're all better off.