re: Canadian Push to Legalize ALL Drugs

Not sure how I feel about this. I'm all for legalizing marijuana across the board, but it's a far jump from marijuana to heroin. I'd be concerned about an increase in the number of addicts and the toll that would take on an already burdened healthcare system. This is one area in which I'm conflicted about government intervention versus personal liberties.

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I'd be concerned about an increase in the number of addicts and the toll that would take on an already burdened healthcare system. This is one area in which I'm conflicted about government intervention versus personal liberties.

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Carte Blanche drug legalization must be accompanied by policy which states that government resources will not be expended to treat or support drug addicts.

Can't have small government policies to decriminalize extremely addicting substances, while simultaneously having big government assistance programs available. The two will cause positive feedback in each other:

>People know they will be taken care of if they get addicted to heroin
>People more likely to carelessly use heroin
>More people addicted to heroin
>Increased burden on assistance programs
>More money spent on assistance programs
>wash rinse repeat


I consider myself a "small government libertarian", however as long as we are handing out tax dollars to treat drug addicts, then unfortunately I can't support decriminalization of hard drugs. I would prefer we stop spending tax dollars on drug treatment, but we all know that isn't going to happen.

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Not to mention Canada has Common Sense Immigration Laws that require a person have a job/finances to not only support themselves but contribute to the Nation at large, as well as some other stuff like a basic sustainable lifestyle plan.

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Yeah I don't even know if you can get in with a DUI charge

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Addicts are incredibly mobile.

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Do you think a heroin addict in Alexandria, LA would be motivated to move to Canada?

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Right. Because most heroin addicts are financially stable people that can pick up and move at any time.

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Slaves couldn't afford train rides to the North prior to the Civil War but many made it out regardless. You think all the homeless on the streets of San Fran (for example) are from that area?

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Heroin is a bit of an extreme example but I was using it only as it was the one the prior poster used, it could not only apply to any highly addictive drug but also people that gateway their way up to it (no one starts at the heroin level).

My point in this is that there will be unexpected outcomes and an influx of addicts and/or potential addicts who then stay in numbers enough to strain the Canadian system is a very real possibility and anyone not at least looking at it has their head in the sand.

In that same vein though the long periods of cold weather there could well end up being an eventual deterrent if/when Darwinism takes strong hold (ex: people dying due to exposure from there not being enough room in homeless shelters).

Conversely, the influx of monies and relaxing of regulations could spur new and more effective addiction treatments.

These and other possible outcomes are what I find interesting and why I would be watching this, if the law passed. We haven't had this sort of freedom in the West during the era of modern, more addictive (and more potent) drugs. The avenues and paths Canadian society could go down are many, varied and make for a great social Petri dish.

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So how does this work? Are they going to legalize the use of meth?

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Apparently so. Anything and everything would be legal.

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Are you going to be able to buy them over the counter like candy?

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If it's legal to do, I can't see why it wouldn't be legal to sell.

Portugal’s Example: What Happened After It Decriminalized All Drugs, From Weed to Heroin

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Easy solution. Don't subsidize drug addiction therapy if you legalize drugs. Do drugs at your own risk. Of course, this is too reasonable and would have a fat chance of being implemented.

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I can't agree with this enough. If this is how they end up handling it, it will make for a fascinating experiment in social behavior when unfettered addiction is allowed but not supported. My hope is that after an initial spike in use/abuse/addiction, the "new" factor would eventually wear off and use/abuse/addiction would die down as the prohibition taboo fades into the past.

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Because most heroin addicts are financially stable people that can pick up and move at any time.

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The heroin addicts you read about in the news are smaller than the whole population.

Thats like saying only people that get dwis drink.

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My guess is that there's going to be licensing and permit fees attached to the ability to sell and not every outlet will be an eligible vendor.

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It appears it's going to be simply decriminalization, not legalization. They will allow doctors to prescribe heroin in case of severe addiction though.