Why Is the U.S. Solution for Any Drug That May Potentially Harm “Public Health” to Ban It?
Question by Welcome to Amerika Mr. 0rwell !!: Why is the U.S. solution for any drug that may potentially harm “public health” to ban it?
It just seems U.S. drug policy is actually perpetuating the creation of new (usually more harmful) substitutes to take the place of drugs that were available before. For instance: A ban on real marijuana (which occurs naturally) leads to the creation of synthetics that are currently legal (and have way more unpredictable side effects). When the U.S. tried to crack down on cocaine use (which caused the price to go through the roof) people responded by using more methamphetamine (which can be made using basic drug store ingredients). Then the U.S. made Sudafed harder to get and the people making the meth just started using common household kitchen products.
Isn’t this policy counterproductive to a large degree? Considering the reasoning behind these bans hinges on the argument of protecting “public health”…. Wouldn’t it be simpler and cheaper to just treat junkies? Then educate the public on the real effects of hard drug use?
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/10/alcoholic-energy-drink-not-drugs-sickened-9-wash-state-students/1
A 23.5-ounce can of Four Loko, a fruity, caffeinated malt liquor, has an alcohol content of 12%, equivalent to drinking four to six beers. The caffeine can also suppress the effects of alcohol, which can make someone drink more than usual.
Washington state’s attorney general immediately called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the drinks. A proposed state ban died earlier this year in the Legislature.
http://kosu.org/2010/02/bill-would-ban-synthetic-marijuana/
Local law enforcement officials and Oklahoma’s Bureau of Narcotics are constantly fighting new drugs. From meth to prescription pills, it’s an uphill battle to keep these substances off the streets. Now state officials are bracing for another drug called “spice” or “K2” – a synthetic form of marijuana popular in Oklahoma’s neighbor to the north.
K2 is the Kansas brand of manufactured marijuana. Kansas police officers first learned of the synthetic form of pot this past fall. It’s legally sold as incense and undetectable on a basic drug test. Marketed as “spice” in Europe, it produces the same high as regular marijuana, and now it’s spreading in the states. Jeremy Morris is a forensic scientist at the Johnson County crime lab in Mission, Kansas.
It just seem odd that the U.S. spends so much time and resources on a war on drugs yet they still have the highest user rates in the whole world. In contrast, Portugal has decriminalized hard drug use and user rates dropped in every category.
5 Years After: Portugal’s Drug Decriminalization Policy Shows Positive Results
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portugal-drug-decriminalization
@pamcarter……..”If it’s potentially harmful to public health (pharmagologicals) they should be banned.”
In that case, alcohol should DEFINITELY be illegal, correct? (If we’re being consistent). Also, I’m positive the FDA has never done a comprehensive study on the effects of marijuana. I can guarantee it is no more harmful than alcohol. U.S. drug laws are the definition of hypocrisy paired ignorance.
*paired with ignorance.
Best answer:
Answer by Vickilynn
darn if i know. Pot is far less addictive and lethel that alcohol.
Answer by grandma zaza
The same reason millions of high chairs are recalled after just one injury. Regulation overload.
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