Why are some drugs illegal

Robert

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according to Professor Nutt:
The truth is unpalatable and goes back to the period of alcohol prohibition in the US in the 1920s. This was introduced as a harm-reduction measure because alcohol was seen (correctly) as a drug that seriously damaged families and children. But public demand for alcohol in the US did not abate and this fuelled a massive rise in bootleg alcohol and underground bars (known as speakeasys) that encouraged the rise of the mafia and other crime syndicates.

To combat this, the US government set up a special army of enforcers, under the command of Harry Anslinger, which became known as “the untouchables”. This army of enforcers was widely celebrated by the newspapers and the acclaim propelled Anslinger to national prominence. However, when public disquiet at the crime and social damage caused by alcohol prohibition led to its repeal, Anslinger saw his position as being in danger.

To enable him to keep his army of drug enforcers, he created a new drug threat: cannabis, which he called marijuana to make it sound more Mexican. Working with a newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst, he created hysteria around the impact of cannabis on American youth and proclaimed an invasion of marijuana-smoking Mexican men assaulting white women. The ensuing public anxiety led to the drug being banned. The US then imposed its anti-cannabis stance on other western countries and this was finally imposed on the rest of the world through the first UN convention on narcotic drugs in 1961.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/28/why-are-drugs-illegal-google-answer
 
I guess cops gotta eat. Really need to look at how we squander human capital. Imagine if all those cops could do something useful instead.
 
[QUOTE="FluffyMcDeath, post: 79025, member: 26" Imagine if all those cops could do something useful instead.[/QUOTE]

 
Why are some drugs illegal?

Because "users" have no control over what "dealers" add to so-called safe drugs, to get a "Higher" high!
Example: 41 deaths so far this year,in Birmingham from Heroin laced with Fentanyl.
Wikipedia says: "Fentanyl is approximately 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and roughly 40 to 50 times more potent than pharmaceutical grade (100% pure) Heroin".

I didn't know anything about Heroin laced with Fentanyl until last month when I was asked for help to get to a boy who had locked himself in a bathroom, and overdosed on it. He fell in front of the locked door, so the door was still blocked by his body after I had forced the lock. I ended up removing the hinges and the door to gain access. The whole time, I was having to listen to him gagging. If you ever hear someone overdosing, and then going silent, it will scare you shitless. He did live, as emergency crew finally showed up, but I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

There is a reason they call it dope. Only a dope would think they know for sure what they are taking..
 
@Fade:

What you describe there was also one of the failures of prohibition. People didn't know what was in their booze and some were poisoned. Legislation and regulation put an end to most of that, as it would with any other drug, not just alcohol.
 
@Fade:
What you describe there was also one of the failures of prohibition. People didn't know what was in their booze and some were poisoned. Legislation and regulation put an end to most of that, as it would with any other drug, not just alcohol.

Troo DaT. Lotsa people blinded by the bad moonshine. Don't happen any more ('cept to people who can't afford real booze and think methanol is the same thing!!)
 
Quote
"Legislation and regulation put an end to most of that, as it would with any other drug, not just alcohol."

Only problem with that is "White lightning" is still as popular as ever. So it didn't cure anything.
 
I was exposed to moonshine at a very early age, as my long dead grandfather both made and sold it decades after alcohol was again made legal. He didn't lack for customers right up until his death in 1991. We could always count on the ATF people to show up at any large family gathering like 4th of July, or Christmas, just to "see" what was going on.

It still goes on. See photo. The guy lives about 15 miles from me.

 
So illicit booze is just as much of a problem now as it was during prohibition?
 
Found an article on so-called moonshine but the stuff being talked about in this article isn't generally illegal:
http://business.time.com/2013/05/27/moonshine-is-growing-in-the-u-s-and-big-whiskey-wants-a-taste/

For decades, most people had never even seen a jar of moonshine, let alone tasted it. These days, you can find it at stores and restaurants around the country thanks to loosened liquor laws and changing consumer preferences. Even the industry’s biggest distilleries are experimenting with moonshine.
 
So illicit booze is just as much of a problem now as it was during prohibition?
We had some moonshiners in my old neighbourhood but it's hobby level stuff. However, recently some of the local moonshine has been showing up in the liquor stores.
 
I'm guessing this is legit rather than illicit?
I'm not sure if the "craft" stuff was legit but to get in the liquor store you have to convince the gubmint that you are a good actor with some sort of quality control. I don't know what the rules are governing stills but you can make your own wine and your own beer no problem. I guess there is a risk of explosion and fire with a still.
 
12190930_968484586544918_7859436814623331889_n.jpg
 
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