SaltyNZ:
MikeB4:
Some folks seem to think that drug related crime (better term is substance abuse) is mainly as a result of the manufacture and supply, it is not. If it were why the level of crime and violent crime around alcohol a legalised drug ?
There are multiple types of crime related to drug abuse. Without wanting to in any way belittle it as an issue, prohibiting alcohol would no more stop abusers getting drunk and beating their families than prohibiting P has stopped abusers doing it. But it would certainly cause a whole new wave of crime as people did illegal things to get their illegal alcohol. Prohibition gets you speakeasys and Al Capone.
And that's the crux of the argument: you cannot stop abusers from abusing simply by making it illegal. The only way to stop it is to make people not want to do it, and when they and their family and friends know it is illegal they are far less likely to seek help because they know what will happen as soon as they come to the attention of authorities.
I am not advocating prohibition for alcohol and I am not against any changes to drug laws, what I am against is a rushed political decision based on the next election and the need to get a coalition partner back in who has a track record of disasters.
I want to see in-depth research and investigation by appropriate multi disciplined professionals with appropriate peer review of findings. I would also like to see extensive public consultation and a referendum at the end of it.
These decisions will be for the long term and if we get it wrong the fix will long term and the affects profound.