Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Plus, if the drugs themselves were legalised, there would be no dealers
Nonsense Jamie, you can buy cheap cigarettes all over Dover
Guest 878- Registered: 8 Feb 2013
- Posts: 34
Because cigarettes in this country are ludicrously overpriced. If you legalised drugs and stuck the same duties on them as tobacco, yes that would be mental.
jamierose
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
So Jamie, in your legalised nirvana, who buys and controls the supply of drugs?
Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
All this talk about how users are victims is ridiculous and, quite frankly, infantile - what about the crimes committed by users to further their habit?
The links between drug use and crime are clearly established, Home Office figures for 2010-11 state that around three-quarters of crack and heroin users interviewed claim they commit crime to feed their habit. The NHS quotes figures that suggest drug addicts commit between a third and a half of all acquisitive crime. On top of this there is the level of domestic abuse caused as a result of drug use, along with drug related violence and sex crimes.
Last year, in broad daylight outside the Sports Centre, I faced down a gang of nine 20-somethings who were 'high'. A knife was produced and threats issued - Police attended and arrested them, but the CPS let the ringleaders off with warnings and community service. Justice eh? Would you want your elderly mother/father, girlfriend/wife or, god forbid, child on the receiving end?
Good to see that a reporter from the Dover Express condones this activity - responsible journalism in action Jamie?
Guest 878- Registered: 8 Feb 2013
- Posts: 34
Who ever said about condoning drug-related crime? Drug-related crime should be punished just like any other crime. I'm talking use only.
Drugs are clearly an extremely dangerous thing, no doubt. I'm not even saying legalisation is the answer, as you will see from my first point - it's just less barmy than other suggestions such as most of David's, and that I stand by.
But yes clearly the government would control and supply them and monitor people's use of them. It wouldn't eradicate the problem - nothing will because drug misuse stretches back centuries - but it would add a far greater element of control.
Finally, I didn't come on here under the banner of the Dover Express and never intended to. We are all allowed opinions and I don't go writing them in the middle of articles - that's supposed to be the point of responsible journalism.
jamierose
Guest 904- Registered: 21 Mar 2013
- Posts: 312
You are missing the point that usage is an addiction - and addiction increases proportionally as the body adjusts to what is being put into it. Any control of drugs will only relate to specified intervals of use or, at best, an averaged out increase based on typical use.
When an addict's need exceeds the amount allocated, that addict will need to source the extra 'hit' from alternative sources, those sources (based on supply and demand) will have increased their prices and so the addict will still turn to crime to finance the extra drug that their body will crave.
SNAFU - except that now the Government will have increased expenditure on a white elephant programme.
Addiction can only be corrected by will power, the weak minded will always succumb to drugs, whether it be nicotine, alcohol or substance abuse.
Me - I'd advocate enforced 'cold turkey' in an institution - by removing addicts from society, drug dealers will no longer have a market for their 'product'.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we seem to be talking about people at the bottom of the user chain, but most money for recreational drugs is spent by celebrities, businessman and high earners.
legalise and tax i say just like alcohol and tobacco.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
The legalisation of drugs need not be the re-legalisation of every product that was once freely and legally available.
The arguments against are damaged by using 'habit' in one post and 'addiction' in another, to cover exactly the same thing.
The legalisation of Marijuana, is worthy of consideration, (even if this must include imported Cannabis) simply because law enforcement actions are ineffective and costly.
The legalisation of Cocaine and Heroin need not be countenanced to get the ball rolling, but it is high time that ball began to roll.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Ever wondered how some of our bulked up men and women are "pumping up" so quickly? Why can so many long distance drivers keep up the pace?
Terry has had all his tubes removed and it is now a matter of time, perhaps this is the right time to remind you that their is a family suffering despite the despicable ciircumstances he was loved.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
condolences to his family and genuine friends at this difficult time.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Thanks Howard, with the loss of my husband Vic, their cousin Joe and now Terry almost gone his poor sisters have lost 3 loved ones in less than 8 months.
Terry is brain dead and all support is now withdrawn, it's a matter of time. His family have been told that all his organs are healthy and will be signing the organ donation register asap. Hopefully some good may come of this.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,874
Lesly, you and the family have certainly had a sad time recently but as you say hopefully some good for several other families.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
A certain Chief of Police in a UK Town thought he had the answer:-
1) Arrest a load of Hard Users and lock them up.
2) Deprive them of drugs until they are crawling up the walls of the cells.
3) Offer drugs in exchange for the names of their suppliers.
4) Armed with information arrest suppliers.
5) Withdraw offer of drugs to users, bust them for possession and chuck them out.
But unfortunately it was and still is like dealing with a Banzai charge-always more pop up- even if you beheaded them.
I believe that half the problem is the glamour and dubious appeal of induldging in something illegal.
Remember CB Radio? When it became legal everybody lost interest!
Never give up...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
You mean this isn't done already ?
Roger
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Maybe, just maybe, we need to be looking at early intervention? I know, from experience, that the "agencies" are reluctant to take action. I informed Terrys school that I suspected he had a mental health problem when he was just 12 yrs old. Thet held a meeting with his parents and a professional educational pschologist who said they could follow things up if his parents felt the need to do so. They did not BUT, having warned the head that they were alchoholics, surely some enforcement would have been appropriate? Why not consider this child as "at risk"?
IYears later I managed to get Terry admitted to the mental health ward at WH hospital, his parents removed him before a full assesment was made. He was failed again.
When serving his sentence for shoplifting I again asked for support to try and treat his "habit". Not a chance, just meth supplied, no treatment.
Terry then became violent towards his family, set fire to the family home and threaten his sisters with unspeakable horrors. He then left home, in hiding from one of his suppliers to who he owed money. He made sure he could still "blackmail" his parents, using their guilt for neglecting him as a child, to exort money from them, even to the extent of being evicted from the hospital ward in which his parents were dying because he was disturbing other patients with his demands foe cash.
I could go on. I did everything I could ( things I will not say publicly) to help Terry but I know he ultimately failed himself.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Terry has now died and is at peace.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,874
What a sad life he had, again my best wishes to Lesley and all his family.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
What a tragic story.
Those who want drugs legalised assume that the evil suppliers who he was in hiding from will become church wardens or librarians. They are evil, dangerous people who must be dealt with harshly. As Lesley says, Terry wasn't blameless but the scum that prey on these vulnerable people nauseate me.
Guest 743- Registered: 28 Feb 2012
- Posts: 260
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Very sorry to hear this. I echo David's comments about the scum dealers.
Roger