Richard Branson: Time to end the war on drugs

hurfdurf · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:12

Pate said:
The whole thing is a complete joke to be honest. People should be free to put into their bodies what they wish (obviously with severe penalties for encroaching on anyone else). The reason why it's ultimately not allowed is because it takes away from the idea of a productive society which isn't good for the top dogs.

I am not a fan of Ron Paul but a broken clock

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show.../presidential-candidate-ron-paul---backstage/

Cosimo · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:16

4T5 said:
Has he just bought half a country full of Weed/Cocoa plants/Opium or summit ?

Probably planning to open a megastore in Lisbon.

Craig1981 · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:26

I propose we build a Berlin style wall running down the centre of Britain and put all the drug addicts on one side and all the non drug addicts on the other side.

See what happens.

yhack · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:32

Craig1981 said:
I propose we build a Berlin style wall running down the centre of Britain and put all the drug addicts on one side and all the non drug addicts on the other side.

See what happens.

So pretty much everyone on the drug-addicted side since most people smoke?

Craig1981 · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:34

I dont smoke. So at least my side of the wall will be nice and roomy.

StriderX · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:39

The war on drugs, mostly instigated by the US, has cost trillions, made the problem worst, made Cartels MUCH larger, CIA's literally gun running in Mexico (Do you really think they want this war to end?).

This wont end, simply because there's far too much money to make. (Only Branson is a decent bloke and probably hasn't joined in the farce)

Mind you it may sound stupid due to the fact that they are losing money, but think of it like this, wars in general "Look" like they cost us huge wastes of money, but the industry surrounding it profits from it massively, which in turn gives some money back to the people who started that war (Looking at the bush admin).

SuperTronNarwhal · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:43

War on drugs? Try doing that in mexico

Energize · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:44

yhack said:
So pretty much everyone on the drug-addicted side since most people smoke?

I don't know where you get your figures from but official statistics say that <18% of people smoke.

ScoTTyBEEE said:
Do you just think that or have you read the reports? Did you compare the reduction in crime and cost that in at all?

It's cheaper overall, reduces the number of addicts and crime. It's a win regardless.

If you are spending money on everyone caught with drugs then money is being wasted.

SexyGreyFox · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:50

Craig1981 said:
I dont smoke. So at least my side of the wall will be nice and roomy.

But do you drink alcohol?

You're on my side.

Craig1981 · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:52

Dimple said:
But do you drink alcohol?

You're on my side.

Very occasionally. I'll easily give it up if it was a condition of staying on the "good" side of the wall

StriderX · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:52

Energize said:
I don't know where you get your figures from but official statistics say that <18% of people smoke.

If you are spending money on everyone caught with drugs then money is being wasted.

Its better than wasting money on a war that you cannot win, ever.

Waging a war on human choice, is just futile.

yhack · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:54

Energize said:
I don't know where you get your figures from but official statistics say that <18% of people smoke.

Is that 20 a day or just smoke?
Most people that I know smoke. A lot would say something like "I don't smoke, I only smoke when I drink."

Amp34 · 27 Dec 2011 at 19:55

yhack said:
So pretty much everyone on the drug-addicted side since most people smoke?

Most people?

Most people in certain parts of society maybe... Most people don't smoke...

Energize · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:01

StriderX said:
Its better than wasting money on a war that you cannot win, ever.

Waging a war on human choice, is just futile.

I'm pro-legalisation. It's the lowest cost and brings in revenue. Much better than sending every drug user to a psychologist when the vast majority are not addicted to them.

yhack said:
Is that 20 a day or just smoke?
Most people that I know smoke. A lot would say something like "I don't smoke, I only smoke when I drink."

It's all in this study. People in lower socio-economic classes have a much greater prevalence of smoking than higher ones, but country wide the minority of people smoke.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2009-report/index.html

yhack · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:06

Well, damn. I must hang around with drug addicts.

StriderX · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:08

Energize said:
I'm pro-legalisation. It's the lowest cost and brings in revenue. Much better than sending every drug user to a psychologist when the vast majority are not addicted to them.

It's all in this study. People in lower socio-economic classes have a much greater prevalence of smoking than higher ones, but country wide the minority of people smoke.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2009-report/index.html

So i guess you don't really mind that millions of folk die every year for it then, heads getting chopped off, hanged, lit with petrol.

Of course that's more south america and Mexico, but whatever...im sure it happens in the west as well, just not really seen.

I dislike being involved by proxy governance.

Energize · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:10

StriderX said:
So i guess you don't really mind that millions of folk die every year for it then, heads getting chopped off, hanged, lit with petrol.

Of course that's more south america and Mexico, but whatever...im sure it happens in the west as well, just not really seen.

I dislike being involved by proxy governance.

How many employees of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies are burned alive for selling cocaine and heroin?

How many off licences are razed for selling alcohol and tobacco?

None.

Robbo · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:10

End the war on drugs?

Shooting all the junkies and dealers sounds like a fantastic idea to me.

JRS · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:15

Ceryndrion said:
... Virgin Crack?

I guess it's because I have a dirty mind, or maybe just that I'm quite drunk, but I found that wildly funny once out of the context you posted in

StriderX · 27 Dec 2011 at 20:19

Energize said:
How many employees of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies are burned alive for selling cocaine and heroin?

How many off licences are razed for selling alcohol and tobacco?

None.

Wow, just wow.

There are plenty of innocent people that don't do drugs that accidentally get involved, but since your allegiance seems to ally itself with unscrupulous profiteers.

Pointless to argue with you.