Re:Not-Such-Better-Living Through Chemistry
by vidarh on Saturday January 07, 2023 @01:41PM
(#34291124)
The worst part is that keeping them all illegal drives people towards whatever is available, and some of those choices are far worse than others.
A more flexible approach would see drugs regulated purely based on actual harm coupled with availability of a less harmful analogue (will fentanyl users pick heroin if it's more easily available than fentanyl? If so regulate one much more strictly than the other)
Incidentally that approach might well see tighter regulations on alcohol than several currently illegal drugs.
Re:Not-Such-Better-Living Through Chemistry
by still_grokking on Saturday January 07, 2023 @02:49PM
(#34291892)
> Incidentally that approach might well see tighter regulations on alcohol than several currently illegal drugs.
Well, from the scientific view things are pretty clear.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Psychoactive_dru...
Only politics don't want to move. Because why ask science when you can ask the alcohol and tobacco lobby?
Personally I think most substances in moderate quantities taken only occasionally are no big deal. Yes there is probably some minute health impact visible in long term longitudinal studies but it's probably dwarfed by other lifestyle factors. I would rather be someone who exercises regularly, eats a healthy diet and uses MDMA or cocaine a few times a year than a sedentary obese teetolar who's never touched drugs.