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Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by pseg134 on Friday August 25, 2023 @11:19AM (#37262692)
The same author has previous written articles in favor of legalization of drugs. I guess they just don’t want Meta to make the money but rather have it stay in the local communities via mom and pop drug dealers.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by delecti on Friday August 25, 2023 @11:25AM (#37262766)
I think some drugs should be legalized (MDMA probably via prescription, LSD and shrooms maybe more broadly, Cannabis' current situation in WA state seems quite reasonable). I don't think there's a contradiction between that and thinking the example ads right at the top of the article are far over the line.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by radicaldreamer on Friday August 25, 2023 @12:16PM (#37263430)
There are some places where most of those are either legal or effectively decriminalized... Colorado, SF Bay Area (Oakland and San Francisco), and Oregon come to mind.

MDMA is an interesting one because its far along in the official legalization path as a prescription drug but it doesn't fall into the decriminalization statues typically because it is synthetic (most of them make an exception for naturally derived psychedelics -- so even something very powerful like DMT is covered).

In practice, however, MDMA is widely available via the same channels as other psychedelics which are typically not the same distribution channels for much more habit forming and harm causing drugs like heroin, fentanyl, or cocaine.

Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by philistine on Friday August 25, 2023 @04:57PM (#37266942)
As if being in favour of legalization meant you’re in favour of allowing advertising.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by stuaxo on Friday August 25, 2023 @11:32AM (#37262858)
It's not inconsistent. You can want them to be legalised, but still be for big companies having to follow the law.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by ahahahahah on Friday August 25, 2023 @12:23PM (#37263522)
It's generally not the law that companies need to censor this form of user generated content.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by philistine on Friday August 25, 2023 @04:58PM (#37266958)
Let me blow your brain: it’s possible to want legalization, but refuse to allow advertising.
Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by Humboldtsnee on Friday August 25, 2023 @11:26AM (#37262776)
What a strawman!

Drugs are a complex and nuanced topic, I think it's perfectly reasonable to be pro drugs and also wary of how Instagram is vetting their drug advertisers.

Black market goods vary in quality and ethics and safety, it's absolutely reasonable to say, "ok, you advertise for these, how are you ensuring safety?"

Re:Meta Throttles 404Media Investigation on Drug Ads, Contin... by klyrs on Friday August 25, 2023 @11:56AM (#37263172)
One of the major arguments in favor of legalization is in direct opposition to the black market. Many people think that a well regulated supply and marketplace is strictly preferable to criminal enterprise and everything that goes along with that. It's perfectly consistent to be anti-black-market and pro-legalization.

Succinctly, it's okay to want to change the law, and also favor rule of law.