Illegal (and Legal) Drugs

[TheExDeus]

such as guns kill people, guns don't kill people, people kill people.

It's a saying.

[Goombert]

And a fallacious one at that.

[time-killer-games]

So again, exactly why is the most harmful drug, tobacco, legal, but everything else illegal?

That is exactly what I'd like to know. But I honestly don't think tobacco is the most destructive. I've seen brain comparisons between various drugs it included tobacco, weed, cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Tobacco if I remember right was the lowest on the list.

[TheExDeus]

Tobacco if I remember right was the lowest on the list.

Yes, because it really doesn't have anything to do with the brain. On total health effects though, its the top.

[Goombert]

No, tobacco is a pretty bad drug as is caffine, it affects your mood, eat and sleeping habits, performance at work and shit, etc.

[time-killer-games]

No, tobacco is a pretty bad drug as is caffine, it affects your mood, eat and sleeping habits, performance at work and shit, etc.

That is like comparing the mutual agreement of sex within a marriage to rape. Caffeine may be a "drug" but it's a very sorry excuse for one and I can honestly tell you comparing that to tobacco it pretty out there. In don't know how poeple come up with things like that. I drink coffee here and there but I do it for the taste and I'm not dependant on it to stay awake. Where as I have a good friend that I used to go to school with, he smokes cigs, even as a smoker, he admitted himself that cigarettes are a total waste of money. He told me the only reason he even buys them is because he's addicted and it's hard to stop even though he knows he should stop. This is his words not mine. He's not the first smoker I've met who felt that way either.

Though I've never smoked, gotten drunk, or high, I know way too many people who do. My argument here isn't even meant to state the obvious in saying these things are very addictive, I have better things to do than state what is blatantly obvious. My point overall has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of what is addicting or not.

What this topic was meant to be is a warning, because the fact is, even if they weren't addicting it wouldn't change the facts that 1) the feel good, which creatures a desire to use such drugs and 2) They make your brain cells and body practically rot alive and in the long run you'll face nothing less than severe regret you ever exposed yourself to the damage these drugs always cause one way or another. It's not worth risking and saying "maybe I'll be the lucky guy that doesn't get burned by these things" because honestly the majority of the world is aching, moaning, and grinding their teeth in agony as the result of certain drug use. You have no idea how many people I've met first hand who have been burned by drugs. This is a statement of care and not for the sake of something as utterly stupid such as "Haha I proved you wrong!" kind of bullcrap.

[Goombert]

Bloomberg said so.

[Ideka]

TKG, instead of trying to excuse your behavior so it doesn't contradict your own beliefs, why don't you just open your mind a bit and accept that drugs aren't inherently bad?

[TheExDeus]

Robert, it seems very hypocritical of you to think caffeine is somehow worse than any other drugs. The links you posted actually say how little effect it has. Your wiki link even has this as the third paragraph:

Ordinary consumption can have low health risks, even when carried on for years – there may be a modest protective effect against some diseases, including Parkinsons Disease, and certain types of cancer. Some people experience sleep disruption if they consume caffeine, especially during the evening hours, but others show little disturbance and the effect of caffeine on sleep is highly variable.

So while of course it's a drug and does have both positive and negative effects, it is no way worse than many other things. And stuff like "Sleep disruption when consumed in evenings" is a "duh" statement, because who would have known that something that makes you less sleepy will not let you sleep.

And I 100% disagree with people who say it gives them more energy, in the short term sure

You answered your statement with the second one. The whole thing about drinking coffee is that it gives you a "boost" that might as well be short term, but is long enough for you to get awake (that is why people drink coffee usually in the morning). Afterwards people usually don't feel depletion of energy from coffee. It's more common from energy drinks though.

Ever wonder why caffeine and cigarette smoking go hand in hand?

They don't. At least I never seen a correlation between smokers and coffee drinkers. And I know many people in both groups.

Scientists have also recently done studies and found that chocolate can also produce the same effects.

And I used chocolate as an example several times before.

This is exactly what is wrong, we need to address the actual problems, not the arbitrary results of the problems.

If by "this" you mean being drugs illegal, then no, that is not the problem. The reason why you have so many people in jail is not because you are fighting drugs more than any other country. The problems is that you sentence people 5-10 years for almost any offense. In Europe if you are a first time weed possessor you will get a few months at most (often times just confiscation and probation). That depends on intent to sell or to use. If you are just using (that means you possess less than a certain amount of grams), then you get less severe punishment. You still get it and drugs are still illegal. And making them legal will not fix any of US prison problems. Your government is already trying to fix some of the problems with (Fair Sentencing Act or Department of Justice Smart on Crime Program), but of course it takes time in a country where there is 50 other countries inside of it. So war on drugs is a good thing, putting people in jail for 5 years for something trivial isn't. Because when that person gets out, he will probably be even worse than when he got it. Prisons shouldn't be about punishing someone, but about fixing someone. At least that is the idea in many EU countries. Especially Scandinavia countries where 21 years in prison is the max for any offense (and only for the worst, like murder) and theft, drug possession or burglary will often times only give much smaller punishment (mostly few months to few years) at the same time making the prisoner do community service/see a doctor or do anything else to improve his mentality. That is also why there is almost no such thing as a solitary confinement. Most prisoners get not just a small cell, but a freaking apartment.
https://www.google.lv/search?q=prisons+in+sweden&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Brd&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XUtlUqCZM4fd4QTa44HYCA&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=950


And btw, I don't drink coffee. I usually don't like the taste and it's easier for me to drink pure vodka than coffee. I do sometimes drink an energy drink, but that is also quite rare. I guess the only place I get caffeine is from coca cola.

[Goombert]

Health news is all the rage.

[time-killer-games]

TKG, instead of trying to excuse your behavior so it doesn't contradict your own beliefs, why don't you just open your mind a bit and accept that drugs aren't inherently bad?

How the heck am I excusing what behaviour? O__O Why don't you just open your mind a bit and accept that drugs will do nothing but make you more miserable. My beliefs and what is right or wrong has absolutely nothing to do with this topic. This topic is a kind warning about drugs for your own good. Taking my conscience completely out of the picture. Drugs will make your life hell. I've seen it first hand way too many times. It's like that kid in the theme park who didn't listen to the warning sign and hopped the fence anyway. And so he was decapitated by a rollercoaster.

I don't know how I could possibly be any more kind about what I'm saying. I don't know why when I tried posting this I got a notification saying I should review my post before posting it. Why would I get in trouble for something that could by no means be interpreted as anything other than kind or respectful? So am I got in trouble for supporting physical and menal health, the welfare of others, and promotion of obedianse to the law? What, like seriously?

You know Robert, this is a game development website so the geek pun didn't quite send its message across the way you intended it to.
I can also post pictures if you wanna go that route. I drew it myself.

[Goombert]

Not in LGM 1.8.7

[time-killer-games]

A lot of what you said right there I do agree with. It's a shame I wish it wasn't so hard for me to recognize when I should or shouldn't address certain issues and whether it's worth discussing. Sorry about that, again.

[Goombert]

Ok... now I am kind of confused...

[Ideka]

TKG, instead of trying to excuse your behavior so it doesn't contradict your own beliefs, why don't you just open your mind a bit and accept that drugs aren't inherently bad?

How the heck am I excusing what behaviour? O__O Why don't you just open your mind a bit and accept that drugs will do nothing but make you more miserable. My beliefs and what is right or wrong has absolutely nothing to do with this topic.

Well, you kind of went
"Drugs are evil, but not coffee. I drink coffee so coffee is OK. Caffeine is a silly, silly drug anyway, so it must be OK."