I must say I was very shocked and outraged to hear via the ABC news story Australia's recently assigned Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, said that we have lost the war on drugs and should legalise some substances. Say, WHAT??!!
The argument is that chasing after those using the "softer" drugs, such as marijuana, is a waste of police resources and so we should make them legal. Um, yeah, that sounds logical...NOT! I understand there are limited police resources, and the need to prioritise. That's fine. Prioritise away! But to make them legal?
You could easily use the same argument to say, given all the recent stories of multiple shootings occurring across Sydney within just a few weeks, that Sydney has lost the war on firearms and should make them legal. After all, that'll solve the problem right? There's too many shootings for us to go around arresting everyone involved, so let's just say that shooting people is fine and give out guns like candy? Hmm, I think not! I think it is clear to everyone (or at least Australians) that this is not a good thing for our society and guns should remain illegal. The same principle applies with drugs.
For a society and government that is trying to deal with the negative effects of tobacco use on individuals and the health system as a whole, not to mention all the alcohol-related violence also clogging up the emergency departments in our hospitals, legalising another damaging substance, which has links with the development of schizophrenia and psychosis, is the wrong way to go and will only create an even greater stress on the troubled health system. Not to mention the lives it will negatively impact - not just individuals, but also their families and associates. And what about our youth? Just another drug to look forward to once you turn 18, they will line up in droves to try it - legally!
I actually did some internet research recently on methamphetamines - highly addictive with some serious side-effects - and was shocked and disappointed at the lack of literature there to really highlight the dangers and stress that using this is not only illegal, but will negatively impact your life and others. The government-supported sites seemed to say "well we all know you'll be trying this drug anyway, but just so you can't say we didn't warn you, here's a few things to consider first." Hmm when I was in school we were taught it was NOT GOOD! And DON'T DO IT! Pretty effective for me! Given that these substances are currently illegal (and for good reason) I really think this should be emphasised.
So Bob Carr, I do not support the "effective decriminalisation" of harmful and addictive drugs!
I do (for once) support Prime Minister Julia Gillard who said that she does not support it either! Well done, Julia, you finally got something right. Even though you're the reason Bob Carr is our foreign minister...but we'll overlook that for now. I'll even finish with your quote:
"We want to keep supporting people who need our help to break out of a cycle of addiction and we need to keep policing so that we are tackling those that are seeking to make a profit out of what really is a trade in incredible misery."
