XPost: uk.legal, uk.politics.drugs   
   From: johs@size436464778fitter.com   
      
   Cynic wrote:   
   >   
   > On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:11:26 +0100, johannes   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   > >> The prohibitionists' answer will be that we just need to do more of   
   > >> what's not working. What's the definition of insanity, again?   
   >   
   > >'Not working' doesn't mean: Not working; that's too literal. It just   
   > >means that some drugs might still get through.   
   >   
   > But when "some" means sufficient to supply everyone who wants them and   
   > can afford the black market prices, then "not working" is a perfectly   
   > apt description of the prohibition.   
   >   
   > > Enforcement hasn't failed.   
   > >Try smuggling drugs into far East countries, and it's well know that you   
   > >lose your life at the gallows or firing squad.   
   >   
   > The fact that people who are caught with prohibited drugs face   
   > draconian punishments does not mean that the prohibition is working.   
   > What it has in fact led to is that the price of goes up and the drug   
   > smugglers who are not caught get very rich.  Incidentally, women are   
   > stoned to death for committing adultery in some countries.   
      
   The fact that there is prohibition will make anyone think twice before setting   
   up a drugs business. That reduces the number of traders and hence the volume,   
   as indicated by fluctuating prices. The drugs police may lie low while they   
   gather enough information to crush a wholesale operation. Then you get the   
   sudden dearth of drugs on the street. Shows that a big raid has worked.   
      
   Politically, it's a question of what we want. I believe that the majority   
   are happy with the prohibition, to protect the more vulnerable and to maintain   
   reasonable standards of trust and well being. I would not deal professionally   
   with any person if I knew that he/she was a drug taker.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)