XPost: uk.politics.drugs, uk.legal   
   From: pxhxz@cadence.com   
      
   In article  "Aidy"  writes:   
   >"Mr X"  wrote in message news:h3hqbe$nf8$1   
   frank-exchange-of-views.oucs.ox.ac.uk...   
      
   >> Many illegal drugs are fairly safe, but could be made much safer if made   
   >> by proper pharmacutical companies and subject to proper drug evaluation   
   >> and testing.   
      
   >Yes....and those tests would mean the price would sky-rocket (do you really   
   >think it costs more than a few pence to make cancer drugs or HIV drugs?) and   
      
   We aren't talking about cancer or HIV drugs.  Many years ago (in the mid   
   seventies) I found out that pharmaceutical 95% cocaine costs about $30 an   
   ounce.  At that time, much less pure illegal cocaine cost over $1000 an ounce.   
      
   You are ignoring the fact that illegal drugs cost more because they are   
   illegal and therefore carry a risk of arrest and forfeiture to the   
   manufacturer and the seller(s).  Legal recreational drugs are cheaper because   
   you aren't paying a premium for illegality.   
      
   On the other hand, fake handbags are cheaper because they are cheaply made,   
   and people will pay more for the "real" handbags that aren't counterfeit   
   and carry a legitimate brand.   
      
   In the same way, generic drugs are cheaper than brand name drugs because they   
   don't carry the brand, but they are subject to the same regulations regarding   
   content and purity as do the branded drugs.   
      
   Illegal drugs, on the other hand, are of unknown purity and quality and cost   
   far more because of the risks involved in dealing illegal drugs.   
      
   -Pete Zakel   
    (phz@seeheader.nospam)   
      
   "A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices   
    that the system works."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)