I agree with changing the current system, But you realize NZ is not even allowed to discuss changing the Drug Laws , because the FBI in America says even just talking about the the current laws and system undermines it.

I would also add that maybe we should look at sections 166,167, 168 of the Sale of Liquor Act.... I suppose these were measures put in place to help minimize alcohols harm to society. It appears these sections are breached every day and night and are not visibly enforced.

So why wouldn't the same happen to drugs. Why wouldn't the legislated safeties be openly ignored? Just sayin'.

Haha why don''t we make use of NZ's two islands! Leave one as it is now and let the other become a super liberal do-as-you-wantsville? That way if you disagree with the island that has too many laws you can take a ferry ride to freedom!

Decriminalization is rubbish. Society either excepts drugs fully or it doesn't. Decriminalization sends mixed messages and will do nothing to deter the gangs. Why do people think gangs will just leave? Pretty naive.

Thefts occur daily at supermarkets all over the country. Alcohol stores are robbed at gun point currently. Do you think that has anything to do with drugs? I don't. Will drug stores get robbed at gun point with desperate people addicted just like alcohol? I would say so.

I think there are ways to improve but I don't think this is the way.

>>Ben #203 Firstly "I think the real issue is morality" is a direct quote from your post. Secondly people don't "need" drugs (unless of course they are addicted). Why would you think drug users take drugs to be fulfilled?. The reasons people take drugs are as numerous as the number of drug users. Personally the only reasons I would take drugs are: changing my perception of the world, fun, athletic performance, weight loss and to relax. Not all drug users are psychologically damaged. I'm sure you've indulged/overindulged in alcohol before? Are you damaged? Did mum not love you? Did dad touch you? Thirdly are you a scientologist? I'm pretty sure medical science knows what it's doing in regard to treating depression with SSRI's. The herald just today published a story in which studies have been using psychoactive drugs to treat mental illness although this has been known for well over 50 years and by me since I became interested in drugs. Do some research.

Not sure about this. Take the money used to prevent the using of drugs and spend it on the inevitable consequences of consumption. Either way millions and millions of dollars will be spent on preventing the use or cleaning up after it. We need to decide what we prefer?

A bit concerned at the number of people who state that decriminalizing will take away the power from the gangs - it won't; LEGALISING will take the power away from the gangs. All decriminalising does is reduce the penalty for the user to a fine. The production and supply is still illegal and therefore exactly what the gangs want. To win the war on drugs we need to LEGALISE them.

@ ben #203 - you're a little obsessed with pipes. I don't know why anyone would need a mind altering experience in order to feel fulfilled - I'm pretty happy without. But at the end of the day, if they want to and it's not directly harming me, why shouldn't they be allowed to? It's personal choice.

Prohibition has been an expensive disaster; it is more than time to try a different way. Proper manufacturing standards and better laws will be far more constructive and save some of our precious tax dollars.

Jack Rivers #202 Give me proof that Cannabis caused the homeless man outside on the streets to be homeless, and I'll agree with you. No, the fact of the matter is that drugs do NOT destroy people, PEOPLE destroy people! Like you said, Caffeine is a drug, and I see no problems there.

ben #203

Perhaps you should put the pipe down. Who the hell are you to question what does or doesn't make me feel right and good? Why do people need religion to make themselves feel fulfilled? Why must people only eat vegetables to feel fulfilled? Fulfilment comes down to choice, not need. You seem to have come to the conclusion that being high instantly means mental instability. I've been smoking daily for YEARS, and as far as I know, I'm not crazy. Hell, I've never been in a fight. Also, note that a psychoactive is anything that breaches the blood/brain barrier and has an effect on the brain. That includes caffeine and Cannabis.

ben #203

ben, are you new here? When Stuff uploads a whole pile of comments the numbers associated with each post may change until all backlogged posts are published.

When the other commentators saw your posts they may well have been 172 and then another 22 comments were loaded.

Your smug sneering at a mistake that was unlikely to be a mistake says quite a lot about you. As does your actual "point"...

"My point was why does one need a mind altering experience in order to feel fulfilled?"

Need and want ben. They're different things. We don't need drugs, we like them. They're fun. Like chocolate. Like running marathons. Like playing on a Playstation. Like so many other things in life. To say let's ban stuff because the people who want to use it don't need it is whack ben. There wouldn't be much left that wasn't banned by that logic.

Jack.

You said "drugs destroy people", that's a gross exaggeration at best. Look at all the people who consume drugs in NZ e.g. caffeine, alcohol, marijuana etc. How many of them are actually 'destroyed?' because of their 'drug use'? Do you think the people are destroying there lives each time they have Friday night work drinks? Do you think that my life is destroyed because once every few weeks I may use cannabis? Face it, a small number of people will do anything in excess, be it exercising, eating, watching TV, working long hours etc. Very few people 'devote their life to drugs' contrary to your hysteria.

"We all contribute to society, we all rely on society".

This is correct, I work as a professional contributing to society most days of the week. Is it wrong that I want to indulge in a casual drink or use cannabis casually for my own recreation at home and in my own time?

"This dependancy means your right to harm yourself should be limited." We harm ourselves doing almost anything. Breathing generates free-radicals - oh no! Lets restrict that! Exaggerations aside, anything that makes life worth living has risks, life is risky. Play rugby? Go skiing, hiking, cycling swimming, running (Osteoarthritis in the joints!). Eating food - choking, obesity, diabetes, heart attack... Y

Finally, society is not the victim of drugs. The responsible users of substances are currently victimized by society. The government should look at regulating the production and selling of the 'soft' drugs like marijuana, LSD, Psilocybin, mescaline, MDMA etc. These have been shown to have low addictive potential, and cause minimal harm.

Jack, it's time to move out of the 20th century and embrace the evidence.