Drugs in Our World: Condoms, HIV, Marijuana, and Heroine, and US Policy Recommendations
by Here, in America, we take the approach of abstinence rather than harm reduction. When it comes to condoms, HIV, heroine, and marijuana, the government says “not at all” instead of think and create policies which can and ought to reduce the subsequent harms that result from these behaviors. What is wrong with this picture?
Why is the U.S. keep a drug with many medicinal purposes illegal? Especially, when they could otherwise produce it themselves and tax and sell it to its community and fellow citizens. I guess this is why in the recent ballot vote in the 2009 election in MASSACHUSETTS, the government seems to be willing to pass (what passed as a community vote in MA) a bill which passed in the election in MA to decriminalize marijuana. The government, especially in a ebbing economy of our day, is willing to decriminalize a drug (because its illegal and they aren’t making any money on it!!) to make a few hundred dollars on every fine they give out for people using and or posessing marijuana. This is absurd. What is the government thinking? Legalize it, produce it, and tax it! Forget about fines and all this B.S. just to make a few bucks. Think big, or don’t think at all!
Lastly, the U.S. needs to begin to adopt policies which aim at harm reduction and begin to look at Europe in a new way that inspires new thinking in what is supposed to be “The New World.” We are not thinking like we are from the new world. We are thinking like a bunch of conservative whimpos who don’t want to take a chance and break tradition. Well, while it is important never to forget our heritage nor where we came from, Americans need to lead the way in this era of moderity. Between the economy, the war on drugs, immigration, global warming, disease and the HIV PANDEMIC!!!! We need to begin to think for ourselves and make decisions on where we stand and on what issues, and make these issues known to our representatives. You have the right!!! If you have never in your life, PLEASE, I beg you, Please, contact your local congressmen and women and representatives and let your voice be heard!!!
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Post CommentStraight Edged but Mindful of Your Brilliant Ideas!
On January 20, 2009 at 5:28 pm
yes!!..first off, I really wish others would engage in your brilliant converstation Robert..you are truly gifted..you need to be more seriouis though and clarify and publish some of these articles! Truly, you do. Nevertheless, do you know that when Amsterdam created and implimented needle exchange programs, crime decreased by over 50% over 3 years!! Fifty Percent!!!..over a three year period!!! And like you said, opponents to harm reduction will argue that you are giving heroine and needles to addicts!! However, you are providing a safe alternative to what can be a lucrative activity of seeking, selling, buying, and using a drug which involves lots of crime most of the time (stealing, robbing people, etc. to get their hands on a drug!)..Therefore, needle exchange programs provide a safe alternative to a behavior an addict is inevitably going to engage in anyway. Therefore, if the action is inevitable (i.e. like teenagers and highschool kids having sex!!..some say it isn’t but for the most part it is unstoppable!!)..the state/goverment needs and ought to provide a safe environment for individuals to live in. Therefore, hand out or atleast make condoms available to high school kids. Would you rather have teen pregnancies, and diseases spread? BUSH AND STUPID RUSH LIMBAUGH WOULD!!! These people do not understand that America is so messed up..if someone is going to engage in something anyway, why not aim and create policy that focuses on reducing the subsequent harms of such activities? IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO F*(kING SENSE! Does it?