Is Drug Use a Human Right: Montel Williams and Sting Think So
by Drug use is only victimless if we ignore the victims. Drug use is only harmless if we ignore the criminal acts it causes. Yet, many celebrities seem to think that drug use is a human right and drug laws are “bad.”
I read an article about a new video by The Drug Policy Alliance that promotes, if not demands, that drug use become legal and the war on drugs ends. The Drug Policy Alliance is America’s primary organization that is working to end the war on drugs and promote new science, health, human rights, and compassion based drug policies.
I am astonished that people would suggest such, considering studies have shown that what drug use is legalized, crime and addiction rise. See here for an example.
The video(seen here) features Sting, a world renowned musician, saying that he supports the Drug Policy Alliance because, “The war on drugs represents an extraordinary violation of human rights” and because he believes in the right to “sovereignty over one’s mind and body.” Montel Williams, a television personality, says he supports the Drug Policy Alliance, “Because whether you use drugs or not, you deserve to be treated with respect, kindness, and dignity” and because he believes “in personal freedom and choice.”
Others on the video cite the high incarceration rates, reference the drug war as a war on race, claim that the drug issue is a health issue vs. a criminal issue, etc..
I am confused by the video as a whole. Is it a human right and personal freedom/choice to kill, rape, molest, steal, etc.. just because someone “wants” to do those actions? Not everything we “want” to do equates to a human right. Drug laws are not what is stealing a persons’ sovereignty over their body and mind, drugs themselves are. How many times have drug users excuse their criminal and non-criminal behaviors with, “I would have never done that if I wasn’t high.” Now, that is what I call taking someone’s mental and physical sovereignty away.
I really hate videos like this that try to insinuate that the problems we see in society are because drugs are illegal. As if the douche bag drug dealers would somehow magically want to have a 9 to 5 job if only the underworld allure of illegal drugs was not holding them hostage to a street corner.
Everyone has a mouth that expels opinion, much like everyone has an anus that expels gas, but the two should be distinguishable.
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Post CommentEarth Mother
On June 11, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I will have to look into the group more before making a decision. The war on drugs does not work and needs to be changed. There are really bad drugs out there (like meth) that no one should ever touch. I agree with you that drugs can be bad. But some drugs are criminalized, like Marijuana, that have benefits we could use if it were legal. Having things like marijauna illegal means people import the drugs making it more dangerous for the people who will use it anyway. The war on drugs cost tax-payers TONS of money. Think about all the people put in jail because of a few joints, yet alcohol is legal.
I wish we could find a middle ground here in the united states.
pattiann
On June 11, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Great article. You made a lot of good points.
Jamie Myles
On June 11, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I’m appalled that these people think addiction, Legal or illegal, is ok. Alcohol addiction destroys people as well as any other addiction so making drugs legal won’t make them ok. People who think marijauna is ok need to see how it damages the lung tissues and also contributes to oral cancer as does cigarette smoking. You don’t make drugs legal just because other harmful substances are legal. It won’t solve the problem of shattered lives that are the casualties of addiction.
clay hurtubise
On June 11, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Hot topic that has no easy answers, only what we are doing doesn’t work.
Good job.
Thanks,
Clay
Ruby Hawk
On June 11, 2010 at 9:46 pm
There are no easy answers as Clay says, We have more people in prison on drug charges than anything else and our prisons are running over with them. Our police are overworked picking up drug users when we need to have them looking for missing children and running serial murderers down. It is a hard question with no easy answers.
Karen Gross
On June 11, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Excellent article. That video is frightening.It makes no sense to reduce the number of people incarcerated by decriminalizing the crimes that put them there. Even marijuana kills brain cells. If it has medicinal qualities, then I think that the pharmaceutical companies should be researching it (which I think they are doing) to make a safe pain medication.
I have often thought that, judging by police reality TV shows that if it weren’t for alcohol and drug use, the police would have very little to do.
Anuradha Ramkumar
On June 11, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Very good points made. Usage of drugs has increased largely all over the world and many young children are addicted to drugs.
Melody SJAL
On June 12, 2010 at 2:20 am
I don’t have to watch the video to get your point. I totally agree with you.
Phoenix Montoya
On June 12, 2010 at 3:03 am
If drug use is a human right then I guess killing people should be a human right too. Then we won’t be needing our government. Some good points here.
Jimmy Shilaho
On June 12, 2010 at 8:47 am
I think you meant drug abuse. We all use drugs for one reason or another, abusing them is the problem and shouldn’t be a human right.
drelayaraja
On June 12, 2010 at 11:24 am
Great share.
Crashnibbles
On June 28, 2010 at 11:05 am
NIce! No drugs (used for abuse) should be legal. This would cost the government money from taxes that they need (but they will still spend too much).