Abel Stable

Naturally-- but can you name one black market trade that is anywhere near as instantly profitable as the drug trade? The drug war is still driving revenue through the roof, and that money is a huge incentive. In fact, it is probably hands-down the most profitable illegal activity in the world right now... all supported by the war on drugs.

fatherphil

prostitution

Philosoft

Prohibition was a miserable failure in multiple ways; probably not the best way to support your argument. In any case, if there aren't any controlled substances left that people will pay through the nose for, what are the "violence for profit" outfits going to offer?

Abel Stable

Peanuts in comparison to the drug trade.

Buddrow_Wilson

It is neither moral nor immoral to alter your mind with chemicals. Given that there are a multitude of situations where it may be moral or immoral to do so, but the opening statement of the thread does not lend itself to a judgement of morals in my opinion.

Eikonoklast

I agree. It simply changes your perception temporarily. You might as well say that it is immoral to wear sunglasses , or that it is immoral to look into a microscope, or a telescope. It amounts to "You're not allowed to feel like that. You can't look at things like that. You can take these chemicals but don't take those or else demons will fly out from hell and devour us all." Gimme a break!

I'm so tired of how woefully inconsistent our policies are regarding drug use. Hello people, we use drugs all the time! "Take one of these things, it will make you feel happy. Take one of these little ones, it will help put you to sleep. Take one of those blue ones, it will give you a fucking boner. Don't take one of those, they grow on cow shit. What? You ate the organic turd flower? You laughed, you cried, you loved the world? For this you must wither away in jail until your enjoyment for life has atrophied along with your brain and physical body! There will only be one state of mind on this planet, and it does not involve pleasure." WTF? It's all the same thing. Our minds are constantly being changed by chemicals, self-induced or not. Most of the time you don't even have a choice over the matter. Moreover, we are a nation of drug users. People have used drugs since the beginning of time for any of a myriad of reasons, many of them being positive (medicinal, for fun, religious reasons, personal insight). To think that that will ever change is nothing more than naivety.

If I want to smoke weed and play the bongos while I'm butt naked in the privacy of my own home, ala Matthew MaConahey, then so be it. It neither adds nor takes away anything from your life. It's strictly a private matter, and a private moral choice subject to the circumstances.

fatherphil

so you all would be indifferent if your 18 year old offspring gave you the news that they were actively participating in recreational drug use?

Eikonoklast

Before answering the question, I would like to point out that it is this very question that exemplifies the hypocrisy of the baby boomers. They fought for freedom, expanding your consciousness, and youth culture. Then, when they are "in charge", this is the very thing they try and suppress under the guise of "protecting our children". In other words, it's OK for me but not for you. You are too ignorant to make your own decisions, so I will dictate them for you, instead of guiding you with education and compassion.

To answer the question, I would not be totally indifferent. I would be interested in my child's life. Drug use can have negative consequences, just like driving a car can result in a crash. Use is not necessarily abuse however, and it is best to use drugs responsibly. Overindulgence in anything can be bad for one's health, but I wouldn't necessarily say that fat people are immoral because they eat too much. Hence the ridiculous nature of "Zero Tolerance" policies.

Nowhere357

Do you see this as the only other oprtion? Indifference? Why would you think that?

Anna Karenina

Morality is subjective.

Some people will find taking drugs as immoral, however some others will find "selfishness" immoral.

The most important thing is to respect each other. If I take alcohol or drugs, why should it be immoral if I am not causing harm to anybody (except myself)?

I would consider drugs as immoral if drug addiction represents a problem for society. I mean, it is o.k. if you want to take drugs, but it is not O.K. if society has to take care of your health problems.

In my case, for the first time in my life I want to try psychodelic drugs. I want to have the experience of knowing how our conception of reality changes when we are in a trip.

I never drink alcohol, take drugs or even smoke a cigarrette, so I feel quite responsible for the consequences of taking LSD for the first time. And I do not feel I am behaving immorally.

Anna