Simple fact is that if heroin is only purchasable from licensed premises then there will be less chance of it falling into the hands of 15 year olds, who can currently get it from either the person they buy weed from or someone they know. And really, "shooting up" or "a little pissed" is hardly a fair comparison. No, I think that adults should be free to make decisions about their own body, that's nobody elses decision.

Seriously, all drugs have negative effects, and not just physical or mental, but also others relating to the damage it can wreck upon a family. But if you educate people about safe drug use (as opposed to the ridiculous prohibition movement that plainly doesn't work) then less folk will die. Tragedies will still occur, but that's fucking life pal.

Would your 20 (well, 21 seems like a more reasonable age...) year old brother ACTUALLY buy coke for you?

Coz that would make him a fucking moron. Simply because some people are idiots doesn't mean that everybody should be punished.

I think adults have to be allowed to make their own mistakes. Freedom 'n' all that.

I think the benefits of legalizing all narcotic substances greatly outweighs any costs. The bottom line is no matter what the government does people are still going to get their hands on the stuff if they want it bad enough. Instead of spending tax money to fight a battle that we can never win it makes more sense to legalize the substances then tax them at levels at or above the taxes placed on tobacco and booze. The government could set strict potency regulations to ensure the drugs sold through legal channels aren't going to kill you in one dose. At the same time the government can also regulate the amount an individual can purchase in a given time frame. The hardest part is controlling and cracking down on illegal sellers. Eliminating the stigma and "forbidden fruit" aspect can also decrease the amount of use or chance of use among people. This type of effect is already seen when comparing auto accidents caused by alcohol between the US and Europe. Most European (perhaps all) nations have a lower drinking age than the US and also have a lower alcohol related accident rate among teens.

In Europe the drinking age varies wildly, from about 14 to I assume 21 at the upper end. UK is 18. Though there's an odd unofficial campaign that says if you look under 25 then you need ID to proof you are over 21 or something strange. I'm not quite sure what the deal is there.

I pretty much agree with what forkboy said.
I also think that if they were legalized, there should be a huge propaganda on how drugs can kill you and stuff (for the hardest ones like heroin, at least).
If you have the right to buy a gun and shoot your head, you should also have the right to intoxicate your body.

Yes there is, it's a bloody debate. Why? Do you mean for you personally? Or do you act like a religion and try to force your beliefs upon others?

I smoke and drink a beer every now and then, does that count? Never used anything else though, not even weed, and probably never will. The whole "you should choose what you want to do with your body" thing is real nice and liberal, but what about health and addiction risks? And stuff like PCP that'll make you go berserk? The fact that (in some countries at least) the government has to pay for some douche's medical treatment that's been spending all his money on drugs?

Coming back to weed, sure you won't notice anything if you don't do a it a lot and have only been doing it for a year or less. Once you've been smoking for a couple of years you'll notice the effects. I've seen it happening to my buddies, and it'll happen to you.

That's what I always going to say.
I don't drink alcohol or smoke, so the government shouldn't treat lung cancer or liver problems?

There's no way the public would be happy about legalised durgs, because they're so short-sighted. And in places like America, if you use the "we'll tax them argument" suddenly it's "Tax? TAX? WHAT IS THIS - STALINIST RUSSIA? NAZI GERMANY?" "But the tax only applies to the drugs, if you don't buy the drugs you don't get taxed..." "STOP TRYING TO SOCIALISE MY AMERICA!" "But it's only the drugs that get the drug tax, it's to offset the cost to the state for affected public services, ie. the police, the justice system, potentially even healthcare." "SOCIALISED MEDICAL CARE MEANS DEATH TO CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE! Don't you watch Fox News?"