White Girl Bill (Failed)

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I can't get behind legalizing dangerous, addictive drugs like meth, cocaine and all their counterparts. Alcohol may be just as dangerous with the right amounts, but you can have a beer here and there and not become dependent on it, but with other drugs such as those listed, one hit and you can't live without it. I would know. I had a friend who tried coke once and became an addict before going through rehab. I can't support this under any circumstances.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I can't get behind legalizing dangerous, addictive drugs like meth, cocaine and all their counterparts. Alcohol may be just as dangerous with the right amounts, but you can have a beer here and there and not become dependent on it, but with other drugs such as those listed, one hit and you can't live without it. I would know. I had a friend who tried coke once and became an addict before going through rehab. I can't support this under any circumstances.

Would you support the bill if it were to be amended to remove the "harder" substances?

That's a possibility - depending on which harder substances are removed.

I can't get behind legalizing dangerous, addictive drugs like meth, cocaine and all their counterparts. Alcohol may be just as dangerous with the right amounts, but you can have a beer here and there and not become dependent on it, but with other drugs such as those listed, one hit and you can't live without it. I would know. I had a friend who tried coke once and became an addict before going through rehab. I can't support this under any circumstances.

But would you rather he had gone to prison instead of rehab? There is a desperate need for therapy rather than punishment. What's more, part of these drugs appeal is their illegality. After legalisation, drug usage rates in Portugal dropped.

Decriminalization is one thing - selling all these drugs on the open market is quite another. Also, comparing us to Portugal is irrelevant. Atlasia is not Portugal. Our demographics are not that of Portugal. We have no idea how it would turn out.

I oppose this bill. I'm against the legalisation of drugs.

I want to help the drug addicts. That means they should be provided by the state with the respective drugs. That would reduce crime and give them a human perspective.

The comparison with alcohol is not correct. Alcohol isn't very good, but it's a part of our culture since thousands of years, drugs don't.

Alcohol is far more dangerous to society than these drugs are - alcohol encourages violence against other people. Cocaine does not.

That is quite possibly the silliest thing I've heard on the Senate floor thus far in my time here.

I oppose this bill. I'm against the legalisation of drugs.

I want to help the drug addicts. That means they should be provided by the state with the respective drugs. That would reduce crime and give them a human perspective.

The comparison with alcohol is not correct. Alcohol isn't very good, but it's a part of our culture since thousands of years, drugs don't.

Alcohol is far more dangerous to society than these drugs are - alcohol encourages violence against other people. Cocaine does not.

Not correct. Both drugs do, actually.

That said, I'm not saying how I'll vote on this, but I would note to stated opponents like NCY and Hans that Winston pointing out alcohol is legal and regulated and legal despite being highly destructive may be very compelling to some. I think it behooves you to argue specifically how and why harder drugs like these are supposedly so much more addictive and destructive than alcohol that they must be outlawed while alcohol is available at the corner gas station. And IMHO the mere fact alcohol has a much older pedigree of being socially acceptable means little in terms of defining a drug's actual addictive and destructive properties.

IIRC, last time I checked many years ago that when the numbers of hard drug users and overdose deaths were compared to alcohol, even the most conservative estimates showed alcohol to be much more deadly (even without DUI fatalities).

Perhaps I am in the wrong, but I believe these harder drugs are far more destructive and addictive than alcohol or marijuana in smaller doses. Someone can have a beer or a joint and not become reliant or experience withdrawals, while someone who does cocaine here and there will become highly addicted to the substance in a short time. That is one of the reasons I oppose their legalization, but would support marijuana and such, but oppose these. It just seems reckless to allow people to easily purchase these products over the counter when the harm they do to someone in smaller doses far outweighs the harm alcohol can do.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

What do you mean we aren't Portugal? I know that, I'm just saying that as another Western country, it provides a good example.

I'm just saying that one size does not fit all - just like when people argue that lowering the drinking age in the US will yield the same results as it did in France, England, etc... Obviously we could, but the outcome may be particularly bad, especially when you're talking about drugs as dangerous as those we are talking about legalizing.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Nay