If the government were to reclassify drugs ....

[Randi]

... should alcohol and tobacco be included?

Here are a few opinions on the subject:

Home Office advisers have warned that the current drug classifications bear little relationship to their health risks

Sunday August 6, 2006
The Observer

Karol Sikora
Society makes strange rules. Its inconsistencies occur when these rules are introduced over wide time scales. The logic would classify tobacco and alcohol in the same bracket as cannabis and some other recreational drugs but, realistically, it would be impossible to change things now. Imagine going to the doctor to get a prescription for a glass of wine. Instead, the current policy of education, restriction of availability and punitive taxation seems the best way forward. And maybe we should reconsider a more liberal attitude towards some recreational drugs.

· Karol Sikora is a cancer specialist

Noreena Hertz

Tobacco is more addictive than heroin. More people die from alcohol and tobacco-related causes than die from 'illegal' drug use. Yet a cocaine dealer can be prosecuted for causing a client's death, while tobacco and alcohol company directors cannot. Incorporating tobacco and alcohol in the drug classification scheme would help address such inconsistency. Drug classifications shouldn't just be about helping the consumer identify the dangers associated with whatever they take. They should also be about determining what kind of punishment those who peddle drugs should face.

· Noreena Hertz is an academic

Sarfaraz Manzoor

To reclassify alcohol and tobacco would be pointless. It is obvious that drinks and cigarettes kill far more people than cocaine and cannabis, but I do not believe that reclassification would prevent people from smoking and drinking. If we want to reduce the deaths from smoking, we need to focus more on ensuring children do not start smoking. Similarly, with drinking, we have a culture where drinking is considered social and binge drinking has become commonplace. What is required is for this culture to be challenged. We need to reclassify what is seen as normal.

· Sarfraz Manzoor is a writer and broadcaster

Sunder Katwala

The current system is illogical, but a debate is difficult when shifting cannabis's grade generates a hysterical reaction. Governments should have two ambitions - to minimise the social harms which arise from addictive drugs and to warn individuals about harming their health. As MP John Mann has suggested, these criteria should be at the heart of classification. Health campaigns, warnings and restrictions do and should apply to tobacco and alcohol too - and have done much to reduce the social acceptability of tobacco.

· Sunder Katwala is general secretary of the Fabian Society

[lizbud]

While I agree with the different observations mentioned, This would never
happen in the USA.Tobacco & alcohol producers are big businesses.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

In the US they would need to include foods or certain kinds.
Eating too much of the wrong foods probably kills more people than alchohol and tobacco combined.

[RICHARD]

There is an old saying that says,
There is a place for everything and everything in it's place.

Too many people are trying to put things in a nice little box and separate them from the world.

No one forces anyone to light up, ingest, drink or inhale anything.

Legal or illegal.

make people responsible for their actions and the battle is halfway won.

[Edwina's Secretary]

This thread has really made me think. What is the government's purpose in classifying drugs? Protect or punish? Or something else.....

interesting thought....

[beeniesmom]

There is an old saying that says,
There is a place for everything and everything in it's place.

Too many people are trying to put things in a nice little box and separate them from the world.

No one forces anyone to light up, ingest, drink or inhale anything.

Legal or illegal.

make people responsible for their actions and the battle is halfway won.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

[lbaker]

Ya'll are "jest" waiting for me to get into this aren't you. NOPE. I'm in too much trouble as it is

[mugsy]

Here! Here! Richard...no one will take responsibility for their actions anymore.

I am one of the wackos that think that all drugs should be made legal and have a bit of social Darwinism...those who are going to use drugs are going to use them legal or not and those who are trying them because it's the thrill of not getting caught won't bother.

If we do legalize it, slap huge luxury taxes on them. If they are legal it's going to be cleaner and "safer." Just my opinion.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I think I'm with you Mugsy until you get to the huge luxury tax. If I need my drugs and the drugs are too expensive, won't I have to knock someone over the head in order to get the money to pay the big tax?

[BOBS DAD]

???

[Lady's Human]

I'm all for legalization of some drugs for one simple reason:

Put 50 people in a room with a keg of beer.

Put 50 people in a room with a comparative amount of marjiuana.


Which room are you more likely to need to call the police to break up a fight?

[sparks19]

I'm all for legalization of some drugs for one simple reason:

Put 50 people in a room with a keg of beer.

Put 50 people in a room with a comparative amount of marjiuana.


Which room are you more likely to need to call the police to break up a fight?

LOL That depends


How many bags of chips are there in the marijuana room? LOL

[Randi]

Ya'll are "jest" waiting for me to get into this aren't you. NOPE. I'm in too much trouble as it is

Yes, we are!!

I'm all for legalization of some drugs for one simple reason:

Put 50 people in a room with a keg of beer.

Put 50 people in a room with a comparative amount of marjiuana.

Which room are you more likely to need to call the police to break up a fight?

You've got a very good point there!

I think I'm with you Mugsy ... until you get to the huge luxury tax.

I definately agree with that!

[mugsy]

Well, I'm talking about the "recreational" drugs...not prescription drugs...drugs like coke, or crack, or crank, meth, heroin, LSD....etc...not Previcid etc...there must be a way to keep them separate...but, not being a politician, I'm just not sure how to accomplish it! lol