Drug prohibition is dodgy politics

I realise now that I have always looked at the drug prohibition issue from the wrong angle. As I've always believed that people should have a freedom of choice, when it comes to what subtances one uses to enjoy one's rest and relaxation time, as long as your use does not impinge upon other's enjoyment of life. After all, the vast majority of drug users, like myself, are fully productive, normally functioning members of the community. There are a minority of substance users, who for generally deeper reasons, abuse subtances. This is a health and education issue, that left undealt with becomes a law and order issue.

However successive governments for far too long now have not dealt responsibly with the issue, prefering to keep a blanket ban on all but alcohol and nicotine. Two of the most damaging (physically and mentally) of the variety of drugs available to choose from. Doesn't really make sense from the angle of 'the social responsibilities of government'.

Given that governments generally act in their own best interest (ie. what will get them re-elected ), not the best interests of the general community (although sometimes the two coincide, and we are kept happy). One can only assume that the prohibition of some substances is more profitable to them. Rather than alowing a legitimate industry to develope that could employ hundreds of Australians, and provide another option to the farming communities that are struggling Australia wide. Instead, just a few key people make meggabucks.

If the so-called "hard drugs" were manufactured under strict quality control and sold in known dosage, rather that only being available from dodgy sources, we would likely find a dramatic decrease in associated physical and mental health 'side effects'. Accidental overdose deaths would cease. People who do have problems with their usage could openly seek help. We could have legitimate medical research to determine why a handful of users have bad reactions to some drugs, address the issue, and better educate people. Instead of just pushing the tired old line, " drugs are bad m'k". I know, from personal use, that most are not, when used responsibly and in moderation, (Just like legally available alcohol).

Perhaps goverments are afraid to encourage people to think, and prefers to 'dumb them down' with alcohol, rather than allow access to various other substances which actually allow one to see things from a diferent perspective, and therefore, often solve problems more effectively. Some of the worlds most creative minds have been somewhat drug effected. One really needs to question government's motives on this one. Profit, political gain or the good of the people?
Or maybe we've become so 'beholdin' to the good old US of A that we just do as they say, no questions asked. Never mind the US has it's own rather questionable agenda. No longer free thinking Australians.

End the "war on drugs". It is immoral. It is ignorant.