# What would REALLY happen if the US legalized all drugs?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [June 16, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423 "2002-06-16T23:57:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/21 "2002-06-18T04:29:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Blistex \*
> \*\*just look at the Neatherlands to see how fucked up a society can get when they legalize drugs in certain areas. \*\*
I’d like to see a cite for this, too, please.
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### Author:  [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/22 "2002-06-18T05:45:50Z")
I’m confused: AFAIK, only marijuana and hashish are legal in the Netherlands, and then only through certain vendors.
**WV\_Woman** , go to the Salvation Army and see if there’s any sort of state-assisted program to get you the prescription you need. If there’s not, see if the makers of Adderall have a “scholarship” program wherein they will supply it to you at a reduced cost or free. A lot of drug companies have this. I’m a Type I diabetic living on Social Security, so I know the ‘medical pinch’ all too well. As far as the pleurisy, Ibuprophen doesn’t work at all on me. Aspirin works better.
As far as what drugs I’d add to my medicine cabinet, hmmn… I don’t need much and I’m pretty well-supplied, so all I would add is a little marijuana and maybe a few hits of LSD.
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### Author:  [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/23 "2002-06-18T05:51:09Z")
P.S. Here’s the phone number for Shire Richmond, the makers of Adderall: 1-800-536-7878.
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### Author:  [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/24 "2002-06-18T06:03:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by zen101 \*
> \*\*
> Even if this were the case I don’t have a problem with idiots deleting themselves through misuse of drugs, electricity, lawn-care tools, etc._\*
Perhaps. But the misuse of some of those drugs – including something as mild as antibiotics – wouldn’t just affect the idiots who misuse them. If a potent strain of bacteria develops because some fools choose to abuse antibiotics, then _everyone_ could suffer.
Besides, some of those that you would call “idiots” are simply young people who haven’t learned their life’s lessons yet. I think it’s a bit harsh to say that we should let these youngsters “delete” themselves, simply because they acted foolishly.
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### Author:  [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/25 "2002-06-18T10:36:49Z")
With all due respect, bearing in mind I’m a newbie here …
but what’s up with this asking for cite stuff? Especially when someone is expressing an opinion?
This isn’t a term paper!
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/26 "2002-06-18T11:22:58Z")
In this particular forum, opinions are OK if they are expressed as such, but to carry any sort of weight and influence in the debate, something a little more substantial is necessary otherwise chaos reigns; unfortunately we can’t just take everybody at their word (in a serious factual debate).
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### Author:  [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/27 "2002-06-18T11:48:29Z")
Yes. Blistex’s argument that legalising drugs is a bad idea because the Netherlands has legalised drugs and Dutch societyis “fucked up” as a result carries little weight unless (a) the Netherlands has legalised drugs and (b) its society is fucked up as a result. Obviously not every reader of the forum is prepared to accept these two statements as matters of fact, so they’re asking for some evidence in support. If Blistex can supply some evidence, his argument is greatly strengthened.
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### Author:  [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/28 "2002-06-18T12:24:24Z")
I was in the Netherlands for only a week or so, but it seemed to me conspicuously _not_ fucked up. Excellent social services, lots of freedom, and I felt perfectly safe at all times. Everyone I met was well-mannered and intelligent. No doubt the country has some troubles, as all countries do, but I don’t think they have any more than the US. There are Straight Dopers who live there–perhaps one of them will stop in and tell us how fucked up the country is.
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### Author:  [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/29 "2002-06-18T18:38:28Z")
Where’s our mod buddy?
::casts **Summon Coldfire +5** ::
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### Author:  [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/30 "2002-06-18T22:39:14Z")
Squish, thanks for the advice, but I’ve already exhausted every option. I work, so the state won’t help me (only deadbeats can get help in WV), and Adderall is a class D (or is it class 4?) controlled substance. Its makers are certainly not allowed to give out samples.
Example of how hyper the gubment is over class D’s: if I get a prescription, and it’s not filled in 24 hours, it’s void.
Yep.
However, just in case I am due for a miracle, I will call the number 🙂
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### Author:  [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/31 "2002-06-19T01:37:16Z")
Whoah, that’s rough. You have my sympathies, really.
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### Author:  [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/32 "2002-06-19T08:22:34Z")
I don’ t think it’s a good idea to make prescription drugs legal, but I think it’s a damn good idea to make the illicit drugs legal, taxed and regulated. I believe it will result in a drop in crime, a drop in the prison population and an increase in government revenue. We already have an example of what would happen when an illegal drug becomes legal i.e. alcohol.
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### Author:  [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/33 "2002-06-19T09:27:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by WV\_Woman_
> \*\*With all due respect, bearing in mind I’m a newbie here …
>
> but what’s up with this asking for cite stuff? Especially when someone is expressing an opinion?
>
> This isn’t a term paper!\*\*
Since **Blistex** made a claim that can easily be supported or discredited with statistics (crime and poverty rates, standard of living, prison population, addiction rates, number of drug-related deaths, etc.), it’s justifiable to ask for some kind of citation in his case.
That said, “cite” tends to get overused in these parts. It’s often a shortcut for: “I’m dubious about what you’ve just said and I’d like to see you defend your point in greater detail, ideally using citations from reliable sources”.
In any case, the Straight Dope takes fighting ignorance quite seriously, and you’ll find that we have a lower tolerance for bunkum than the average Internet discussion group. (By “bunkum” I mean opinion that isn’t well-supported by evidence). We’re all just trying to imitate our master, Cecil, that’s all. 😉
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### Author:  [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/34 "2002-06-19T09:36:13Z")
\*\*WV\_Woman{/b] has my sympathy, too, but I don’t think her problem is the prescription system. She can get a prescription, but the stuff costs $80 a month, and she hasn’t got it. There is no reason to suppose that it would cost less than $80 a month if the prescription system were abandoned; I have suggested above that it might cost more. And even if the price were to fall to a level that WV\_Woman could afford, there would presumably be others who still could not afford it.
The problem is that WV\_Woman’s access to the treatment she requires is dependent on her ability to pay for it. Abolishing prescriptions doesn’t address that issue. Addressing it, as has already been pointed out, is a whole ‘nother debate.
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### Author:  [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/35 "2002-06-19T12:30:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Street drugs are banned for a good reason, just look at the Neatherlands to see how fucked up a society can get when they legalize drugs in certain areas.
that is a big pile of cockcheese.
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### Author:  [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/36 "2002-06-19T12:54:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> What would REALLY happen if the US legalized all drugs?
I believe people everywhere would start behaving erratically and say things like “Gotcha Ya!”
Very disturbing indeed.
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### Author:  [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-really-happen-if-the-us-legalized-all-drugs/114423/37 "2002-06-19T21:57:23Z")
If the US legalized mind-altering drugs/narcotics, I certainly hope it would come with an enforcement crackdown on driving under the influence. I used to work for a psych practice that did evaluations of alcohol/drug dependency level for people who had been arrested for DUI (which was then a requirement before your court date in Illinois, a system which has since, I believe, been deprivatized).
It used to blow my mind when people would call to ask how much we charged, and when I told them, kvetch that “that’s too damn expensive! Why can’t I just use the same eval I got for my last 6 DUI’s?” They still had their driver’s licenses, mind you…
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