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a drug license ?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
o.k we've pretty much established recreational drugs should be legalised to an extent, we've also established that education is paramount in safe drug use.
Now as radical as this sounds how about a system similar to a driving license ?
Before you laugh i'll explain my madness, at a pre-determined age, i suggest 18, you could take a 'test' run by a government scheme which in order to pass you would need good comprehensive knowledge of drug use, questions could include things such as:-
1) what is the recommended intake of water whilst dancing in a club on ecstasy per hour ?
2) what are the warning signs of dehydration whilst on ecstay, and what course of action should be taken if it sets in ?
3) what effects on the heart occur whilst smoking cannabis ?
4) why would it be sensible not to use speed the night before an important day ?
5) you can become dependent on which of the following drugs
a) cannabis
b) heroin
c) ecstasy
d) ketamine
etc..............
Now if the individual passes the test and in doing so proves they have good knowledge of drugs, their effects and safe use they would be granted a 'drugs lisence' at a fee of course, but a small one.
In addition clubs, pubs and specially designated outlets could obtain a drugs sale license, to get one they'd have to prove their drugs where safe.
Now if person a has his lisence he can go and purchase a limited amount of drugs from the outlet, they would be taxed and so the whole scheme could be funded in this way.
Possesion of any drugs without a lisence would incure heavy penalities in much the same way as now, supplying without a license would also incure harsh penalties, in fact both would carry far worse than now. People whom police believed to be under the influence could be asked to produce their license, if they didn't have one, whisk em off for a blood test.
This would make alot of sense for government, police, users, parents and clubs.
although having a drugs lisence would make you suspect in some peoples eyes, i'm sure once it settled in there would be no problem, people would realise how harmless it can be and the whole system could be abolished after a couple of decades, but would provide a great stepping stone, that seems neccessary in the current climate.
who had a drug license would be confidential, and would need to be renewed every 5 years to keep up with changing substances and research.
if you end up in hospital very ill through drug abuse or you supply to those without a license you could recieve penalty points, accumilate too many and you have your license confiscated.
the lisence could keep records for addicts to help beat their addiction, it could be of barcode description, so you keep tabs of exactley what you've had and how much its cost you.
it would allow very good research into the long term effects of drug use, as if you take ill the doctors could cross reference you drug use history and collect data linking diseases/depression etc to drug use.
Shall i write to mister blunkett <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Now as radical as this sounds how about a system similar to a driving license ?
Before you laugh i'll explain my madness, at a pre-determined age, i suggest 18, you could take a 'test' run by a government scheme which in order to pass you would need good comprehensive knowledge of drug use, questions could include things such as:-
1) what is the recommended intake of water whilst dancing in a club on ecstasy per hour ?
2) what are the warning signs of dehydration whilst on ecstay, and what course of action should be taken if it sets in ?
3) what effects on the heart occur whilst smoking cannabis ?
4) why would it be sensible not to use speed the night before an important day ?
5) you can become dependent on which of the following drugs
a) cannabis
b) heroin
c) ecstasy
d) ketamine
etc..............
Now if the individual passes the test and in doing so proves they have good knowledge of drugs, their effects and safe use they would be granted a 'drugs lisence' at a fee of course, but a small one.
In addition clubs, pubs and specially designated outlets could obtain a drugs sale license, to get one they'd have to prove their drugs where safe.
Now if person a has his lisence he can go and purchase a limited amount of drugs from the outlet, they would be taxed and so the whole scheme could be funded in this way.
Possesion of any drugs without a lisence would incure heavy penalities in much the same way as now, supplying without a license would also incure harsh penalties, in fact both would carry far worse than now. People whom police believed to be under the influence could be asked to produce their license, if they didn't have one, whisk em off for a blood test.
This would make alot of sense for government, police, users, parents and clubs.
although having a drugs lisence would make you suspect in some peoples eyes, i'm sure once it settled in there would be no problem, people would realise how harmless it can be and the whole system could be abolished after a couple of decades, but would provide a great stepping stone, that seems neccessary in the current climate.
who had a drug license would be confidential, and would need to be renewed every 5 years to keep up with changing substances and research.
if you end up in hospital very ill through drug abuse or you supply to those without a license you could recieve penalty points, accumilate too many and you have your license confiscated.
the lisence could keep records for addicts to help beat their addiction, it could be of barcode description, so you keep tabs of exactley what you've had and how much its cost you.
it would allow very good research into the long term effects of drug use, as if you take ill the doctors could cross reference you drug use history and collect data linking diseases/depression etc to drug use.
Shall i write to mister blunkett <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
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Comments
Im not sure Id be too confident in trusting a skag user to acuratly fill out a record of his intake and present it neetly to his doctor mind you. And there would still be a huge black market, but these are only small problems.
Nice one.
-Underdog
Makes a lot of sense although not convinced about the penalty points bit - it may stop people from going to hospital even if they feel ill...
Would you have a speed limit(pardon the pun!) : ie you can only purchase so much of x drug in a month? Also you could have licenses for different drugs just like cars,HGVs, etc. Aaaah imagine a license to bosh, 007 would be jealous!
A skag head wouldn't need to fill in a form, everytime he purchased his stuff, it would be logged into his database via a barcode on his license
Yes a black market would exist, but it would be reduced greatly, escpecially with the new tougher penalties and easier availability - the risk of dodgy drugs would put people off <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> It wouldn't be worthwhile for dealers, the risk of getting caught would out-weigh the vastly reduced profit margins <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> of course the crime problem would be eliminated <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
I think penalty points would help to promote sensible use, one visit to hospital wouldn't cost your lisence, nor would it have legal repecussions, but it would help to keep an eye on those going over the top on a regular basis. The whole system wouldn't work if people started getting mashed and spend every other week in a & e, those who abuse the system must be dealt with for the good of everybody else <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
The 'speed limit' is a tricky one, i wouldn't have one, educated people would know the limits, besides you can only afford so much ! Perhaps a high limit to stop bulk buying <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> but buying them to sell wouldn't happen as it couldn't be profitable
As for different lisences, it would have to be one licence fits all, which drugs you'd include in the scheme is subjective, i'd be inclined to include the lot, but special circumstances would come into play for heroin and crack, perhaps those who havn't tried them wouldn't be allowed them <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> a tricky one <IMG SRC="smile.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
A licence!
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