Drugs and Bob Ainsworth: Devils, Demons and Prohibition

Hmmm …

You know, the BBC’s news channel does get interesting, this time of the morning, it really does.

One of the items … ?

Was one about former Secretary of State for Defence — and Drugs Minister — Bob Ainsworth, MP.

Who’s — basically — calling for the legalisation of currently illegal hard drugs.

Things like heroin and cocaine, for example, along with various others.

Well, not legalisation: but certainly decriminalisation, along with better regulation, and — where deemed helpful — taxation.

Hmmm …

I find myself caught.

I smoke.

And I’m an ex-barman.

And someone who — for various reasons — doesn’t drink.

So I know that — on the one hand — there’s various types of help — some government funded and some not — for those of us who wish to give the habits up, or are having trouble with dealing with them.

I personally feel that legalisation can only be helpful: especially if it raises some money to fund things like rehab clinics and support for ex-offenders for whom drugs have been a major motivating factors.

On the other hand … ?

I’m also aware that — from the little I know — that the two recreational drugs that are the biggest killers … ?

Are tobacco and alcohol.

As we’re probably all aware, Prohibition in the US didn’t necessarily help.

On the other hand … ?

Regulated, legalised drugs … ?

Could be a bigger problem than we think, taxed, regulated or otherwise …