Opinions - Drug Licences: An idea for the future

[Schwag]

Swim says:
A few weeks ago I was thinking about the legalisation of drugs and I had a thought that might keep people safer. My thought was that we use drug licences. You could get them similar to going and getting your driving licence and there would be a separate one for each drug.

To pass the test for the licence, you would have to answer questions about the drug such as proper dosage, what are the side effects etc... This proves that you have done some research on the drug and are more likely to use it responsibly. Also maybe for addictive drugs, test people to see if they are emotionally stable enough to use them with out getting addicted right away.

There could be different types of Licences for each drug some would have more than others. You would be able to obtain all licences. For example: Class 1 MDMA licence would allow you to possess MDMA, Class 2 MDMA licence would allow you to manufacture MDMA, Class 3 licence would allow you to sell MDMA but you must sell it in a proper store that is taxed by the government, Class 4 would allow you to import/export MDMA. If you have a licence to sell you must have a government official come and check the purity of your product every 6 months. For importing/exporting you must have a government official check purity upon departure/arrival. If you don't you will be fined. If you are found selling un-pure products you will be sentenced anywhere from 6 months to life in jail depending on what you are cutting your product with. Plus additional manslaughter charges if you kill anybody.

You would have to be 18 years of age to apply for any test. If you are caught with drugs and you do not have a licence you will be given 6 months in jail. Basically this makes it less likely for people who actually use drugs responsibly to get arrested for it (unless they are underage). If you are underage and get caught with drugs, you will get a fine. If you are caught using drugs irresponsibly and you have a licence for the drug(s) your licence(s) will be suspended for 6 months.

Maybe this is a stupid idea maybe it's a genius idea. Although, I think this way drugs might gain a better reputation throughout the world because people would be more inclined to use them responsibly.

I haven't thought too much about this so any ideas are welcome. I'm sure there's much more that could be added but for now that's all I could come up with. If I think of anything else I'll edit it in.

I hope this hasn't been thought up before, I couldn't find anything about it. Also wasn't sure if this was the right forum to put it in.

[yamman13]

It sounds good, the one problem to overcome is the fact that the majority of the public hates drugs. the goverment has spent decades telling us about how evil they are. but its a good idea, maybe with a few scientific facts and petitions etc...

[Heretic.Ape.]

Sounds like a good idea if the drug war ever ends and we begin looking for ways of dealing with drug issues based on sense. I imagine one would need proper business licenses, FDA approval, or whatever a pharmaceutical company has to go through to manufacure and distribute. But if making for personal use I don't imagine much would be necissary considering people brew their own beer and wine. Interesting to contemplate ideas for dealing with drugs in post-insanity times

[Broshious]

I had that same idea, but I compared it to gun licenses.

[methMADMAN]

Swim has all the knowleg in the world about meth and it doesn't make swim any less of an addict. Knowlege does not negate abuse potential in any way whatever.

[Felonious Skunk]

Bad idea. Possession of a drug license would get you in a whole bunch of databases you wouldn't want to be in.

It's not like you're going to get a break on your auto insurance because you have a "Responsible Drug User" card.

Or a positive response at the next job interview.

Don't get me wrong, Schwag. The intent of the idea is good. But combine it with LE, insurance companies, neighborhood "watch groups," and "homeland security" enthusiasts, possession of such a license would become one big headache.

[chemlove]

Originally Posted by Felonious Skunk

Bad idea. Possession of a drug license would get you in a whole bunch of databases you wouldn't want to be in.

It's not like you're going to get a break on your auto insurance because you have a "Responsible Drug User" card.

Or a positive response at the next job interview.

Don't get me wrong, Schwag. The intent of the idea is good. But combine it with LE, insurance companies, neighborhood "watch groups," and "homeland security" enthusiasts, possession of such a license would become one big headache.

while these are all good points, Operating any car motorcycle, boat, or even lawn mower should be illegal on drugs, just like with alcohol. When you turn 21 most insurance companies don't raise your rates cause you can drink. There well aware that if you really wanted to drink at 18, 19, 20, and hell 16 for that matter you could have.

As far as jobs, jobs shouldn't have to know that you have these license. Actually i think it should be your right to privacy that they don't know if you have a "marijuana license" or a "cocaine license". It shouldn't be any of there business. Jobs would easily get you to sign paper work stating if you use any substance including alcohol or tobacco or other compounds or chemicals at work your fired no questions asked.

I don't think the license is the way to go, i do think though a better way would be to legalize everything at the age of 21, and have extremely harsh penalties for selling if your not an authorized seller of the product. Thus removing bad stuff that can kill you off the streets. The chemicals you would get would be coming from a lab and would be as safe as possible. I think before you could buy any chemical including tobacco and alcohol it would be better to make people take maybe a 3 month summer course on the safety and dangers of drugs which would be an in-depth and non-propaganda educational class showing the dangers and effects of drugs. I think if they showed the real pain of addiction most extremely dangerous drugs would not be used by citizens.

[Schwag]

Originally Posted by methMADMAN

Swim has all the knowleg in the world about meth and it doesn't make swim any less of an addict. Knowlege does not negate abuse potential in any way whatever.

Swim says:

I never said it did. I stated that people should be tested for emotional stability for addictive drugs. I'm not saying swimethMADMAN is emotionally un-stable (I don't know him so I can't judge). Most addicts I have known though started using because they where depressed, un-wanting to deal with reality etc... I would classify that as emotionally un-stable. I believe being emotionally stable does negate abuse potential. At the same time it's hard to say though, nothing is ever definite. Legalisation of addictive drugs is definitely a controversial matter.

Originally Posted by Felonious Skunk

Bad idea. Possession of a drug license would get you in a whole bunch of databases you wouldn't want to be in.

It's not like you're going to get a break on your auto insurance because you have a "Responsible Drug User" card.

Or a positive response at the next job interview.

Don't get me wrong, Schwag. The intent of the idea is good. But combine it with LE, insurance companies, neighborhood "watch groups," and "homeland security" enthusiasts, possession of such a license would become one big headache.

Swim says:
I agree to a certain extent, in the world we live in today it would not work. We're talking about the future though and the possibility of drugs being legal. For this alone to happen, there would have to be a lot of changes. The world would have to be different from what it is today. Drugs would be viewed on the same level as Alcohol. If this where to happen, all of what you mentioned would not be a problem.

LE doesn't care about alcohol use, nor do neighbourhood watch groups, employers, insurance companys etc... If drugs where viewed the same way as alcohol nobody would care if you liked to drop acid in your spare time just so long as you didn't bother anybody else (i.e. using responsibly instead of irresponsibly).

And as swichemlove stated it's private information. Employers or insurance companies don't need to know if you use drugs or not. Just so long as you don't use in the work place. If you did your employer could have you fired just like if you get drunk at work, you get fired. For insurance companies let's say car insurance for example, someone who drinks is just as likely to crash their car as someone who does drugs (alcohol maybe even more likely depending on the drug). Insurance companies don't ask people if they drink (as far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong, I've never applied for insurance) when you got to apply for insurance so they wouldn't ask if a person does drugs.

Reputation Comments on this post:

I like the way you think, and you're more than holding your end up in this thread. Keep it up.