dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse

This website has run out of funding so feel free to contribute if you can afford it (see footer)

Author Topic: 5 Things We Can Learn From New Zealand's Innovative Law to Regulate New Drugs  (Read 10508 times)

Offline Chip (OP)

  • Server Admin
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Location: Australia
  • Posts: 6648
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • Chip has hidden their reputation power
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:Yesterday at 05:53:23 PM
  • Deeply Confused Learner
  • Profession: IT Engineer
or go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avinash-tharoor/new-zealand-drug-laws_b_4019402.html

5 Things We Can Learn From New Zealand's Innovative Law to Regulate New Drugs
Posted: 09/30/2013 6:25 pm EDT Updated: 11/30/2013 5:12 am EST

New Zealand has seen the enactment of revolutionary policy changes to the norm of drug prohibition that no other country has experienced.

While the U.S., Uruguay, and certain European states have taken recent strides in reforming marijuana policy, New Zealand focused on newer, less-known substances. In July, the parliament passed the Psychoactive Substances Bill which allows for the strictly regulated, but legal, sale of a number of synthetic narcotics commonly known as 'legal highs' or 'party pills.'

So, what can New Zealand's new approach teach the rest of the world about reforming drug policy?

1. Drugs are safer to consume if they are legal


One of the biggest risks with consuming any illegal substance is the question of purity Cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and many of the substances colloquially referred to as 'bath salts' all come in the form of an indistinct white powder. The Psychoactive Substance Bill ensures that newly-legalized drugs are rigorously tested, have their contents clearly detailed on packaging, and that purity is guaranteed.

2. Regulation protects children and educates users


The Psychoactive Substance Bill restricts sale of drugs to individuals 18 or older. Unlike licensed stores, illegal drug dealers don't ask for ID, and are unlikely to forewarn their customers of the safest methods and doses of consumption. The new system of regulation reduces the accessibility of these drugs to minors, while educating users about the risks of use, including how to avoid overdose. The belief that legalization encourages drug use among young people is largely unfounded; marijuana use among teens is higher in the U.S. than it is in the Netherlands- where it is legally available but restricted to adults.

3. Sale of a legal drug does not fund criminal enterprise


The new legislation will allow the entire supply chain - production, transport, and sale - of many synthetic narcotics to be taxed and regulated. Unlike with the sale of illegal substances, the profits earned from selling these legal drugs will be directed to legitimate businesses, as well as to government initiatives via tax. This will lead to a reduction in the violent crime that stems from the drug trade, as the profits from synthetic drug sales won't be empowering violent gangs.

4. Criminalizing synthetic drugs is a futile battle


Synthetic drugs are man-made. Therefore, under traditional prohibition, when the government outlaws a synthetic drug, manufacturers simply have to make a slight alteration to the product's chemical composition to avoid the law. The profitability of the trade motivates producers to continue creating new and different substances faster than the law can catch up. New Zealand's reform has allowed the parliament to avoid the need for constant legislation, and allows consumers to properly understand the range of narcotics that are available.

5. Effective drugs laws give people faith in the system


"Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government," said Albert Einstein, "than passing laws which cannot be enforced". How can the government expect to be trusted by the people if it openly, and expensively, fails at protecting them? 82 percent of Americans believe that their country is losing the drug war, and they're right - prohibition has not reduced drug use or trafficking. New Zealand's strategy indicates a new frontier in the international fight against criminality, and creates hope for a fairer future for drug policy.

Avinash Tharoor is a freelance journalist and an intern at the Drug Policy Alliance.

This piece first appeared on the Drug Policy Alliance Blog.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2015, 07:34:58 AM by Chipper »
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Our Discord Server invitation link is https://discord.gg/jB2qmRrxyD

Offline Narkotikon

  • Honest
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • SA_Chat+
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Location: USA
  • Posts: 1141
  • Reputation Power: 50
  • Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:March 28, 2016, 11:31:11 PM
  • Keeping Them Honest
Great article.  If only that type of thinking were prominent in the US. 

Currently, we're focusing on fundamental human rights (i.e., racism) because of the SC shootings.  You'd think that removing a racist Confederate flag after a mass-shooting of black church goers would be a given.  Apparently some Republicans feel it's more important to "debate" it.  UGGG.   :o ::) >:(

Fox "news" even went so far as to say it wasn't racially motivated at all, but rather was an attack on Christians because it took place in a church.  That was said on the day of the shooting, even though the shooter explicitly told the victims he was shooting them simply because they were black.  Fox is so fucking stupid. 

I don't think some of our politicians are capable of reasonable, rational thought.  They're too concerned with appeasing their white, conservative voter base.  Pandering is more important than enacting rational laws.

Hopefully, one day, rational drug laws will prevail.
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Transparency is necessary to ensure decent staff members get elected. Members need to know when staff are misbehaving, so members can be informed voters.

Offline Zoops

  • Filius non bonum de canis femina.
  • Deceased
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Location: Nodsville-on-Patawomeck, Virginia, USA
  • Posts: 1684
  • Reputation Power: 58
  • Zoops has got loads of potential.Zoops has got loads of potential.Zoops has got loads of potential.Zoops has got loads of potential.Zoops has got loads of potential.
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:September 29, 2017, 04:49:02 AM
  • Keeping the wolves at bay with a sharp stick.
I would love to see a sane drug policy like that enacted in the US, but it won't be. They are trying to lock everyone in the entire country up. In 20 years, EVERY American will at least have some sort of a record! And most Americans will have been arrested for something at some point in their lives.

The numbers keep climbing, it's actually quite ridiculous.
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
"The future ain't what it used to be."
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
"You can observe a lot just by watching."
- Yogi Berra

"Drugs are so fucking good....that they'll ruin your life."
- Louis C.K.

Offline Güey

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • SA_Chat+
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Location: Denver, CO
  • Posts: 137
  • Reputation Power: 8
  • Güey is new on the scene.
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:April 01, 2019, 09:12:16 AM
Ugh. I sooooo wish that this was the way of thinking in America. But, I don't see it happening any time soon, if at all. Not trying to be a Negative Nellie, just sayin'...

But, I will say I'm still surprised that marijuana is legal in a few states, so ya never know...

Great article, tho!
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
¡No mames!

Offline Chip (OP)

  • Server Admin
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Location: Australia
  • Posts: 6648
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • Chip has hidden their reputation power
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:Yesterday at 05:53:23 PM
  • Deeply Confused Learner
  • Profession: IT Engineer
all eyes on what NZ do with their laws;

the sale of BZP and TFMPP (Class 'D' drugs - or "Social Tonics") lead to too many hospital addmissions.

NZ now looking at RC's (Reaseach Chems.) law, i believe.
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Our Discord Server invitation link is https://discord.gg/jB2qmRrxyD

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
29 Replies
22071 Views
Last post January 01, 2018, 01:25:57 AM
by Sonary
0 Replies
4461 Views
Last post March 01, 2018, 08:10:35 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
3716 Views
Last post June 15, 2019, 10:08:27 AM
by Chip
0 Replies
4431 Views
Last post September 06, 2019, 11:16:15 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
3994 Views
Last post October 29, 2019, 05:56:12 AM
by Chip
0 Replies
1548 Views
Last post December 26, 2022, 05:21:40 AM
by Chip
0 Replies
3274 Views
Last post June 03, 2023, 07:10:52 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
3067 Views
Last post June 03, 2023, 08:24:22 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
4017 Views
Last post September 17, 2023, 09:33:10 PM
by smfadmin
0 Replies
565 Views
Last post February 04, 2024, 07:02:28 AM
by Chip


dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse





TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In no event will d&u or any person involved in creating, producing, or distributing site information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use d&u. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless d&u, its domain founders, sponsors, maintainers, server administrators, volunteers and contributors from and against all liability, claims, damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from the use of any part of the d&u site.


TO USE THIS WEBSITE YOU MUST AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOVE


Founded December 2014
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal