[ILUG-Social] Legalise.

[Paul Jakma]

On Thu, 18 Oct 2001, Fergal Daly wrote:

> The problem with that argument (and this is just for cigarettes, not
> canabis) is that the decision is not just affecting yourself. I'm not even
> talking about secondary smoke. People with smoking related illnesses are a
> huge burden on the health services of every country.

what about overweight people and the burden their heart disease 
causes the country. last i heard heart disease was a much bigger 
killer than lung cancer.

why should i, a skinny bastard, have to bear the financial burden of 
the health costs associated with obesity?

what about people who take part in dangerour activities. Eg, Mr. 
Looney and that battle reenactment stuff. why should i pay if he or 
one of his battle reenactment chums breaks a finger or a leg, or 
something.

etc.. etc...

> One might argue that the tax on cigarettes covers that expense, 

tax on cigarettes is extortionate, and worst of all, it is not used 
for health care.

ie tax from smokers pay for lots of things. non-smokers perhaps are 
actually indebted to smokers.

> pressure put on donor organ supply, by people who have basically
> self inflicted damage.

and you always eat sensibly and are not overweight, i hope.

> That said, as long as smoking is legal, I don't see any great
> extra harm in making hash legal (and taxed too :-)

there certainly is an argument for the legalisation of all drugs.

> Fergal

regards,
-- 
Paul Jakma	paul at clubi.ie	paul at jakma.org	Key ID: 64A2FF6A
Fortune:
Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.