Cloudscape

It is because of the irresponsibility of the illicit drug black market that drugs have been made illicit; but in doing so, the government has refused to take on responsibility for these drugs, and left it to the masses. In this, they only gave the illegal drug industry an advantage, whereas if they took drug industry in their own hands in a responsible way, illicit drug industry would cease to be attractive to users. Since users would therefore be better informed and guided about their drugs, this would probably result in an actual decrease in the abuse of illicit drugs, so that drug use would lead to less addictions, overdoses, and side-effects such as brain damage.

All use of drugs should therefore be monitored by a psychiatrist, unless or until the subject is deemed sufficiently responsible to use them independently; in this case, the subject could receive a license, the allocation of which would be based on the psychiatrist's assessment of the individual's prudence and knowledge. Without this license, the use of the drug should be prohibited. Police officers could take action if they see that someone uses a drug in an irresponsible way, as they can in the case of alcohol. Whenever they know that someone has used a drug they can ask their license, even if the drug is alcohol (in the case of alcohol, however, this would only be done in obviously high dosages, as alcohol is otherwise used far too frequently). In doing so, it is important that, should they have used hallucinogens, they do not do this in an aggressive way.

If someone is caught using a drug without license, the penalty depends on the nature of the drug. If, by taking the drug without license, they might cause harm to others, they are penalized for that risk. Such risk to others would usually be seen in the case of addiction, such as to cocaine or alcohol. If they cause no risk to others in taking the drug, they should not be punished, as whatever risk they cause to themselves will be enough punishment, and the punishment may be at least as dangerous to the mind as the drug itself. It is even more absurd to punish drug addiction, which is recognized as a mental illness, and it is nothing short of our past of torturing psychotics until they “got well.” The real reason drug users are punished today, and psychotics in the past, is because of xenophobia.

However, they should be encouraged, in either case, to see a psychiatrist to guide their use of the drug. In the case of drug addiction, they could even get reduction in costs as any other mental patient (that is, in countries where such reductions occur), since DSM-IV recognizes drug addiction as a mental illness.

However, they could receive a penalty for buying their drugs from the black market, as they thereby support their dealers and so indirectly harm others by encouraging them to further deal drugs; not only do they thereby encourage their dealers to continue dealing, but they might also encourage others to buy from them. The subject is promptly interrogated (as soon as the drug has worn off, of course) about where he got the drugs, and if he can remember his dealer's face, this may also prove useful in finding him.

The foremost role of the psychiatrist would be to educate the subject about the substance, not to decide whether or not they should use it; if they educate them correctly, the subject will be able to decide for themselves whether they should use it or not. The only exception is that in their use of the substance, they do not harm anyone else, as they cannot decide for the others they might pose a danger to. Disorders such as schizophrenia and psychopathy are therefore possible contraindications.

Legal conditions of use should be a responsible set and setting: if usage results in dangerous psychotic behavior which may be harmful to themselves or others, this is a sign that they have not made responsible use of it, either because they have used it without a license or because the psychiatrist has misjudged their responsibility. Dangerous behavior while under influence of a substance will result in a retraction of their permit for the particular class of that substance, just as dangerous driving may result in a retraction of one's driving license. Some qualified police officers may administer an antipsychotic or hypnotic to someone under influence if they are using it in an irresponsible way.

If drugs are made legal in psychiatry, they will become less dangerous: they will be less likely to lead to abuse, dependence, addiction, infection, overdose, contamination and so forth. Most important of all, the user will be fully aware of whatever dangers are left, so that not only they will be less likely to be face them, but they will also take any risk there will be entirely by their own choice.

“If the words ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ don’t include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn’t worth the hemp it was written on.”

— Terence McKenna

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Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies

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