The Technology of Drug Prohibition

ches_grin writes "Although the GWOT gets all the headlines, technology is proving to be the key factor in the 'war on drugs'. This article and slideshow take a look at the current state-of-the-art for both federal agents and drug traffickers, from greenhouses to Predator drones: 'In the pitched battle surrounding illegal drugs, each side has its advantages. Law enforcement can take advantage of private sector expertise, expensive machines, and, of course, the law. Those who cultivate, manufacture, and smuggle illegal drugs can leverage vast sums of cash, generated by constant demand.'"

Comments

Oh? But now lets turn it around

[SmallFurryCreature]

What would you say to a society that allowed its citizens the true freedom to take a happy drug. Free because if it is too costly that is just another barrier. If all those who wanted it could spend all their time in a drug induced state of bliss.

Wich population would be easier to control. Drug free citizens or dopeheads?

In fact since drugs are addicting a goverment that dispenses these drugs freely would at the same time have an awfull lot of control. And just imagine any party trying to change this trying to get elected. Yes in order to outlaw your happy drug we are going to have raise taxes so we can pay for taking your happy drug away.

While the use of drugs is indeed a personal freedom issue the simple obstacle for me is that I would not exactly like a world were the majority of citizens are doped out.

You maybe never had to deal with drug users but I have. They are not free citizens excersing their liberty. They are slaves to a substance and slaves to whoever controls the substance. Now it is the pimps. If drugs are legal they will be slaves of companies or goverments. Neither do I consider an improvement.

This subject has already been examined plenty of times in Science Fiction.

It is the simple experiment were a rat with a wired brain is given the choice of directly stimulating his pleasure centers chooses this direct method rather then feeding, sleeping, mating until he dies.

Human beings are sadly not much better then rats. Some of us too will happily do drugs while we rot away. Yes this is freedom, but society as a whole for now has chosen too put restraints on personal freedom.

It is the simple thing of suicide being a crime. A truly free society would have no such ban. Yet again, do you totally trust a society that does not mind if say population group X killed itself? By making suicide a crime we also make the killing of the old or infirm a crime.

Read some good Sci-Fi, then come back and tell me how free you want to be.

Oh and if you truly believe everyone has the right to be free you should first be willing to grant that freedom to others right? Okay, grant me my freedom of killing you. If you are willing to grant me that freedom, I will grant you yours. But you first. Show through example okay? I promise I will keep my word. Honest.