Legalization of ALL drugs

[JMJSHJ]

Can a Catholic support the legalization of all drugs in good conscience? In my opinion it is a clear no. We are not talking just about marijuana but all drugs (crack, cocaine, heroine, etc). Aren’t we required to take care of our bodies and since it is clear that these drugs can seriously harm ourselves then we can’t support the legalization of all drugs.

For the purpose of this discussion legalization doesn’t only mean passing laws to protect that but the removal of punishments that are currently associated with it.

 

[Trunicate09]

I’m sorry, but I really don’t see how anyone can, with a clear conscious (or in their right mind) support the legalization of ALL drugs.

 

[GEddie]

I’m sorry, but I really don’t see how anyone can, with a clear conscious (or in their right mind) support the legalization of ALL drugs.

I know several who do.

The argument runs: Well, it’s obvious that people will take them anyway; if they are legal, at least no-one will be murdered over them.

ICXC NIKA

 

[katholikos12]

A lot of people argue that its like prohibition: by making it illegal it is encouraging crime.

I struggle with whether or not this would be a right choice.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Can a Catholic support the legalization of all drugs in good conscience? In my opinion it is a clear no. We are not talking just about marijuana but all drugs (crack, cocaine, heroine, etc). Aren’t we required to take care of our bodies and since it is clear that these drugs can seriously harm ourselves then we can’t support the legalization of all drugs.

For the purpose of this discussion legalization doesn’t only mean passing laws to protect that but the removal of punishments that are currently associated with it.

There is also the option of decriminalising it and treating it as a medical problem.

 

[Tyrion]

The argument runs: Well, it’s obvious that people will take them anyway; if they are legal, at least no-one will be murdered over them.

That is part of it, yes. But not the whole argument, it is only the pragmatic part. All those substances are actually very simple and cheap. It is the prohibition which makes them expensive and dangerous.

The important part is that us, heathens firmly believe that we are the owners of our life, and as such it is no one else’s business what we do with it (the usual caveat: as long as it is not harmful to others). Yes, we are aware that catholicism denies that “liberty”, but fortunately we do not live under catholic theocracy, so there is not real argument against the freedom we wish to maintain.

 

[JMJSHJ]

I know several who do.

The argument runs: Well, it’s obvious that people will take them anyway; if they are legal, at least no-one will be murdered over them.

ICXC NIKA

They used to say the same thing about abortion. Hardly a theological position one can legitimately defend.

 

[katholikos12]

They used to say the same thing about abortion. Hardly a theological position one can legitimately defend.

I would have to say you most certainly can. Abortion is murder. Drugs are bad for you.

There’s a big difference there.

KFC and Taco Bell are bad for you. But not if eaten in moderation.

Drugs are bad for you, but if cleaned up and used smartly (like medical physician assisted) Then people can survive on them.

People are much more likely to get over their addictions if we had such a program in place. It has had progress in Canada: theawl.com/2012/04/vancouver-supervised-drug-injection-center

If that source is not satisfactory simply googling “vancouver legalizes heroin” should bring up ample results.

 

[CopticChristian]

JMJSHJ;10236476**:

Can a Catholic support the legalization of all drugs in good conscience?

In my opinion it is a clear no. We are not talking just about marijuana but all drugs (crack, cocaine, heroine, etc). Aren’t we required to take care of our bodies and since it is clear that these drugs can seriously harm ourselves then we can’t support the legalization of all drugs.

For the purpose of this discussion legalization doesn’t only mean passing laws to protect that but the removal of punishments that are currently associated with it.

JM,

The primary focus of this question should be oriented towards what you have predetermined in your question. “Good Conscience”. We are to be constantly forming our conscience. The deposit of Faith is…

Our profession of Faith
Sacramental Life
Life in Christ, modeling Christ via commandments and seeking Holiness
Prayer/grace ask for help

So, a good way to look at this is there is no supporting or not supporting the legalization of drugs that should affect our efforts to live our Faith. One drug, alcohol, is legal. Based on that…some abuse and use that drug and find themselves falling in the Life of Christ, that causes them to not profess their Faith, visit the Sacraments and pray. These may be less inclined to form their conscience.

If all drugs were legal then it is imperative that we continue to preach the 4 points outlined above. If all drugs are illegal then the same onus falls upon us.

Our goal should be supporting the profession of Faith, and the other 3 points that follow…what the governnment does with legal or not legal status of drugs should not change that.

 

[CopticChristian]

I would have to say you most certainly can. Abortion is murder. Drugs are bad for you.

There’s a big difference there.

KFC and Taco Bell are bad for you. But not if eaten in moderation.

Drugs are bad for you, but if cleaned up and used smartly (like medical physician assisted) Then people can survive on them.

People are much more likely to get over their addictions if we had such a program in place. It has had progress in Canada: theawl.com/2012/04/vancouver-supervised-drug-injection-center

If that source is not satisfactory simply googling “vancouver legalizes heroin” should bring up ample results.

Kath,

This is a harm reduction program that unfortunately will not fly in the USA. The USA is abstinence based and resists harm reduction. The reasons have to do with the Temperance mentality, AA and the like that focus on abstinence not harm reduction. This model in Canada appears to have made progress and accept what is and actually do good.

 

[JMJSHJ]

I would have to say you most certainly can. Abortion is murder. Drugs are bad for you.

There’s a big difference there.

KFC and Taco Bell are bad for you. But not if eaten in moderation.

Drugs are bad for you, but if cleaned up and used smartly (like medical physician assisted) Then people can survive on them.

People are much more likely to get over their addictions if we had such a program in place. It has had progress in Canada: theawl.com/2012/04/vancouver-supervised-drug-injection-center

If that source is not satisfactory simply googling “vancouver legalizes heroin” should bring up ample results.

Drugs are more than just “bad” for you. Just to be clear we are not talking about prescription drugs which can be abused like what you say about KFC or Taco Bell but heroine, crack, cocaine, etc.

While it is true that drugs don’t cause immediate death that abortion does, I was simply pointing out the fallacy that since people will do it anyway, we might as well legalize it.

 

[JMJSHJ]

JM,

The primary focus of this question should be oriented towards what you have predetermined in your question. “Good Conscience”. We are to be constantly forming our conscience. The deposit of Faith is…

Our profession of Faith
Sacramental Life
Life in Christ, modeling Christ via commandments and seeking Holiness
Prayer/grace ask for help

So, a good way to look at this is there is no supporting or not supporting the legalization of drugs that should affect our efforts to live our Faith. One drug, alcohol, is legal. Based on that…some abuse and use that drug and find themselves falling in the Life of Christ, that causes them to not profess their Faith, visit the Sacraments and pray. These may be less inclined to form their conscience.

If all drugs were legal then it is imperative that we continue to preach the 4 points outlined above. If all drugs are illegal then the same onus falls upon us.

Our goal should be supporting the profession of Faith, and the other 3 points that follow…what the governnment does with legal or not legal status of drugs should not change that.

We also have a responsibility to a just and peaceful society according to the teachings of our faith.

That is why our faith compels us to take up the fight for the unborn.

Hard drugs kill people and can harm families. Since the family is the basic unit of society and that is something that is said in many church documents, becomes a matter for Catholics to listen to.

We don`t just wash our hands and say its not our concern.

 

[CopticChristian]

We also have a responsibility to a just and peaceful society according to the teachings of our faith.

That is why our faith compels us to take up the fight for the unborn.

Hard drugs kill people and can harm families. Since the family is the basic unit of society and that is something that is said in many church documents, becomes a matter for Catholics to listen to.

We don`t just wash our hands and say its not our concern.

JM,

Nothing I wrote implies to wash our hands of anything. I pointed out in a subsequent post the reality, that I believe you may oppose, harm reduction is working and based on what you post may conflict with your thinking. Harm reduction denies the notion of abstinence and temperance and agrees that we acknowledge the population that chooses to harm and to aid the minimal harm. The Vancouver website has statistics that show more lives saved and more people helped. The abstinence and temperance philosophy would cause those people to cause more harm because we believe that they will die and we oppose aiding reduction in harm.

 

[ProVobis]

I would have to say you most certainly can. Abortion is murder. Drugs are bad for you.

Not entirely separate issues. Pregnant women taking drugs can cause harm, including death, to their fetus, something that can affect their entire lives if they live.

 

[JMJSHJ]

JM,

Nothing I wrote implies to wash our hands of anything. I pointed out in a subsequent post the reality, that I believe you may oppose, harm reduction is working and based on what you post may conflict with your thinking. Harm reduction denies the notion of abstinence and temperance and agrees that we acknowledge the population that chooses to harm and to aid the minimal harm. The Vancouver website has statistics that show more lives saved and more people helped. The abstinence and temperance philosophy would cause those people to cause more harm because we believe that they will die and we oppose aiding reduction in harm.

The success or non-success of safe injection sites really has no bearing on whether it is moral that we should make attempts to legalize all drugs.

There was a thread about them here:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=606286

Even if we accept at face value the success that these safe injection sites tout, that wouldn’t change the fact that people coming in there have problems and that legalization would make it better.

In that thread it made mention that the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the site can stay open but that doesn’t mean that heroine is legal to inject in Canada.

We don’t want to use a “condom” approach to this that somehow in an effort to stop STD’s we need to use condom because the abstinence approach is wrong.

Making something legal will encourage more people to do it.

 

[CopticChristian]

The success or non-success of safe injection sites really has no bearing on whether it is moral that we should make attempts to legalize all drugs.

There was a thread about them here:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=606286

Even if we accept at face value the success that these safe injection sites tout, that wouldn’t change the fact that people coming in there have problems and that legalization would make it better.

In that thread it made mention that the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the site can stay open but that doesn’t mean that heroine is legal to inject in Canada.

We don’t want to use a “condom” approach to this that somehow in an effort to stop STD’s we need to use condom because the abstinence approach is wrong.

Making something legal will encourage more people to do it.

JM,

I have to wear two hats here.

As a Catholic I agree with you it is morally wrong.

As a Physician I know that harm reduction works.

I can profess what I believe and object to what is done and not promote it however if it happens I can accept what is and work within the confines of what is.

I saw drug and alcohol abusers all the time at SFGH emergency room and in hospital. My obligation was to care for these immoral people regardless of my beliefs.

 

[JMJSHJ]

JM,

I have to wear two hats here.

As a Catholic I agree with you it is morally wrong.

As a Physician I know that harm reduction works.

I can profess what I believe and object to what is done and not promote it however if it happens I can accept what is and work within the confines of what is.

I saw drug and alcohol abusers all the time at SFGH emergency room and in hospital. My obligation was to care for these immoral people regardless of my beliefs.

We all have to wear two hats. I don’t believe both are mutually exclusive but even the success of harm reduction doesn’t negate the harm that expanding the use of serious drugs through legislative (legalization) means can bring to society.

Another way to look at it would be in the abortion issue. An example of harm reduction would be the defunding of Planned Parenthood. While defunding that won’t stop abortion, it is something that all Catholics can support.

 

[CopticChristian]

We all have to wear two hats. I don’t believe both are mutually exclusive but even the success of harm reduction doesn’t negate the harm that expanding the use of serious drugs through legislative (legalization) means can bring to society.

Another way to look at it would be in the abortion issue. An example of harm reduction would be the defunding of Planned Parenthood. While defunding that won’t stop abortion, it is something that all Catholics can support.

JM,

These are separate issues and to mix them clouds the issue. Drugs are not of procreation in the context of this discussion and you can spin it any way you want to. The reality is that Harm Reduction in place while we oppose it allows for lives to be saved.

Stanton Peele, Phd…discusses Harm Reduction here…

peele.net/lib/smart.php

 

[JMJSHJ]

JM,

These are separate issues and to mix them clouds the issue. Drugs are not of procreation in the context of this discussion and you can spin it any way you want to. The reality is that Harm Reduction in place while we oppose it allows for lives to be saved.

Stanton Peele, Phd…discusses Harm Reduction here…

peele.net/lib/smart.php

Succesful or non-succesful safe injection sites have no real bearing on whether we as Catholics can support the legalization of drugs.

 

[CopticChristian]

Succesful or non-succesful safe injection sites have no real bearing on whether we as Catholics can support the legalization of drugs.

JM,

I agree. We have to acknowledge that it exists and saves lives.