[quote author=“rabbit”]The line is self-evident. Natural drugs are those which occur naturally, they grow or occur without human processing. Even alcohol occurs naturally when honey ferments. I’ve seen drunk squirrils.
The line is also needlessly arbitrary. Most OTC drugs are not naturally occuring (or have at least some active “unnatural” ingredients), but are sold freely, without prescription, even in our current repressive system. I fail to see any logical basis to limit recreational pharmacology to “natural” substances, but allow “unnatural” ones to treat “medical conditions”. The bottom line is that in all cases, a person is attempting, via pharmacological intervention, to modify their personal circumstances for the better.
Clearly prohibition doesn’t work. If you don’t like the Dutch model, what do you think would work to everyone’s benefit?
Hold people responsible for their actions. If they commit a crime, punish them. Otherwise, I would be in favor of minimal restrictions, including zones (zoned freedom isn’t, as they say). I would probably support a stiffening of the penalties for providing narcotics to minors, though, as drug use (natural or otherwise) can have a profoundly negative impact on a developing brain.
-Matt
