On the legalization of psychoactive drugs in Western countries since the 1960s

Since the 1960s or so, Western countries have struggled to find a way to deal with psychoactive substances.

Now President Trump is reported to sign an order to reclassify cannabis to a lower schedule.

The spectrum of tried and adopted policies regarding psychoactive drugs in Western countries range from decriminalization, legalization to harsh prohibition, criminalization, law enforcement and military suppression. Perhaps alcohol is a good example!

In many Western countries, the historic moral, religious and cultural rejection of psychoactive substances has lessened or has been waning since the 1960s. More individuals have been willing to try or to consume.

Then there are the many empirical findings of medical benefits of some psychoactive substances as treatment for patients with specific health conditions.

In my opinion, one of the major reasons why legalization was not too successful in many cases is the issue of individual responsibility and accountability of each individual when using psychoactive substances. With freedom/liberty comes great responsibility!

Common sense would suggest that individual responsibility and accountability is automatically elevated when using psychoactive substances. This also means that in case of accidents or crimes the culpability for drug using individuals is automatically higher.

The excuse/reason of addiction for milder circumstances or as a mitigating factor to reduce individual culpability should be eliminated in cases of accidents or crimes. Therefore, more severe punishment or sentences compared to sober individuals are to be expected!

Individuals should be required to seek immediate medical help and treatment when addiction is diagnosed or suspected. Some individuals may have to be required to undergo drug testing for addiction. Some unwilling addicted individuals may have to be forced to undergo treatment like e.g. repeat offenders.

Another important issue is the distribution/sale of psychoactive drugs. Here are some critical questions for which Western countries have not found good and acceptable answers yet:

• Should they be allowed to be sold at stores like alcohol & tobacco?
• Should they be available only via prescription and through pharmacies? 
• How to protect children/minors?

Today, it the diagnosis of and testing for psychoactive substance use/abuse is much more advanced and better. The near future is even more promising. This fact by itself would suggest that more legalization ought to be tried.

The major benefits of legalization have been also known and repeatedly discussed since at least the 1960s:

1. A major illegal business would be largely reduced or perhaps even almost eliminated (remember the failed alcohol prohibition)
2. The many health risks of illegal drugs would be significantly reduced. The quality and safety of the drugs available would be enhanced a lot. Much less adulteration!
3. Better medical care for individuals suffering from addiction would become available
4. Better public education about the use of psychoactive substances would be possible

In conclusion, as a classical liberal I would say at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century it is time to allow for more legalization of psychoactive drugs in Western countries.

Around 45% of cases of dementia are potentially preventable, two more modifiable risk factors added to the previous 12

It is about individual responsibility.

That vision loss could lead to dementia seems to be kind of obvious.

"As life expectancies increase, the number of people living with dementia worldwide continues to rise. The 2024 report of the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care adds compelling new evidence that untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol are risk factors for dementia. Overall, around 45% of cases of dementia are potentially preventable by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors at different stages during the life course. "

"Those existing risk factors are less education, head injury, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hearing loss, depression, air pollution and infrequent social contact."

Global Health NOW: Polio Vaccination Reaching Young Gazans; Safety Violations at Plant Linked to Listeria Outbreak; and Your August Recap

After partial cannabis legalization in Germany, what are the pros and cons?

Cannabis growing social clubs in Germany! Or more legal home grown cannabis!

No word about increased individual responsibility of cannabis consumers! E.g. what about car accidents? More individual libery means more responsibility!

This FDP representative is a total moron!

More road safety by government regulation and less individual freedom?

When government wants to control your driving via steering wheel, accelerator and brakes! A very concerning trend! A very slippery slope!

Benjamin Franklin:

"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Soon we will have autonomous driving vehicles. What does that mean for individual liberty?

"... Every year, speeding leads to 12,000+ U.S. car-related fatalities—around a third of the national total. 

In response, more safety advocates are shifting their focus from changing driver behavior—to changing the cars. 

Emergent technology called Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) compels drivers to take the pedal off the metal through a range of methods:

“Active” ISA systems prevent further acceleration once the vehicle hits a speed ceiling, while “passive” systems alert the driver.

Legislators are taking notice: The EU will require all new cars to be outfitted with passive ISA starting in July. ..."

"With the General Vehicle Safety Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, the Commission has taken unprecedented action to help the transport sector and public authorities prepare for the mobility of tomorrow. The objective is to protect Europeans against traffic accidents, poor air quality and climate change, empower them with new mobility solutions that match their changing needs, and defend the competitiveness of European industry. ...

From July 2022, Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) will be mandatory for new models/types of vehicles introduced on the market. The ISA will become mandatory for all new cars that will be sold from July 2024 (therefore it will not concern the vehicle fleet already registered and in circulation before that date). ..."

Global Health NOW: The Global AIDS Fight Has a Data Problem; Microplastics Linked to Heart Risks; and Gaining Traction on Slowing Down

Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) set to become mandatory across Europe 

Why You Shouldn’t Need a Doctor’s Permission to Get Prescription Drugs. Really!

As a classical liberal I tend to agree! Though, beware of naive classical liberalism! Individual liberty requires individual responsibility!

The question should be more like how many drugs should require a prescription! There is little doubt that two many drugs are only available by prescription or on the black market!

Who is to pay for the medications? Insurance companies, self pay, or co-pay?

However, there are some relevant concerns:

1. How many (irresponsible?) individual will get sick or risk their health, because they were taking the wrong medication for no good reason. E.g. who will pay for their treatment: society, some insurance, or the individual?
2. Would a valid medical diagnosis still be required?
3. I am sure there are more, not easily dismissible concerns

Why You Shouldn’t Need a Doctor’s Permission to Get Prescription Drugs - Foundation for Economic Education Imagine if this system were to be extrapolated to other fields.

Tempolimit könnte laut Forschern großen wirtschaftlichen Nutzen bringen. Wirklich!

Ich wette die Bananenrepublik D. wird auch eine der letzten großen Freiheiten abschaffen! Im Rausch des Klimawahns!

Eine einzigartige Freiheit, die weltweit bewundert wird! Der Grund warum deutsche Autos  weltweit so beliebt sind!

Mal sehn, ob sich die Bürger endlich wehren!

"Ein Tempolimit von 130 Kilometern in der Stunde in Deutschland würde nach einer Studie neben dem Klimaschutzeffekt auch einen erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Nutzen haben. ..."

Tempolimit könnte laut Forschern großen wirtschaftlichen Nutzen bringen Gesparter Sprit, weniger Unfälle, geringere Lieferkosten: Wird die Geschwindigkeit auf Deutschlands Autobahnen begrenzt, schafft das laut Fachleuten einen Mehrwert von mindestens 950 Millionen Euro im Jahr.

Quelle: Umweltbundesamt

NHTSA Study: Over 54% of severe car crash drivers in the U.S. had drugs or alcohol in their systems

With individual liberty comes increased individual responsibility! Legalization of drugs and alcohol without corresponding penalties and punishment is a recipe for disaster! Leniency is a bad policy! Intoxicated drivers should look at serious jail time and very high fines! No excuses!

What about those who become victims of intoxicated irresponsible drivers?

"... over 54% of injured drivers had drugs or alcohol in their systems, with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient in marijuana, the most prevalent, followed by alcohol, the study published Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found. ..."

From the abstract:

"Abstract

Over the last few decades, interest in how drugs other than alcohol may be affecting roadway safety has increased. Studies conducted by NHTSA and others have provided substantial insights on the topic of drugged driving, but a gap in knowledge exists regarding drug prevalence among drivers and other road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists who are seriously or fatally injured in crashes in the United States. The current study sought to fill this gap by examining drug prevalence among a large sample (N = 7,279) of seriously injured

roadway users presenting to seven selected trauma centers and fatally injured crash victims presenting directly to four medical examiners at selected sites. Overall, 55.8% of the injured or killed roadway users tested positive for one or more drugs (including alcohol) on this study’s toxicology panel. The most prevalent drug category detected was cannabinoids (active THC) with 25.1% positive, followed by alcohol (23.1%), stimulants (10.8%), and opioids (9.3%). Overall, 19.9% of the roadway users tested positive for two or more categories of drugs. For drivers specifically, the results showed associations of drug positivity with age, sex, time of crash, and day of crash (weekday versus weekend). The results in this report provide a first look at drug prevalence among a large sample of seriously or fatally injured roadway users. This study’s results can only be used to describe drug

prevalence among the specific populations sampled and with full awareness of the study’s limitations. The study results should not be used to imply impairment or increased risk associated with drug presence. Future similar research at these sites or others across the country could be used for monitoring changes in drugged driving over time and could inform traffic safety stakeholders to better tailor impaired driving countermeasures for particular regions or types of road users"

Study: Over half of car crash victims had drugs or alcohol in their systems : NPR

Alcohol and Drug Prevalence Among Seriously or Fatally Injured Road Users

What is reproductive freedom? An oxymoron!

In this latest newsletter by Andrew Ng (see below), I discovered the expression "Amid rising social tension in the United States over reproductive freedom". I scratched my head!

Sounds more like carefree hedonism than freedom to me!

Fact is that life begins at conception! This was true in the past and will be true in the foreseeable future.

The Founding Fathers and Mothers chose a specific order of unalienable rights, life first for good reason:

"... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men ..."

What about all lives matter, every life is precious! Or what about individual liberty and responsibility especially when it comes to human life. What are the chances that we have aborted already another Albert Einstein or Marie Curie maybe more than once?

Abortion ought to be a measure of last resort when applied past the first few days and should not be performed beyond the first term. Abortion is justified in order to safe the health or life of the pregnant woman or if a rape/incest or other sexual crime was committed.
Contraception is immensely preferable.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union:

"... Nearly 1 in 3 women will have an abortion in her lifetime. Six out of every 10 women who have abortions are already mothers. ..."

Is that part of reproductive freedom? Pathetic! Cringe!

"Abortion is Essential: Stories of Liberation" Cringe!

"Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures performed today, and it’s incredibly safe." Cringe! The ACLU makes it sound like daily tooth brushing!

The Batch: One Model For Hundreds of Tasks, Recognizing Workplace Hazards, When Data Means Danger, Vision Transformer Upgrade by Andrew Ng

ACLU: Reproductive Freedom The ACLU works to ensure that every person can make the best decision for themselves and their family about whether and when to have a child without undue political interference.

U.S. federal government wants to ban menthol cigarettes to save black lives

Big Government knows best what is good for your health! Big Government is addicted to controlling your life and blames your nicotine consumption!

Do you detect naked systemic racism here: So black American smokers are too stupid to make the right decision for their own lives!

"They account for more than one-third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. each year." (Source)

"While the White House reviewed the FDA’s plan to phase out menthol cigarettes—expected to be released by the end of this month—tobacco lobbyists, anti-smoking advocates, civil rights groups, and others clamored to have their say ...

Ban’s impact: Eliminating menthol cigarettes, the FDA says, could prevent 630,000 smoking deaths over 40 years—more than a third among Black people.

Why is menthol so dangerous? 

Menthol’s cooling effect “has been shown to make it easier to start smoking and harder to quit.”

Black smokers, 85% of whom use menthols, disproportionately suffer the negative health effects. ..."

Global Health NOW: Innovate Against Malaria; Covid-19 and Pigs vs. Antibiotics; and The Menthol Lobby

Germany: No charges for Czech tycoon’s 257 mph stunt on the Autobahn

The Americans have the Second Amendment, the Germans have their general no speed limit on their Autobahns!

It attracts foreigners to Germany. It makes foreigners wishing to buy cars Made in Germany!

I have argued here about a decade ago why speed limits in the United States are unconstitutional.

"German prosecutors have decided not to press charges against a Czech millionaire who drove a high-powered sportscar along a German highway at speeds of at least 414 kilometers per hour (257 mph)."

Germany: No charges for Czech tycoon’s 257 mph stunt – Boston Herald

Tennessee May Soon Require Drunken Drivers to Pay Support to Victims’ Children

Maybe not such a bad idea!

Individual freedom is not possible without individual responsibility. When one drinks alcohol or consumes other psychoactive substances, then personal responsibility and consequences significantly increase!

"Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill this week that would require drunken drivers convicted of killing anyone with children to pay child support, in a first for a U.S. state.

The state Senate unanimously passed the bill Wednesday, about two months after House lawmakers had done so. The legislation now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee. ..."

"A first-of-its-kind bill passed by state lawmakers this week would allow courts to determine the appropriate amount to be paid when a driver is convicted of killing anyone with minor children. Lawmakers in states including Missouri, Pennsylvania and Alabama are considering similar laws."

Tennessee May Soon Require Drunken Drivers to Pay Support to Victims’ Children - WSJ Bill, passed unanimously in General Assembly, heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee

'Enough of this bulls**t!': older woman blocks 'a**hole' shoplifter, yanks off his ski mask, and curses him out — before he departs store empty​-handed

Bravo! More civil courage is needed! What would you do if you watch a shoplifter committing theft of merchandise? Would you at least notify loss prevention?

And remember, shoplifting also drives up prices for merchandise. Or who do you think is paying for it?

"A spunky and salty-tongued older woman is becoming a bit of a folk heroine since video has been circulating of her confronting and stopping a suspected shoplifter in a Canadian Walmart over the weekend. ..."

'Enough of this bulls**t!': Spunky older woman blocks 'a**hole' shoplifter, yanks off his ski mask, and curses him out — before he departs store empty​-handed - TheBlaze

Why do we all have to wear face masks?

First, given the fact that by latest July 2020 it had become obvious that the Covid-19 pandemic is fairly harmless, governments should never have mandated face mask wearing over such an extended period. It should have been left to the citizens to voluntarily choose to wear a mask or not. 

Individual freedom and responsibility were massively and unnecessarily trampled on/restricted by Western governments for an incredibly long period!

These mandates are clearly government paternalism in form of a stupid one size fits all measure! Not to mention that the many flimsy masks or poorly fitting masks worn by people are probably not very effective!

Or do we all have to wear masks to mask/prevent potential discrimination of a vulnerable minority of the population who would have chosen to wear masks in disproportionally larger numbers than the majority of the population? So out of government enforced solidarity with the minority of the vulnerable we all have to wear masks? I am afraid in these times of irrational sensibility and minority glorification/adoration this is quite possible!

It is actually a scary thought if in Western democracies, where supposedly individual freedom and responsibility are among the highest cherished common values, massive government interventions to protect a minority under the pretense of and misinformation about a dangerous pandemic by forcing the majority to give up significant freedoms. And this has been possible outside of war!

To quote Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”

Why Capitalism Is A Myth!

Posted: 6/29/2020

Just take the public education of our children in Western countries as an example. Attendance is compulsory and enforced by the government under penalty or fines if not worse. Home schooling of children is e.g. prohibited in Germany. Private run schools for children are fairly rare and regrettably unaffordable to many parents.

This tight and expansive government control of the education of our children is irreconcilable with free market capitalism and a constitution conceived in individual liberty! Most parents would voluntarily and freely make every effort to get their children the best education possible. Free markets and private charity would provide plenty of education opportunities for our children! In the age of the Internet, the almost exclusive authority of the government on the education of our children is not justified at all anymore!

It is high time to largely privatize the education of our children and let parents and older children make their choices about the education of children.

John Milton on liberty, license, and virtuous self-government

Very recommendable!

"The notion that genuine liberty is predicated upon [wise and] virtuous self-government was an accepted ideal among many of the United States' founders. During the Founding era, this ideal was perhaps best expressed in a 1791 letter by the Irish-born British parliamentarian Edmund Burke, who wrote: "Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites . . . It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters." Burke's convictions and concerns were anticipated by the English poet and Interregnum statesman John Milton (1608-74). ..."

Following is a great description of men's license and its symbiotic relation to tyranny:
"Milton's discussion of liberty, license, and virtuous self-regulation is perhaps most explicit in his regicide tract, Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, written just before the January 30, 1649 execution of King Charles I. In this tract's opening paragraph, Milton asserts: "For indeed none can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license; which never hath more scope or more indulgence than under Tyrants." According to Milton, "bad men" are "all naturally servile," they desire "to have the public State conformably governed to the inward vicious rule, by which they govern themselves," and they "color over their base compliances" with "the falsified names of Loyalty, and Obedience." In sum, Milton argues that tyrants and bad men get along quite well because bad men, loving license, governed by vice, and incapable of self-regulation, do not threaten tyrants but contentedly submit to them as long as they do not disturb their self-indulgence. ..."
I believe, Friedrich von Hayek made similar arguments in his writings. The Road to Serfdom contains some of it if I am not mistaken.



John Milton on liberty, license, and virtuous self-government | Acton Institute

Some lessons of SARS CoV-2/Covid-19

The lessons are:

1. Many so called experts are rather idiot savants from the ivory tower and they are extremely risk averse. Plus, they produced a cacophony of ambiguous or contradictory advice
2. The new religion of science failed us spectacularly. As Socrates reminded us and scientists over 2000 years ago "I neither know nor think that I know". Scientists are famous for frequently ignoring or grossly underestimating human adaptability and ingenuity
3. Computer models are terribly unreliable (this phenomenon also contributes to the Global Warming Hoax (a.k.a. climate change). Sometimes obviously sensational model results were not sufficiently questioned!
4. Too many politicians have become uncritical servants to these so called experts as if demigods instead of relying more on their common sense and sound skepsis
5. Individual liberty suffered severely and was harshly restricted by many governments measures facing a rather harmless virus. Most citizens accepted this without protest. Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Do we need  more evidence?
6. There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. This time was no different!
7. Western media largely failed to investigate and report the issues as they unfolded

Schweden setzt auf Gebote statt Verbote: Verantwortungslosen droht «Corona-Scham»

Bravo Schweden! Einer der wenigen westlichen Staaten, die es richtig gemacht haben! Voices of reason in a time of mass panic and mass hysteria like the medieval ages and medieval superstitions are back

"Die Strategie, auf Gebote statt Verbote zu setzen, wird erstaunlich gut befolgt. Social Distancing und die Empfehlung, Ältere und gesundheitlich vorbelastete Personen zu isolieren, wurden relativ rasch umgesetzt. Die Wirtschaft erleidet zwar massive Einbussen, steht dank dem Verzicht auf einen Lockdown aber nicht komplett still."

Verantwortungslosen Schweden droht "Corona-Scham": Schwedens Verzicht auf einen Lockdown zur Bekämpfung der Corona-Krise löst weltweit Erstaunen, Kopfschütteln oder Entsetzen aus. Doch die sich auf Empfehlungen statt Verbote abstützende Strategie wird von der Bevölkerung überraschend gut befolgt.

Benjamin Franklin: The Man Who Invented the American Dream

Very recommendable! A concise biography of this great man containing lot's of references to his many amazing accomplishments in so many different areas! The influence of this one man on humanity and the world is so incredible! He certainly epitomizes the phrase to stand on the shoulders of a giant!

"Benjamin Franklin pioneered the spirit of self-help in America. With less than three years of formal schooling, he taught himself almost everything he knew."

Benjamin Franklin: The Man Who Invented the American Dream - Foundation for Economic Education: Benjamin Franklin pioneered the spirit of self-help in America. With less than three years of formal schooling, he taught himself almost everything he knew. He took the initiative of learning French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. He taught himself how to play the guitar, violin, and harp. He made himself an influential author and editor. He started a successful printing business, newspaper, and magazine. He developed a network of printing partnerships throughout the American colonies.

Statue Of Responsibility On The West Coast

Posted: 6/25/2019

Yesterday, I was watching again a biography documentary by the excellent Biographics channel on YouTube. This time it was about the life and works of Viktor Frankl.

Among many other things, Frankl apparently made also the astonishing proposal to mirror or bookend the Statue of Liberty on the east coast of the U.S. with a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast of the U.S. I was immediately intrigued by his foresight and insight into the meaning of life! Indeed, there is no true freedom without genuine responsibility! Many of our contemporaries like to forget or are ignorant of the responsibility part of the duality! 

Here is the relevant screen shot from the above documentary:

Very Incomplete Six Core Beliefs Of Conservatism

Posted: 7/10/2018

Just received by e-mail the Six Core Beliefs of Conservatism thanks to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (Motto: Education for liberty).

The Six Core Beliefs of Conservatism excerpted from Russell Kirk (“The following is excerpted from The Essential Russell Kirk, a collection of his finest essays and writings.”)

The funny thing is that the word liberty is mentioned only once, words like freedom or free society a total of 2. Individual liberty is conspicuously absent from this document.

Very regrettable! Very disappointing! One of the biggest mistakes conservatives can make!

Friedrich Hayek wrote a famous essay titled “Why I am not a conservative”, which is part of his book titled “The Constitution of Liberty” (originally published 1960). A few appropriate excerpts from this essay here (emphasis added):

1. “The tug of war between conservatives and progressives can only affect the speed, not the direction, of contemporary developments. But, though there is need for a “brake on the vehicle of progress,” I personally cannot be content with simply helping to apply the brake. What the liberal must ask, first of all, is not how fast or how far we should move, but where we should move. In fact, he differs much more from the collectivist radical of today than does the conservative.”
2. “But, as the socialists have for a long time been able to pull harder, the conservatives have tended to follow the socialist rather than the liberal direction and have adopted at appropriate intervals of time those ideas made respectable by radical propaganda ”
3. “This brings me to the first point on which the conservative and the liberal dispositions differ radically. As has often been acknowledged by conservative writers, one of the fundamental traits of the conservative attitude is a fear of change, a timid distrust of the new as such, while the liberal position is based on courage and confidence, on a preparedness to let change run its course even if we cannot predict where it will lead.”