In short: I support it.

Now, before you go running for the unwatch button, please let me explain.

I am an advocate for harm reduction and education. This means providing people with unbiased information so that they can make intelligent decisions. The current system in most places is prohibition, and it has been failing since its inception. Prohibition is exactly the same as teaching abstinence-only sex education; deny people the information they need to do things responsibly, and they WILL do it anyway, and end up hurting themselves and others in the process.

I also believe that drug prohibition is a violation of human rights. If you're using responsibly and not hurting yourself or others in the process, how is it anyone elses' business?

"But drugs ruin lives!"
Indeed, they can. I've seen it personally more times than I've cared to; at least one member of my extended family is on methadone, an old friend of mine is AWOL due to getting into needles, and I've met more than one person who was permanently mush-brained from too much pot or from constantly popping E.

So, why would I still support drug use?

First off, I have seen MANY more lives ruined by inactivity, eating too much, being an asshole, driving irresponsibly, drinking excessively, gambling, having unprotected sex, and playing too many video games. ANYTHING can ruin your life if you're stupid about it.

Instances of drugs ruining lives are because of irresponsibility, lack of moderation and discipline, and a lack of respect for the substances themselves. Saying that drugs ruin lives is the same sort of fallacy as saying that guns kill people. Yes, sure, a gun CAN be a part of making someone die; drugs CAN be dangerous. However, a gun without human influence is just an object. A tab of acid is not going to leap into your mouth and make you stab children. This sort of Reefer Madness-era nonsense persists today, and unfortunately demonizes a lot of innocent substances and the people who use them.

Notice I said 'innocent', not harmless. Taking the wrong thing for you, or too much of even the right thing can have negative to fatal consequences, which is why doing your research is so important. Drugs can be enjoyed safely and responsibly if you go about it right. Don't take ecstasy if you're on MAOI-antidepressants... Don't do psychoactives (hallucinogens; LSD, mushrooms, etc.) if you have schizophrenia or latent mental health issues. Know how to take care of yourself; learn how to keep yourself safe and healthy before, during, and after your trip.

I've heard so many stories about drugs supposedly hurting or killing people when it was not the drugs to blame at all. One story I caught years ago in the news claimed that a girl died from taking E; what ACTUALLY happened is that she popped a pill without knowing what the effects were or how to take care of herself while she was on it. She got a stomach ache (which is normal), and her friends freaked out and told her to drink a ton of water. She did... and ended up dying from water intoxication. OVER HYDRATION is what killed her. The pills had nothing to do with it. Every other supposedly ecstasy-related death I've heard of was actually because of over-hydration, dehydration, overheating, or nasty, not-supposed-to-be-there chemicals in the pills.

(That IS something that you must be careful of, but with legalization and regulation, that would no longer be a concern.)

Another perfect example is my own. A few years ago I got very, very sick with a nasty lung infection; I had a cough that felt like gargling razor blades and glass which was preventing me from getting any good rest, and my doctor prescribed me some extremely strong, Vicodin-containing cough syrup for it. I woke myself up coughing one night, and in my grumpy, groggy, bleary-eyed stupor, measured out one TABLESPOON of my medicine rather than the proper dose of one TEASPOON. When I tried to get up for work that morning with my alarm (I don't even know why I would try, but anyway), I realized that I was so drugged that I couldn't walk. I was pretty much useless for the rest of the day.

Now, did the cough syrup make me miss work, or did my own negligence? Pretty obvious, right?

"Drugs don't do anything good for anyone; they're just a temporary high. They don't accomplish anything."

I really have to argue against this one. Please, tell that to the millions of people who smoke pot to combat chronic pain, lack of appetite, insomnia, and other symptoms. Tell that to the close friend of mine who dropped acid when he was suicidally depressed and found a new lease on life because of his trip. Tell it to the tribes and modern-day mystics who use certain drugs as part of spiritual rituals and as a way to connect more deeply with nature and with each other.

I am absolutely not saying that drugs should be taken instead of trying to deal with things in other ways first, but they can sometimes be a legitimate way to improve one's life, as long as they are used with respect, responsibility, and caution, as always.

"Anyone who does drugs is a drug abuser."

This one really bothers me. I know so many amazing, talented, intelligent people who also happen to indulge occasionally. Any of you who have met me and know me half-decently, do you suddenly see me as a under-achieving, irresponsible, bumbling retard because I have the occasional toke?

I certainly hope not, and not even for my sake; that would be some very flawed logic!

The main problem I have with this is the enormous double standard attached to it. Do you realize that alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and MANY pharmaceuticals are drugs with addictive properties? BILLIONS of people are so addicted to caffeine that they cannot function properly on a daily basis if they don't get their fix (or several!), and it is so prevalent that it is institutionalized. In any given neighbourhood there is a shop where you can go buy your drugs in the form of coffee or tea.

But, Patches, you say. That isn't the same thing! But it IS, you see. It's accepted, though, so it's seen as different, whereas doing some lines on a Friday night with your friends makes you an evil, society-destroying hooligan. The media's demonizing of drug use, responsible or not, makes people afraid to even find out the truth, and that's a damn shame.

"I don't do drugs. Do you think badly of me for that?"

Gods, no! Use or lack thereof is ENTIRELY about personal choice, and if you've made an informed decision to not use, good on you! I'm absolutely not going to think poorly of you because of that.

The only time I may think negatively of someone who does not use is when they've made their decision based on media propaganda or other misinformation... or the types who say nasty things about drug users while drinking themselves sick. Hypocrisy FTL.

Alright, I'm starting to ramble, so I'll wrap this up. I decided to talk about this now because I have a fairly innocuous drug-related piece in the works, and I don't want people freaking out and thinking I'm some crazy junkie or something. O_o

Please, ask questions! I'm very much willing to help people understand this issue as much as possible.

And, well, if you feel the need to unwatch me anyway, so be it. Fare ye well and take care. :)

Know your MIND
Know your BODY
Know your SOURCE.

I leave you with some useful links for unbiased learning.

http://www.erowid.org/
An exhaustive source of information on just about every known drug. Incredibly useful for users and curious knowledge-seekers alike!

http://www.tripproject.ca/trip/
Very practical info on safe-as-possible drug use and sexuality, geared towards ravers.
(I hope to volunteer for these guys someday!)

Thanks for reading. :)