Drugs

     So we all know that certain drugs are bad for us, and even those designed for medicinal purposes can cause fatalities. However, one thing that still puzzles me, is why alcohol and nicotine is legal for those 18 of over within the UK, but any other 'bad' drug is illegal.
     It is medically proven that alcohol and nicotine are some of, if not, THE most addictive and damaging drugs that are available, yet these are the ones the government allow us to use. Before I get into this, I am not condoning the use of drugs, I just think that the laws against drugs are ridiculous, and need to be adjusted. Seriously, any grown person with half a brain knows that any amount of any drug is bad for you, so why is there a need for laws against them? Yes, there should be laws against selling minors drugs, just as the law is for alcohol and nicotine, but if you can't get to adulthood, and not realise that shooting speed into your body with a needle that somebody else has used is a totally stupid idea, then its your lookout. If you think that it is perfectly fine to do so, then do so.
     I know that the laws are there to limit the amount of drugs that are available on the street, but lets face it, how many people do you know who want to take drugs say "Oh, actually, I'm not going to take those drugs because the government tells me not to".
     Yes, you could say that the laws are in place because drugs ruins lives, families friendships, and so on.....but when has alcohol never been associated with violence, theft, rape, murder? You can't pick and choose what can and cannot be legal, just because alcohol and nicotine brings in so much revenue for a country.
     As a fairly frequent drinker, personally, I don't see anything wrong with drinking, but only in small amounts, and to an extent, it is only suited to a small number of people, but alas, we cannot divide the country and say "Well, you can't drink because you beat your wife, therefore drinking may make it worse".
     There is a big debate on whether cannabis is a safe drug to use, and whether it should be used for cancer patents to cope with pain and while undergoing chemotherapy. I have researched a lot into cannabis, partly due to my academic studies, partly out of personal interest, and compared to alcohol and nicotine, it is pretty harmless. OK, I'm not going to be the person who says "Oh yes, taking cannabis is totally safe", because it's not. Lots of research has found that those who are heavy users of the drug for prolonged periods of time are more likely to develop illnesses such as severe paranoia and schizophrenia. Yes, I would agree with this, but this does not mean that everyone will end up like this. Those who develop these disorders may already be pre-disposed to them, therefore we can never put these kinds of findings primarily down to the drug.
     Due to the incredible stubbornness and overly politically correct world that we live in, I hardly think that the laws of drugs is ever going to change. Even more depressing, is that although alcohol kills around 15,000 people in the UK alone, due to the money it brings in, we are never going to see another prohibition.