We will be discussing the topic on whether illicit drugs should be legalized. Tonight we have some special guests

We have a person from the Kantian belief, myself and a Priest.

It is often thought that illegal drugs are only a modern problem but would you believe that illegal drugs over a century ago led to the downfall of imperial China?

In 1793 China was one of the most sophisticated and historically rich countries in the world with many achievements under their belt (such as paper, perfecting gunpowder). They also succeeded in the industries of porcelain, silk and tea which all greatly benefitted the at that time. Unfortunately, 1793 was the beginning of the end for Imperial China.

Great Britain many other European countries desired the products of Imperial China, but China didn’t want to trade with other countries, and even refused to meet up with European diplomats. 

Finally, in 1793 after a big battle to convince China to trade, the Europeans rightly offered some foreign items to Chinese traders. Here is part of a letter which the Emperor of China sent King George.

“As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country’s manufactures. But as the tea, silk and porcelain which the Celestial Empire produces, are absolute necessities to European nations and to yourselves, we have permitted, as a signal mark of favour, that foreign hongs [merchant firms] should be established at Canton, so that your wants might be supplied and your country thus participate in our beneficence”

Europe was greedy to get more refined resources from the Chinese. Since the Chinese were stubborn, Europe introduced opium into the Chinese culture. Opium was previously used for medicinal purposes but never recreational. Not surprisingly, the Chinese were soon hooked on waiting for another hit. The emperor soon caught on and outlawed the possession, use and distribution of opium but the trade was worth a lot of money and an illegal trade was quickly put into place.

From all this evidence we can clearly see how the use of opium has led an economic, cultural and historically rich country to their knees. 

Imagine for a minute if all the drugs available were legalised for the consumption by the public. There would be crime everywhere in the community, so I therefore am greatly opposed to the idea of legalising all drugs in the Australian community.

If drug use is to be legalized there has to be special ‘clinics’ where drug usage is permitted. When the drugs are being used, there has to be super strict rules. These include 

1.      Drugs that are being used should be under the quantity of 3 ounces and can only have the purity of under 10%

2.      Security forces have to be present to control the people that are under the influence of the different drugs

3.      People can only go to the clinic once a day to ensure that citizens don’t go out of control

Also by allowing drugs to be legally used in Australia and hopefully the world it would have a huge negative affect financially on terrorist groups, drug cartels, gang leaders and black market dealers. These groups rely on drug smuggling for a huge proportion of their funds. These include Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Sinoloa cartel and many others. Even though on the news we see all these reports of ’10 tonnes of cocaine seized in the Pacific Ocean’ and all that other stuff. All the drugs that are caught are only 1% of narcotics that are being distributed around. 

Drugs being a threat to young kids is a huge problem, more than you think. Adolescents often think that taking drugs and dealing drugs is ‘cool’. Due to the narcotics having an addictive and pleasurable experience on the user, he/she will quickly become addicted for another high/hit.