Do you look down on people who sell soft drugs?

I was just wondering what the attitude of most people here is regarding so called drug dealers. We have it beaten into our heads that that word is an evil one. And that people who deal drugs, whatever drugs they are are scum. But still alot of people who would say that don't have a particular problem with people maybe using stuff like pot or E recreationally or in college or whatever still hold these opinions of that population of people.

I've known a whole host of people growing up who've "sold bags" or who were "connections" for E or whatever and while they were often undesirable and thuggy sometimes they were standup people who got good grades and worked hard at other jobs and just did it for extra money or not to lose money on their "personal stash".

I personally haven't used anything illegal in over a year but I still run into people I know do these things and it always seems like the interaction I have is never anything of disgust or annoyance but an acceptance as long as they don't bother me.

As long as they pay taxes like the coffeeshops over here do.

I don't see much difference between someone who sells pot and a bartender. Bartenders are basically legalized drug dealers. Pot is less addictive than nicotine cigarettes and less dangerous than hard liqour. The main difference is that people who sell pot take more risks since that activity is against the law.

Who I really look down on are the tobacco companies who market to children and the companies who advertise alcohol, which really is a drug. They do a lot more damage.

In my younger days I'd probably have tended to paint with a broader brush -- all drug dealers are scum -- but now I ecognize that there are degrees. Still, I'd err more on the scummy side of that equation in my characterization of 'soft'-drug dealers than I would the benign side.

I favor movement toward legalization. Only creeps like Ashcroft profess to care about this "War". Most people have a grip. We have enough on our plate already. Who here would lay down their life to prevent people from getting high?

But I do hold them up as more reputable than CEO's of Big Oil, Big Pharma and defense contractors.

I'm a strong supporter of legalization, or at least decriminalization, of marijuana anyway.

My one caveat would be WHO they sell to. But everyone I've ever known that has wouldn't dream of selling it to children.

Excluding those that sell to kids.

Especially with regard to E, which can potentially be dangerous from what I've heard.

Mainly, I feel it is a very risky lifestyle, so sometimes I'm inclined to look down on them as I would on gamblers. When they get caught, they usually have no one to turn to. I once knew a guy who got arrested--the cops confiscated or destroyed much of his stuff and he spent 6 months in jail.

you lose your tolerance for this kind of crap. I hate
drugs.

I live in the UK, and when I'm out clubbing, it seems like there are lot of young guys who are pot dealers. They rake in a few extra hundred pounds a month and impressionable young women seem to dig them too.

I think they should legalize pot and tax it, then those drug dealer guys wouldn't be quite so "cool" anymore. There might still be an underground pot market but it would be like the guys who try to sell cheap smuggled cigarettes, not very glamourous and just for penny-pinchers.

connection. Never done Ecstasy, nor does it hold any kind of appeal to me.

but if it's someone that's in their 30's or someone that has kids, yes I look down on them.

There's a time and a place for drugs and it's called college.

After that, it's time to grow up and get real jobs, IMO.
:toast:

Why is college supposed to be the time for fun? What about life after 21?

I have known several people who dealt, and they would only sell to friends and never to kids.

In my mind, once someone is doing something that is clearly defined as currently against the law (whether selling drugs, driving drunk, cheating on taxes), but don't care one bit that they are, it's a red flag to all honest people.

If soft drugs were legal, and I had a neighbor who owned a smoke shop, or did drugs, I could care less as long as they don't kill anyone else driving under the influence.

black and white thinking isn't usually usefull for navigating the complexities of life.

The hypocracy and ignorance surrounding the "American Drug War" is beyond belief. We are a nation that imposses restrictions on personal behavior for political reasons alone.
I am more concerned about people who sell soft icecream!

At least, not because of the dealing. I can often find reasons to look down on people--but I tend to do that on an individual basis.

Now, those who sell hard drugs are a different story altogether.

any person that sells any kind of illegal drugs, i would rather look at them on a slab in the morgue or behind bars

(referrring to pot). Most of the people I know sell only to their friends, so are not pushers, but are doing a favor for their friends. These dealers don't carry guns or steal money to obtain their drugs, or steal the drugs. It is the ones that carry guns I look down on, and I think that would be mostly hard drug dealers.

I am of the belief that adults should pretty much be able to determine, after education, what they put into their own bodies.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "soft" drugs -- or more specifically, what you would include as "hard" drugs.

Noentheless, my first point is that if one adult person who is willing to sell drugs finds another adult person who is willing to purchase drugs, they ought to be able, as two adults willingly entering into a transaction, to engage in that transaction. No coercion, and a transaction between two adults. If both adults are acting responsibly, then I do not look down on either of them.

Point Two: No adult should ever ancourage or enable behavior that is destrcutive to another human being. If a drug dealer is selling to someone who the drug dealer knows, or who the drug dealer can resonable assume to be addicted to the drug -- to someone who is spending money for drugs beyond her/his means or who is skipping work or class or who is not being responsible, then the drug dealer, it seems to me, has an obligation to stop selling to that person. That person needs help -- not drugs. If the drug dealer, knowing that someone s/he is selling to, is addicted to the drug and is, as a result, ignoring his or her adult responsibilities, then I do "look down" on the drug dealer.

Point Three: No adult should ever knowingly engage in behavior that is destructive to her/himself. If the reason the drug dealer is dealing drugs is to support his/her own habit and, in the process, shirking adult responsibilities, then the drug dealer her/himself is in need ot help.

...up their lives with soft drugs. And I realize that it is just plain nutty how we spend the most trying to stop the drugs that cause the least problems. A drug dealer is just supplying a product that people want.

On the other hand, if you deal or use illegal drugs you are creating a market that does not have the most well-behaved marketers and distributors. As much of the distribution is done by gangs, you are supplying a bad element with lots of cash. So if you use or sell illegal drugs then when you read about all the drive-by shootings and what not, realize that you are a part of it.

Also, the market you create is very efficient at transporting other goods. Any drug dealer worth his salt can get you a weapon regardless of your background, age, or intended use of the weapon.

well some are at least =)
those helping thier friends and neighbors excercise thier God given liberty. w0ot

of course there are those that really "push" drugs onto people, they are bad mmmm-kay.

ive known several people who dealt drugs, mostly in college as an easy way to make money.

big deal.