I think I, as an adult, have a human right to medicate myself

[cthulu2016]

I do.

I think every free adult has the right.

Most of us think we have a fairly broad right right to refuse to put substances in our bodies, but most think the state has the proper authority to prevent us from putting substances in our body.

But we refuse substances and chose substances for the same reason—to control our biochemistry. The right to refuse is merely one side of the coin of the right to choose, in my book.

I believe in universal access to professional health care. I don't think self-directed medication is usually optimal. But I think it is a right.

The fact that there is a potential downside makes that right the same as every other conceivable right.

Just what I happen to think.

[Puzzledtraveller]

1. Agreed.

It's really weird to think that at one time in US history you could smoke opium.

[hollysmom]

2. Well, it depends

Sometimes I wonder about doctors prescriptions, I am always checking for interactions of medication, if only it were easier, sometimes I find later information on line than the pharmacist is working with. I do like levels of people checking on the interactions of drugs. Doctor Pharmacist and me.

[ret5hd]

4. I don't believe anything the OP said would prevent you from doing that.

[hollysmom]

7. I may have misunderstood, but I thought the doctor could be cut out of the process

[ret5hd]

16. Only if you so choose.

Nothing in the OP about preventing anyone from going to a doctor.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Actually yes, do you have education in bio chemistry

And pharmacology? I don't. Some interactions are so Rae as well that they take a while, as well as side effects.

[ret5hd]

17. Where in the OP does it say anything about preventing people from going to a doctor to get their pre

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. He did not say it, but the implication is there

That we should completely throw out the schedules.

I am all for full legalization, there, I said it...in clear English.

I am also for people still going to the doctor, and for schedules to remain in place. Hell, moving Oxycodone to schedule one, given how addictive it is...

No, they are not opposing views. At one time Cocaine was prescribed and was in our sodas...guess what skippy, no issue with cocaine going back to our cough syrups, or for coca leaves to be sold as a tonic for lack of energy, aka how they have been used in the Andes for millennia. And weed, yup, it's a medicine, it works, should be sold at the pharmacy, with a prescription.

There, no convoluted OP.

I still believe that they are chemicals and have a potential of having a conflict with the rest of the chemicals we all take...why somebody with expertise should be involved somewhere in the process.

[ret5hd]

21. Would you explain how he implies you would be prevented...

from going to a doctor and getting a prescription?

[liberal_at_heart]

3. just like on many issues other countries have figured it out. We have not.

Drugs are a public health issue, not a criminal issue. If you commit a crime while on drugs or to get drugs then you should go to jail. But just owning and using drugs should not be illegal. They're trying to criminalize junk food as well. I suspect it will work as well as the war on drugs has been. You cannot tell people what they can put in their bodies. Not only is it not right, it is ineffective as well.

[NoOneMan]

5. Human members of civilization do not have rights

They have temporary access to permissible behaviors and services that have been determined--at the present time--to be beneficial to the overall growth of the system.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

9. So is the system is more important than the live comprising it?

Using that justification, ANY right can be stripped in the name of society.
I would beg to differ that rights are an idividual safeguard against society's oppression of it's members.

[NoOneMan]

11. In the system's opinion, yes

And in the opinion of many of its members, absolutely.

The life and progress of our civilization is leading to a mass extinction event. Humans are threatening their own survival, facing an immense bottleneck, while contributing to the system's trajectory toward mass suffering.

If we remove all the hubris of human rhetoric, its clear to see by our suicidal actions that the survival of the system supersedes that of its members. There are many, many members of civilization that are actively working toward a future without life, rather than an alternative future of life without industrial civilization. So by all means, the system is far more "important" by any implemented standard in our society (which is a product of that larger system).

I've have come to realize that most liberalistic notions to the contrary are merely utilized by the system, when it is necessary, as a mechanism to further accelerate the velocity of energy and growth of the system. Humans are suffering mass delusions to solve our cognitive dissonance, which is created by engaging in this suicidal machine. We need to feel every step toward "progress" contributes to some culminating event akin to human ascension. But if we peel back the painted lies, we realize quickly we are merely killing our planet quicker.

If the context of this thread, if the system felt more energy would be consumed and more growth would be have from a public market of controlled substances, by all means, it would evolve (or rather, allow the evolution/adoption of) more liberal policies regarding drug use.

[RedCappedBandit]

15. Yep, unfortunately

[Puzzledtraveller]

20. Well said NoOneMan.

[green for victory]

6. Washington DC does not agree

Pharma needs DC to safeguard their little ripoff scheme, and they pay well

This will be an epic battle, once enough people grasp the basics

The entire drug war was about convincing the US Population that they DO NOT have that right, and this isn't going to change overnight. Protecting Pharma is right behind bailing out the 1% on the backs of the 99. Check out the donations (the ones that are public anyway)

Do you think someone like Joe Biden is all of a sudden going to recognize what you see is a basic right? No one should hold their breath.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

8. Do you believe hat you have the right to self-medicate with any substance you desire?

Or would you draw the line somewhere?

For the record, I agree with one's right to life, liberty and happiness. Furthermore, I consider the effective means and ability for one to be able to provide and protect these basic liberties for themselves essential to those liberties - and thus I consider those means are liberties in and of them self, access to self medication included. I just question where one draws the line, if there is one.

[RedCappedBandit]

10. The war on drugs is a scam. Big Pharma is a scam.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I can see even more deaths from overdoses

From medications like Vicodin (Oxycone)

As my pharmacology instructor put it, those drugs, both legal and illegal, are poisons and double edged knives.

[madinmaryland]

14. What if the medications you are medicating yourself with affect other human beings...

Such as bath soaps, tobacco, alcohol, etc.

It may not affect you, but it may well affect others.

[logosoco]

18. It is insane. I can't imagine what my grandsons will think when they learn about this time in

history. Large groups of people encouraged everyone to carry arms everywhere, but we could be in big trouble for using a natural substance that was known to have medicinal properties and to not harm anyone.