You cannot protect a person from themselves. Of course, in times of great distress or grief, you can “be there” for a person and help to support them emotionally.

But, the nanny state takes this to a whole new level with their gazillions of laws that attempt to protect individuals from themselves. Drug laws are usually in this category, but they will be framed differently.

We are told that we need drug laws because people on drugs harm other individuals — like society in general. This may be ultimately true in some small way. But, it’s not as if making the laws actually stops anyone from participating in the behavior. Nobody has ever heard anyone say, “I would really like to try drugs, but they are illegal, so I won’t.”

The laws don’t keep people from doing drugs. Common sense does. People aren’t afraid of getting into trouble. They are afraid of being out of control. And they should be.

The latest synthetic hallucinogenic drug (article from Australia) has been implicated in some very strange behavior:

A NEW drug causing bizarre and irrational behaviour has emerged in South Australia, and has led to the death of a man who killed himself by repeatedly running into trees and power poles.

Do I think taking drugs is a good idea? No. But, stories like this will not stop certain individuals from partaking. The laws against such things will not stop them, either.

Related posts:

1. The Market for Synthetic Drugs
2. The Rx Threat
3. Synthetic vs. Natural
4. Arrest Quotas and The War on Drugs
5. Drug Dogs