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Debate Info

30
3
Yes No
Debate Score:33
Arguments:24
Total Votes:34
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (17)
 
 No (3)

Debate Creator

GuitaristDog(2548) pic



Legalize psychedelics?

Should substances such as LSD, psilocybin, ayawaska and mescaline be legalized? 

Yes

Side Score: 30
VS.

No

Side Score: 3
3 points

If the crime is victimless, is it really a crime? I don't think so.

Side: Yes

Absolutely. The way to solve problems is through education, not authority saying what is and isn't permissible to do to yourself.

Side: Yes
2 points

If you don't want to consume them, don't. There's no reason for forbidding other people to, considering the only issue involved is their personal health.

Side: Yes
2 points

I was just about to create this debate!

But yes, yes, and absolutely positively, without a doubt YES.

Psychedelics are physically HARMLESS. LSD is one of the least toxic substances known to man. DMT is a naturally recurring substance in the body. Mushrooms are PLANT for heavens sake..

Mentally and psychologically (while used responsibly of course), they have many benefits. LSD was first used to treat alcoholics and had a pretty high success rate. Ayahuasca is commonly used as soul cleansing brew, and is even used by the Santo Daime as a vital substance in their Christian practices.

Psychedelics are illegal because they are boundary dissolving substances, if everybody participated in the consummation of these substances, it would result in a paradigm shift that would not be compatible with that of the current paradigm of the United States, particularly that of Capitalism, and consumerism.

There are way more pros than cons. Psychedelics open up the mind, and are a catalyst for POSITIVE change. I speak from personal experience, and it is FOOLISH and counter productive for the human race to keep these conscious expanding substances illegal

"If the words 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' don't include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp it was written on."- Terence McKenna

Side: Yes
GuitaristDog(2548) Clarified
1 point

Actually, having them be legal would very capitalistic and consumeristic (by the wya, america isn't a capitalist free market, its a semi capitalist, semi socialist, regulated, corportized and dominated market), a free market needs little alteration from the government. The main psychedelics are illegal is actually because hippies used them and I'm serious about that, they had a group for medical and recreational use and the government was fine with it, but then once the counter-culture started using them, they viewed it as evil... actually, some activist almost slipped a large dose of LSD into Nixon's tea but security found out who she was and wouldn't let her in... If only Nixon had tripped.

As for the "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" thing, the issue has nothing to do with america, liberty or freedom, it has to do with ignornace, propaganda and lobbying. Main reason why most substances are illegal is because of lobbying.

And fun fact: Mushrooms aren't the only plant, DMT is in ayawaska and LSD is a synthesized fungus :D

Side: Yes
logicsoup(39) Clarified
1 point

Why should it be Capitalistic and Consumeristic? You don't need to buy mushrooms, just go out and pick them. As far as DMT is concerned, the plants where it can be extracted, can be purchased on the web from sites that specialize and dedicate their stock to entheogenic substances. Its the same difference between choosing to buy at wal-mart, or a mom-and-pop store. Yes the United States is a mixed, economy, but it would be foolish to not say that the paradigm the U.S adheres to one of Capitalism and Consumerism. Don't believe me? Try running for a political position, say you are in favor of socialism, and you are committing political suicide. America is associated with championing the free market.

And yes I certainly think the hippies are a reason, but that would really be seeing the smaller picture of things. You are certainly entitled to your opinion though! Hahaha and if Nixon would have tripped, I think he would have been thrust into hell. That guy had some issues for real..

The reason I put the McKenna quote, is because when you think about it, what is the most individual aspect of ourselves? Our consciousness! If we aren't free to even experiment with that, than what freedom do we really have?

Im not trying to debate with you, we are advocating the same things, just thought I would clarify :)

Side: Yes

For those who can afford it and only take those drugs at home, I don't have a problem with it.

Side: Yes
0 points

Okay... There is no good reason to support the legalization of hallucigens. Unless, of course, you want the human race to bumble around like idiots.

Side: No
ryuukyuzo(641) Disputed
4 points

Unlike with alcohol. Nobody bumbles around like an idiot when drunk...

Side: Yes
Cynical(1948) Disputed
1 point

That partially demands on the amount of alcohol consumed. If you consume a small amount, then your probably won't act like an idiot. If you consume a large amount, then you will probably act idiotic.

Although, the effects of alcohol intoxication occasionally vary from person to person.

Side: No
Liber(1730) Disputed
2 points

The only good reason I can think of not to use psychedelics at least once in your life is if you are at risk of a mental illness being exacerbated by the use of the psychedelic. My use of psychedelics have been life changing in a very positive way. Even my first bad trip enhanced my outlook on life so much that I do not now regret having tripped despite the extreme physical and mental anguish (you can't imagine what it is like to be tripping on a substance which causes severe pain in a very negative setting, thinking the whole time, in an altered state of consciousness, that you are dying a slow and miserable death) through which I went.

Side: Yes
2 points

You are absolutely right! My first (and only) Mushroom trip (which in the traditional sense I guess you could call it a "bad" trip), has benefited me in many many ways! I feel more spiritual, I feel like my consciousness has expanded considerably, and I feel the need to gain more knowledge. The small but vital role Psychedelics has played in my life, has been absolutely for the better, and it is very sad that ignorant people will look down on Psychedelics as dangerous

Side: Yes
GuitaristDog(2548) Clarified
1 point

I think the misunderstanding with phsycadelics is that they cause mental problems, but they don't, if you have pre-existing conditions it will amplify them, but thats it. Psycadelics have changed my life in a very positive way as well, and it doesn't hurt to experiment with them a bit.

Side: Yes
logicsoup(39) Disputed
1 point

Your "argument" (if you can even call it that), reeks of ignorance. Do you even know what a hallucinogen does? Or better yet, what a hallucinogen even is? Good job trying to debate something you are obviously completely uneducated on, as you can not even give a concrete argument as to why the substances should remain illegal.

Side: Yes
logicsoup(39) Disputed
1 point

Your "argument" (if you can even call it that), reeks of ignorance. Do you even know what a hallucinogen does? Or better yet, what a hallucinogen even is? Good job trying to debate something you are obviously completely uneducated on, as you can not even give a concrete argument as to why the substances should remain illegal.

Side: Yes