Cocaine

[Methtical]

I voted yes. Occassional use I don't really see a problem with, aside from all the behind the scenes stuff regarding it's production already mentioned. I have a friend who messed up big time in relation to coke and crack, got himself into £20k of debt with dealers, ended up enacting a fake burgulary of his own house to pay off some of it (car stolen, money from safe stolen, sentimental jewelry taken etc), so I know quite well the consequences of addiction, but at the same time I also have many friends who use it occassionally and have no problems at all getting on with everyday life, going to work, paying bills, enjoying other aspects of life etc so I think it does depend somewhat on a persons personality and psyche from the outset.

Personally, cocaine is most definitely a social drug, at least for me, it serves no business or purpose when done solo, and I think if you are doing that then maybe that's the first sign your in trouble(?). It also kind if acts as a truth serum (or powder more accurately) for me along with enhancing conversations, sometimes just 3 guys will stand and talk till the sun comes up, perhaps resolving past issues and greviences, sometimes just talking about good times and memories. I don't agree with the 'coke makes you violent' regardless of the presence or absence of alcohol, the only people I have witnessed become violent or aggresive under the influence are people who were violent or aggressive to begin with and it just exascerbated these traits.

It's not really worth bothering with these days though, as has been mentioned, in the UK most stuff is cut to hell, i'd be amazed if there was anything above 10% present in most stuff, yet the cost remains the same, which for a lot of people will probably resulting more being purchased in order to achieve the desired state, which is what pushers are hoping for I suppose. Having read the cocaine handbook, and a number of forum threads centered around it, supposedly pure (+80%) cocaine is meant to be a rather different experience from what most people are familar with, It would be worth trying
on time, though as with the previously stated purity of street coke, I'd imagine one would have to purchase a large quantity to get even a small amount of pure stuff for a final yield.

I went through a period of weekend use for a period of about 8 weeks a couple of years back, the only thing drastically effected was my wallet, but I had good times so no regrets. Oh and IIRC the combination of alcohol and cocaine produces a potent hepatotoxic compound whose name escapes me, but it's well documented so might be worth considering.

Methtical

 

[69ron]

Still, that doesn't mean I want those drugs to be illegal, for sure. Just, when they offer me a drink or a line, I don't accept them.

Exactly.

If cocaine was sold at the corner store I would NOT BUY IT. Period. Just don't buy if you don't like it. If someone offers you some, just SAY NO. It doesn't need to be illegal. Marijuana is illegal, but people still use it. Cocaine is illegal but people still use it. Making it illegal doesn't really stop people from using it. Alcohol is 100% legal. I can buy it at the corner store, but I don't. I can buy tobacco there too, but I don't. But I still think others should be able to do what they want with their bodies. If they want to get cancer from smoking, let them. It's their body. Let them do what they want.

I believe all drugs should be 100% legal. They should state on the package their addictive potential, their health impacts, and they should be highly taxed to pay for drug treatment centers, and other things related to their abuse. This way we remove the crime associated with dealing drugs.

The bottle of cocaine should say, “WARNING. This product has a great potential for abuse, is neurotoxic, and may cause heart attacks, strokes, and other similar cardiovascular problems. Long term use may cause severe mental instability, negative personality changes, anti-social behavior, and other severe mental problems.”

It should give a dosage, be taxed like crazy, and require a drug user license, much like a driver’s license to purchase it. Your purchases are tracked and you can’t buy more than a specified amount each month, much like they do with pseudoephedrine these days.

 

[burnt]

^^Yes ron's view on drug use is 100% not hippocritical. I think it would solve a lot of the social problems associated with drug use. It would turn the focus on personal responsibility and logical enforcement (no driving) as well as provide more avenues for treatment when needed.

I think anyone who uses dmt and claims that people who use alcohol or cocaine or whatever are somehow inferior or wasting their time are hippocrites. Some people enjoy the social aspects of these drugs. DMT isn't without its negative side effects either we've seen a number of members on this board lose it from taking too much dmt.

 

[SnozzleBerry]

I have never used coke and never plan on trying it. That's my opinion and I have no desire to cram it down the throat of others or lock them up for partaking in something they enjoy, for this reason I voted "Yes".

All drugs should be regulated and taxed, any alternative just doesn't make sense.

 

[PureMan]

SWIM used to be a pot dealer. He found that the same customers came back day after day after day, and if one day SWIM didn't have stock.. People would fiend. Weed sells itself. Humans are creatures of habit.

In the town where SWIM lives, there is hardly any coke "fiends". From SWIM's experience, more people would likely fiend over pot than cocaine. I am guessing it is a price thing. Cocaine just isn't affordable.

The whole thing about cocaine causing aggression in most people is bs IMO. SWIM has had some great nights with friends with this substance and has never found anyone to become overly aggressive. If someone was naturally an aggressive person, only then could I see how it could bring the aggression to the surface.

(I love how the consensus is split)

 

[Bill Cipher]

I'm certainly not arguing for prohibition. I'm all for the legalization (and regulation, and taxation...) of any and all substances. I just think that cocaine is gross, and that regular use is both physically unhealthy and consciousness diminishing. Yes, DMT can be dangerous as well. I'm very clear on that. But I find it to have MUCH more to offer than a tickling of the pleasure centers of the brain.

I will submit, however, for the consideration of all who oppose prohibition (which should be ALL of us here), that every dollar you spend on this or any other illegal substance goes directly to financing the war on drugs (and other more covert wars in places you've likely never heard of), global terrorism, the plunder of the rainforest, and all kinds of other bad shit - and reinforces a cycle of race based poverty and subjegation (at least within the U.S.) that wouldn't exist without it.

 

[State of the Mind]

I think it is fine to use, same as any other drug, as long as you know and are happy with the reason why you are taking it. However you have to realise what your money is supporting when you use it.

For more information: Peruvian Cocaine

 

[polytrip]

I'm against the dirty war on drugs. Basically there are many places on earth that are known to be more dangerous than gaza, because of it. I once heard that israeli doctors often visit south american countries to learn from doctors over there about injuries associated with gunviolence.

I'm also a liberal, so that are two reasons to be against the war on drugs.

On the other hand though, it seems that cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol and some other substances wich are luckily less popular worlwide, bring a risk with them of causing agression.

When a substance causes agression in a certain percentage of people, then the use of this substance is in my view not solely an issue of the people who use it, but also of society.

I don't realy know whether this would be enough grounds to ban the substance. But it is clear to me that the moral argument for legalisation is altered by the fact that a substance can cause problems not only to those who use it but also to those who choose not to use it.

I think that it depends greatly on how big the risk of agression realy is. I admit that not everybody get's violent immediately, from cocaine. I tend to think that excessive use over an extended period of time on the other hand, causes most people to get violent at some point.

If there would be a substance that would cause 99% of the people who use it to become violent, i think that even the most liberal minds on this forum would agree with it's prohibition.

I don't have statistics on violence related to cocaine usage, but i think in terms of legislation, at least it would have to be taken into consideration (just as with alcohol).

 

[teotenakeltje]

i voted yes... since i don't think i have the right to judge what is 'ok' for other people.
personally i don't like it at all..probably cause all the coke i tried was pretty much bullshit!
I tried freebase too but it just makes me nervous as hell and very uncomfortable

 

[burnt]

I see your point polytrip and I think with drugs like cocaine and amphetamines as well as a host of other really dangerous substances their risk and tendency to promote either insanity or aggression would have to be taken into consideration.

I has having a very similar discussion with a friend recently. He simply said he doesn't want to live in a society where cocaine is legal because of the same reasons you pointed out the risk of aggression.

I guess the question would then be would this risk be more or less if the drug were available and regulation or illegal thus less available but totally unregulated and the user an automatic criminal. It would be great to have such data but no society has it legal so there is no way to know at this point.

I think with cannabis we do have that data and it seems to indicate that the negative social effects are less when its semi legal and even less people use it when its available so easily. But of course each drug is different and needs to be considered separately.

Actually I just realized we do have data on legal amphetamine use as they are prescription drugs. I would like to see a comparison of negative events such as psychosis or violence with legal amphetamine use versus illegal. That would make a great study.

 

[ohayoco]

I voted no. From Dreamer's experience of both taking it himself (he used to like it, that is until he drank aya) and watching others do so, he has decided that it generally brings out the worst in many people, as well as obviously being physically damaging for all. Selfishness, arrogance, rudeness, boring self-obsessed inane conversation, and greed for more cocaine. 'Cokeheads are dicks': I've heard many coke users acknowledge that. The first line is nice, then the rest of the evening revolves around having another and another.

I have friends of friends who are addicts. One of my best friends is not 'an addict' but often says how she wishes she'd never been introduced to it... yet every time we go out, she has some with her. It is a crutch for people too lazy or scared to deal with their problems properly.

Apparently some people can become violent particularly when it's mixed with drinking alcohol. And I personally perceive the mannerisms of crackheads as volatile, unpredictable and potentially psychotic.

Cocaine does not promote betterment of the self, unlike ayawaska and cactus. Despite its 'Sherlock Holmes' reputation, it actually reduces awareness (overall mindful awareness) in Dreamer's opinion. Stimulants may wake you up physically, but I haven't found one that promotes mindful awareness, they all seem to distract. I agree with the buddhists that awareness is a good thing that the world needs more of. I therefore view cocaine as a waste of time and money, because it makes people 'more animal'- more immersed in instinct and desires- rather than 'more aware'. In this way I see it on a par with alcohol.

The cut cocktail dealers sell is far worse than pure cocaine, but pure cocaine without alcohol has little to offer either. It's fun, that is the one good thing I can say about cocaine. But with the help of ayawaska, one can re-learn to have fun without needing such a substance, like a child can.

The cocaine trade is a horrific and bloody one, so extract your own if you want to be an 'ethical cocaine user'.

On the health side, I read an interview with a heart specialist who said that he would ask any patient under 50 who had heart problems if they take or used to take cocaine. Almost all of them say yes. He then gave the medical explanation of why it's so bad for your heart even with low usage.

The occasional chewing of coca is very useful for relieving fatigue, relieving boredom, and improving concentration. Coca is a cocktail of many other plant alkaloids, not cocaine alone, and it's disputed whether cocaine produces much of the effect at such a low dose.

My opinion. I still think cocaine should be available from pharmacies (along with health advice), because prohibition of cocaine is worse for society than cocaine itself.

 

[epiphany_awakening]

i personally hate cocaine with a passion formany reasons.
1. The impact it has on my home country (Colombia) is so bad that I refuse to deal with many people just because they approve of cocaine
2. the effect it has on people is an example ofthe degradation of society
3. It affects people insuch a way in which they lose their inhibitions which, to be completely honest, isn't good for many reasons.
4. The price of it in Britain and the purity of it is ridiculous for quite a rubbish effect.

Don't get me wrong,I have tried cocaine and I know the feeling it gives you but is it worth seeing my country get torn to pieces just so stupid fucking gringos can 'get their hit'¿? It's about social responsibility.

P.S sorry if i sound bitter but it's a topic I have close to heart

FUCK COCAINE

 

[epiphany_awakening]

personally i dont believe anyone who believes in spiritual development through the use of mind expanding drugs can approve of cocaine and it saddens me to see that 23 people have voted yes

 

[BoKuDen]

i personally hate cocaine with a passion formany reasons.
1. The impact it has on my home country (Colombia) is so bad that I refuse to deal with many people just because they approve of cocaine
2. the effect it has on people is an example ofthe degradation of society
3. It affects people insuch a way in which they lose their inhibitions which, to be completely honest, isn't good for many reasons.
4. The price of it in Britain and the purity of it is ridiculous for quite a rubbish effect.

Don't get me wrong,I have tried cocaine and I know the feeling it gives you but is it worth seeing my country get torn to pieces just so stupid fucking gringos can 'get their hit'¿? It's about social responsibility.

P.S sorry if i sound bitter but it's a topic I have close to heart

FUCK COCAINE

Seriously..?

Cocaine is a plant extract no different than Dmt.

The cocaine trade is a horrific and bloody one, so extract your own if you want to be an 'ethical cocaine user'.

It's been suggested everyone should grow their own Coca, Mimosa, or any other plant based substance they wish to acquire.

personally i dont believe anyone who believes in spiritual development through the use of mind expanding drugs can approve of cocaine and it saddens me to see that 23 people have voted yes

We aren't talking substance abuse here, this thread is about occasional use.
Cocaine's occasional use is no more right/wrong than occasionally using Dmt.
Denying/condemning anyone the right to experience cocaine occasionally isn't an enlightened judgement.

 

[jamie]

alot of these same things can probly be said of the coffee trade..I wont buy coffee that is not fair trade. Im sure if people were snorting pure caffine it would be just as unhealthy as cocaine..but thats not my point anyway..

Alot of the products we buy screw people and countries over..this is why people make such a big fuss abotu buying fair trade. With cocaine its not legal..so there is coca farmers making next to nothing and cocaine dealer making everything..aside from the environmental destruction that goes along with all that.

Cocaine should be legal for these reasons alone. If anyone here thinks that cocaine should remain illegal than they are blinded and cant see the whole picture..keeping something like this illegal no matter what your views are on its effects etc is pointless and destructive in the end, to both people and the environment. Cocaine is not going to go away either way, just when it's illegal it causes people to go underground, screwing over farmers and the rainforest.

 

[mapp]

24 cokeheads :d

 

[69ron]

24 cokeheads :d

SWIM voted YES but he hates cocaine. So I don't know how you get that reaction from the poll.

 

[Ginkgo]

personally i dont believe anyone who believes in spiritual development through the use of mind expanding drugs can approve of cocaine and it saddens me to see that 23 people have voted yes

The question is if it is okay to use cocaine occasionally. I see no problem with that whatsoever. I don't do it, and I wouldn't recommend it, but nevertheless it is totally okay. You are your own master of your own body, your own temple. No one can tell anyone else what they may or may not do to their own body.

 

[epiphany_awakening]

ok maybe i was being a bit judgemental and not all cocaine users are totally evil but I do hate cocaine with a passion. If you wish to use cocaine on a recreational basis then so be it, but it's because of people like that that my country is in tatters. Also, cocaine itself is a horrible drug turning the human being into a deprived jibbering mess. There is no spiritual qualities to it whatsoever and even as a party drug it isnt that good as you are ok for 1 hour and then after that you turn into the jibbering mess that I have seen so many times before.

The solution? To legalize cocaine and make it a national product, then the tables would turn and Colombia would become a world power. That would be quite funny

Cocaine is just a plant extract but Datura is also a plant and I don't see Datura being exported to first world countries. Stating that something is a chemical is avoiding the argument. You're right, everything is a chemical. Point?

 

[endlessness]

personally i dont believe anyone who believes in spiritual development through the use of mind expanding drugs can approve of cocaine and it saddens me to see that 23 people have voted yes

The question is if it is okay to use cocaine occasionally. I see no problem with that whatsoever. I don't do it, and I wouldn't recommend it, but nevertheless it is totally okay. You are your own master of your own body, your own temple. No one can tell anyone else what they may or may not do to their own body.

But your argument would only stand if one avoids the whole industry question.

The way I see it, someone buying cocaine IS affecting others and not just their body because s/he is co-responsible for the destruction of the rainforest, and for indirectly supporting the guns industry (because obviously a significant part of cocaine money goes for arming the dealers and gangs), for the violence generated in south america, etc.. So unless someone is extracting his own cocaine sustainably, then their actions are also influencing me and others negatively, so I cant say its all ok.

and for whoever raised the point that dmt is the same, even without getting into the effects and pharmacology, no its not the same at all. Nobody is deforesting the amazon for growing mimosa (also because mimosa is not from the amazon, its from completely other geographcal areas), mimosa harvest can be sustainable, mimosa harvest doesnt give money to big drug barons, etc etc..