And although 480p might still count as HD for some, I don’t think it’s unrealistic to consider that something of a minimum these days.

PS: Thanks Kimmo… this video is awesome.

I think you’re missing the point which is just as much about reaching the population as reaching politicians.

There is a time and place for HQ and parliamentary testimony is not one of them.

Demand for drugs will never go away. Until legal sources exist the black market will continue with business as usual. Until free thinking individuals are given an alternative to buying from the black market, don’t expect us to respond to guilt trips.

I’m a tad sorry to see that his approach though, seems to remain somewhat symptomatic and after-the-fact: abstinence therapy.

What could really help debates like these is a good analysis of why our culture is conducive to drug-related escapism in the first place. Why do people feel like they need to escape? Could exhilaration and ecstasy be catered for in a less problematic fashion in the first place?

Personally I like the idea that all drugs are simply optional permission slips to get into a state that is more in line with our preference; with our naturally ecstatic and playful selves.

Now if governance were to align itself along *those* lines… I think it can be done.

A quick refresher: R v Mernagh is an Ontario criminal court case where Matt Mernagh was busted for cultivation and possession of cannabis. He argued, and Judge Taliano agreed, that Ontario’s medical marijuana program was fundamentally broken (the problem was, finding a doctor who would sign your paperwork was near-impossible) and was built as an illusion to prop up continuing prohibition. Judge Taliano proceeded to strike down the Ontario MMJ program as unconstitutional, and then went and struck down the personal possession and cultivation sections of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and he instructed the Crown to come up with a better program, with a 90-day deadline. The government appealed, and after over a year of delays, the oral hearing was held and thousands of pages of documents are in. If the appeal is ruled in favour of Mernagh, then things get interesting.

It’s going to be interesting to see this next decade.

Anyway aside from health concerns, the only reason the cartel is making so much money off of illicit drugs is because they are illicit. I think people need to be given the right to choose to put any substance they’d like into their body without paying an inflated black market price or even an inflated pharmaceutical price.

I know personally i enjoy a chemical vacation on the weekend here and there, or a wonderful visual heavy hallucination, or perhaps even a dull euphoric opiate induced haze. I understand there is a lot of problems with people not having the knowledge necessary to regulate their use of drugs and prevent harm.

consider the number of people who give themselves liver failure using acetaminophen every year, yet acetaminophen is put into percocet tablets to prevent abuse, also it’s difficult to find cough syrups or tablets containing only Dextromorphan HBr A commonly abused cough syrup ingredient. If you haven’t noticed the dose of acetaminophen in you NyQuil bottle per 30ml is now 650mg instead of 1000mg, this due to people giving themselves liver damage, additionally all OTC dosages of acetaminophen are being lowered because people cannot seem to understand the max 1g dose, and no more than 4g per day. The point is fewer people would harmed if substance for recreational use were available for that purpose. because making it more difficult/dangerous does not mean people wont do it anyway. 

Also you wear clothes that were sewn together by poor children in the third world, does that mean you made them do it? did you personally exploit them? perhaps.

And as VBartilucci said, admitting you need assistance, and getting that assistance, does not mean you are “helpless”. In fact, that is one of the hardest things about addiction, and finally admitting that you need support can be very difficult, especially in our society, which VERY MUCH shuns and shames addicts. Having the courage to get help is not a helpless act.

I think, under it all, most people can overcome great odds, if they have support.  AA provides that support (while being anonymous, so one can avoid some of the stigma — which is important to remember, because stigma does not promote recovery), and I think that’s why it’s successful for some people.

The research done on AA indicates that it’s not really any more successful than anything else.  I think those who do succeed, do so because they do well in that kind of environment, with lots of rules and re-enforcement from your peers, and, most importantly, a desire to become sober.

Kicking addiction requires desire, education, and support.

I mean, I own that stuff too (or would if I weren’t broke, lulz).  I’m not judging you.  But you shouldn’t judge either, really, all things considered.  This society is pretty fucked up in terms of capitalism and consumption and the harm it does.

Also, I know that, when it comes to medical/legal weed, people will gladly buy from legit sources, and that has to effect the black market.

That’s quite a difference from admitting you need assistance.  There are lots of things that one cannot do alone (The Tango comes to mind), and until one admits that assistance of some amount is required, little will get done.

Bear in mind, I’m NOT an atheist. I was raised in the HRCC, and it’s the dogma set I most identify with (save for a few things like the hatred of gays and all).  But I view God as an assistant, and not one to put in charge.  “Jesus, help me on my way” as opposed to “Jesus Take The Wheel”, if you see the difference. 

Edit: i now watched the video to the end(i was listening while i typed that bit above.) Brand does mention that some people can use drugs and remain functionally productive happy people and other’s cannot. He stresses the most important point that decriminalization will allow them to focus state funds more effectively and improve peoples’ lives. 

Though his messages is hard to criticize because he argued for quite reasonable drug policy I really do wish the message that not all people are naturally addicts got a bit more lip service.