The New Poland Express I Friday 15th October 2010 I www.nwe.pl
Designer drugs fan to lobby cause
Friends and colleagues of Dawid Bratko, Poland’s so-called ‘Designer Drugs King’, are set to lobby in parliament in favour of legalizing designer drugs. “I want to help protect the freedoms and the rights of ordinary people who are addicted to psychotropic substances,” says Tomasz Obara of Poland’s ‘Free Hemp’ movement - an organisation aimed at promoting the legalisation of cannabis. But Obara, who has already officially registered as a lobbyist in Parliament, adds that he is also taking part in order to represent his mother who, he claims, is a constant victim of police harassment. “Police officers keep raiding my mother’s house in order to look for cannabis. That’s one of the reasons why I want to protect my mother’s interests.” However, while actively confirming that he is still lobbying on behalf of Bratko’s cause, Obara claims that he is in fact anti-designer drugs.
“I’m against designer drugs but I signed an agreement with [Bratko] that if we manage to persuade the authorities to legalise cannabis, then he will stop trading them.” Designer drugs, known in Poland as ‘dopalacze’ have made the headlines recently due to a fierce government clampdown on the booming sector which has seen around 900 shops closed down. Last week Bratko, dubbed ‘the Designer Drug King’ by the nation’s media for his large influence throughout the industry, was arrested for selling a number of proscribed substances. Despite a number of fatalities being linked to the new craze, numerous loopholes have kept the government’s hands tied. However it stated recently that it would try to push through legislation quickly in order to deal with what it sees as a growing problem.
What do you think of the whole campaign against designer drugs?
Is it just a part of political campaign?
Statistics say that in Poland more people day because of alcohol abuse than designer drugs but the media just do not talk about it.
Present your opinions please.
For me it's pretty much obvious that all this fight against designer drugs is a part of political campaign. Look at the timing, it’s just after Palikot announced his new party, and it effectively silenced his problem.
ReplyDeleteWhat worry me the most is the total disrespect for the law shown by the politicians, prime minister saying that they will operate on the edge of the law, or mayor of Bydgoszcz who openly said that he will break the law if it will help fighting with designer drugs....
Regarding the drugs themselves there is an old rule of Roman law which says "to a willing person, no injury is done” so if somebody is stupid enough to consume products which are labeled not to be consumed by humans then it’s his problem. I would even prefer that such person would take designer drug and kill him\herself then drive while being drunk and kill not only himself but also innocent people.
Only thing about designer drugs that should be banned is selling them to minors, but it’s the same case as alcohol or cigarettes.
I agree with Michał in 100%. Also I think that goverment went to the dead end from the very beginning of problem with designer drugs. They were prohibiting some kind of drugs and chemists were making new ones that were even more dangerous to people then the old ones. The market of designer drugs is something like 2 years old and I think that everything what is told about them is because of media, which are searching for cheap sensation and topic they can talk about for many days. The situation which is now with designer drugs is not resolving the major problem and it will become even bigger because of selling them unlegally without any control above them.
ReplyDeleteI am also of the similar opinion as my colleagues are. I am afraid of thinking about the future when I hear on TV that our Prime Minister is openly claiming that our government is to act on the edge of the law. This is ridiculous. If our country leaders start thinking about disobeying the law, just let us think what will happen next. Ordinary people who chose the authorities in free elections could start to follow their leaders. If the principles of law are set, they are set in order to be obeyed. There are no exceptions. Exception means that you act against the law. I am of teh opinion that our authorities soul take more time before they pass any act of law. How could it happen that one store selling designer drugs was cofinanced with the EU funds? Our authorities just follow theory, and from time to time they forget about thinking about the consequences. I would also be outraged in I had invested in a business and got authorisation for running it and then somebody would come to me and aaske me to stop my business just because the approval had not been though over in a right manner before. I am of course against legal sale of addictive substances that could harm people. I am just of the opinion that before we decide about simething we need to think about its consequences before it could be too late, and before we need to disobey the law because the decision we took once is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI believe that our government did well with this issue, but why so late?? why it had to die so many people? Closing these stores don't solve this problems, we needed specific reforms which refrain such trade. It's known that 'dopalacze' passed into 'underground' and they are still available on the market or Internet shop. Recently I found web site registered in another country which legally sold 'dopalacze'to our country.
ReplyDeleteWhether it's part of campaign? We can say 'yes', new elections are in November and suddenly everything can be done;)
Our media looking for new sensation, nobody is surprised how many people die in car accidents or by alcohol every day.
We need campaigns like this. I'am against legalization of cannabis or some others drugs. They don't give us anything positive, it's like a poison it destroys the most precious thing we have our thinking ability, our creativity. It reminds me of the title my fave band's album called "fake chemical state". So thats why we should do something to help people who are already addicted and especially to protect the youngest members of our society to make it stop. However government is way to busy arguing to do somehing usefull. Most of the campaigns is not an idea of politics but some ordinary people who work disinterestedly to make this country good place for people to live.
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ReplyDeleteThe fact that alcohol is legal but drugs are not was always ridiculous for me. They both changes you and they are both dangerous for your health and life. It is very simple that when all that "designer drugs case" spread out our government had to do something to clear the situation. If you want to take drugs its your choice but if you will hurt yourself because of your own stupidity then you should pay for the treatment and hospital yourself.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I agree with Jarek on this topic. It's all in the culture I think - in Poland drinking comes naturally to most people and is not considered to be offensive to anyone. It's been like that for ages, since medieval times, I guess. Drugs are no more destructive than alcohol. In fact, it's been proven that long term alcohol abuse is more destructive compared to most soft drugs.
ReplyDeleteJust to clear the air, I'm not pro drug legalisation. For me, alcohol is a drug as well, as it makes your body behave abnormally. Designer drugs on the other hand is something that should be faught with at all costs.
I believe that desiner drugs should not be prohibited, what is more, I believe that all drugs should be legal. I think so because they fund criminal activity. The Act prohibiting them is full of bugs and it limits my rights. I never used designer drugs but I was planning to try them someday.
ReplyDelete1. This is what the majority is going for because they do not take into the consideration of far extreme cases. We have the system of not allowing us to take drugs as a sign of being healthy. Ultimately, it has shaped our concept of what is acceptable.
ReplyDelete2. I think it has some other drives behind the campaign but its hard to say whether it really has anything to do with protecting family.
3. Alcohol is acceptable by the society therefore it is politically incorrect to say that it can be fatal.