National Referendum On Recreational Drugs

[V The King]

After a petition asking for the decriminalization and subsequent legalization and regulation of the production, sale and consumption of recreational drugs circulated throughout Viniland and garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures from the nation's citizens, the topic was brought up in the most recent Parliamentary section. After numerous debates and suggestions, a bill (officially Bill 840, colloquially called the "Legalization Bill") was approved to be put forth to the public and voted on in a nationwide referendum.

The Legalization Bill has been presented as the following:

If Bill 840 is to receive the approval of the Vinilandese people (hereby defined as 60% or more of the voting public choosing the "Yes" option in the ballot), it shall have the following effects:

-The possession or usage of any drug falling under the official definition of "recreational drugs", including (but not limited to): cocaine, LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, amphetamines, heroin, ecstasy and GHB; will no longer be considered a criminal offense within the borders of Viniland. This includes both "soft" and "hard" drugs.

-The production, purchase and sale of all recreational drugs are henceforth no longer considered a criminal offense within Viniland and hereby legalized. However, all producers and consumers will have to follow upcoming regulations and restrictions on such market and the non-compliance to said rules will be a criminal offense.

Already stipulated regulations include:

*All localities producing, refining and/or selling said drugs must be approved by the federal government before being able to establish themselves.

*At least 50% of each producing, refining and retailing localities will be owned by the government. Private individuals are allowed to own the remaining stake.

*Public advertising of any recreational drug is strictly prohibited and punishable by a fine that may be as low as 1,000 Lira Vinilandesas but with no fine ceiling, as well as jail time ranging from six months to three years.

*Each commercial establishment selling recreational drugs must not sell more than a to-be-established amount, and it must not sell to any minors (henceforth defined as aged less than 19). Breaking of such rule is punishable by fines and/or jail time from one year to five years

*All commercial establishments must only sell said drugs to consumers who display their license cards (detailed explanation available further down the bill), and all retailers must check the database to see whether if the card is valid or not; suspended or not. Non-compliance of such procedure will result in fine and jail time.

*Consumers found and proven to be providing recreational drugs to minors or individuals who have had their licenses suspended will be subject to fines and jail time, depending on the drug being sold.

-It is recognized that each drug has differing effects on individuals, and thus some drugs may be subject to some regulations that others won't.

-Consumption of such drugs is legal only for citizens aged 19 or older.

-All potential buyers of drugs must first seek a state-issued license card to buy recreational drugs, which they will be granted if there is no just reason to refuse them the card. So long as the individual shows the license, he is able to purchase said drugs. However, if the consumer is found to be exploiting the system, using purchased drugs to provide them to minors, has had a recent addition to his or her criminal record and/or is otherwise deemed unfit to purchase said drugs, his or her license will be temporarily suspended. Any attempts to purchase recreational drugs while having a suspended license will result in a fine.

-Any revenue originating from federal and state taxes falling upon the production, refining or sale of such drugs will go into either education, rehabilitation facilities or drug awareness campaigns.

-This bill may be amended through either a parliamentary decision or a nationwide referendum.

*Any recreational drug falling on the "hard" category (including but not limited to: methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin) may be subjected to a ban, requiring either a parliamentary decision or a nationwide referendum.

**Any state has the power to ban any specific drug or category thereof within its boundaries through either a statewide referendum or a legislative assembly decision.

The nationwide vote will take place on Monday, May the 18th.

EDIT: Might be nice to add this, Marijuana is already legalized and regulated in Viniland.

Edited May 16, 2009 by V The King

[Manetheren]

The Government of the Tahoe Republic is strongly opposed to such an action. Legalizing these drugs would force Tahoe to institute much stricter border control policies than currently exist to prevent such drugs from entering Tahoe. So called "hard drugs" are banned and strictly controlled with punishment for possession including a flogging, fine and prison sentence. Dealing "hard drugs" is a crime punishable by death although usually such a sentence is not recieved with a drug dealer being sentenced to a flogging and extensive stay in a hard labor camp.

So called "soft drugs" are legal although non-regulated dealing is likewise punished by flogging and prison. Cannabis is legal and in the same category as Alcohol and Tobacco. Both cannabis and tobacco are rarely used and even more rarely abused, while alcohol is consumed by over 90% of the population and has no regulations on it whatsoever (both cannabis and tobacco are legal after 18 in limited amounts)

[loannes]

Drakoria strongly advises that this bill is passed. A national war on drugs simply drains funding, fills prison space that could be used for murderers, rapists, and terrorists with smalltime drug dealers, and cuts off a source of revenue. Legalizing drugs will likely lower the crime rate, partially due to possession being legal, and partially due to the inability of drug lords to war.

[Californian]

We are against this Bill. We already support your legislation to have legalized marijuana, as it is essentially harmless with few, if any, long term negative side effects. The drugs listed to be legalized in this bill however, are known to have severe detrimental side effects including heart attack and stroke, to name a few. These substances are evil and extremely dangerous, and should therefore never be endorsed by any government.

[loannes]

We are against this Bill. We already support your legislation to have legalized marijuana, as it is essentially harmless with few, if any, long term negative side effects. The drugs listed to be legalized in this bill however, are known to have severe detrimental side effects including heart attack and stroke, to name a few. These substances are evil and extremely dangerous, and should therefore never be endorsed by any government.

An in-depth anti-drug program can be initiated. Those seen in most nations simply say, 'Drugs are bad.' With drugs of this level legal, a high-power, an awareness program can be funded to tell exactly what happens to a drug user.

[Vedran]

Arctica's view on individual liberties is that citizens are generally allowed liberty in their personal lives as long as they don't unnecessarily endanger the welfare of others or engage in activities that negatively affect their work performance (if they are government employees). The country has so far not legalized the use of recreational drugs, claiming a lack of data on what kind of effect legalization will have on the people in terms of productivity, crime rates, etc. Hard drugs remain highly illegal and tobacco products are very tightly regulated.

The government cannot afford to expend resources at this time in conducting extensive research on the effects of legalization. Several Arctican government officials have expressed interest in seeing the effects Viniland's bill (if legalized) will have, and use it as a basis for similar legislation back home.

[V The King]

"So to those wondering why, the bill was brought up because not only the people would like to see some sort of change in regards to the current status of most recreational drugs... most of the Parliament (Libertarian majority) believes that the illicit status of such drugs is one of the main driving forces behind why some take them - the fact that they're illegal is a major "advertiser" for said substances,

Of course, others take it because they either want to go through new experiences, and dare we say, a few are self-destructive - but then again, history has shown us that prohibiting the drugs and cracking down on consumption and sale through criminalization only creates a billion-dollar black market and greatly bolsters urban violence as hundreds of gangs are created thanks to the profitable market created by the law - which also draws more youth into criminal life as well as promoting drug usage (after all, such gangs have to sell those to live),

Therefore, we will attempt to experiment, given that the Vinilandese are unsatisfied with the status quo - legalize but control and keep a keen eye on them. We expect such move to increase government revenue, reduce urban violence as well as reduce stress in public security - "drug busts" and arbitrary arrest of people due to potential possession of drugs will become virtually unknown occurrences. Lastly, we do not foresee an increase in drug consumption - but rather, it might go down due to aforementioned reasons.

Of course, other problems might arise. Tahoe's concerns are very valid because of a phenomenon that can happen - illicit exporting of such drugs, since one could legally produce in Viniland, then take small amounts and attempt to smuggle into another countries. A fight against such might turn out to be another never-ending "war on drugs", a scenario which we truly wish to avoid. We are currently thinking of solutions in order to prevent Viniland from being an "exporter" of hard drugs if the bill is approved - other than restricted mobility, naturally.

[Subtleknifewielder]

OOC: I thought they were already legal in your nation?

[iamthey]

As has been said a national war on drugs just drains funds that could be used on treating social environmental factors that propagate the desire to do them. Moreover prohibiting them breeds an unregulated black market and criminal element where quality control isn't present and subsequent crimes other than the distribution and use of the drugs themselves result. (shootings, money laundering ect). If production can be placed in the hands of legitimate industries which can be regulated and taxed much of the problems associated with drugs can be controlled. Moreover said money could just go to use educating citizens about the risks associated, as well as instruct in safety measures that would minimize the harms resulting from there legalization.

Moreover you could always require that patients seek a prescription from a doctor and require monitoring of their health before and after each prescription is issued.

Edited May 16, 2009 by iamthey

[Franz Ferdinand]

We strongly urge for Viniland to legalise all variations of narcotics, with the reason being that the positives outweigh the negatives.

[V The King]

OOC: I thought they were already legal in your nation?

OOC: Not really, only Marijuana has legal status as of now.

[Otto Verteidiger]

Of course, other problems might arise. Tahoe's concerns are very valid because of a phenomenon that can happen - illicit exporting of such drugs, since one could legally produce in Viniland, then take small amounts and attempt to smuggle into another countries. A fight against such might turn out to be another never-ending "war on drugs", a scenario which we truly wish to avoid. We are currently thinking of solutions in order to prevent Viniland from being an "exporter" of hard drugs if the bill is approved - other than restricted mobility, naturally.

With the legalization of the drugs and regulation by your government, the export of these drugs should actually decrease because they have the government's eye on them, is our nation's thought.

We support this bill, we've had this stance on drugs since the days of Highbuzz's rule.

[V The King]

"Yes" reigns in more than 50% of the ballots, but votes did not reach 60% - Bill 840 struck down

Final Results: 52% "Yes"; 48% "No" - Simple majority won but 60%+ requirement not met - Bill 840 will not be made into law.

Voter turnout: 92%

...

Prior to the casting of the ballots, polling estimates predicted that the "Yes" option would receive anywhere from 55% to 63% of the votes, with margins of error being as small as 2%. However, the margin apparently turned out to be grossly underestimated - it is currently assumed that those that were voting "No" were simply less vocal about their opinion - as well as a higher proportion of the "No" public being found farther from the large urban areas, thus a lesser proportion of them being interviewed.

Some rejoiced over Bill 840's defeat...

While others immediately entered a state of frustration and confusion as the results were announced.

The overall atmosphere amongst those who voted "Yes" was of gloom and frustration, while joy and relief was prevalent for those who voted "No". Both groups went to the streets to either protest or celebrate the outcome. In a few cases, ire prevailed and minor clashes between both publics took place, although no significant incident or major injuries took place.

Because of the fact that the Bill had a majority vote in the first place, both the Parliament and the State's legislatures are considering a middle ground between the two factions. It is currently unknown what they will come up with.

Edited May 19, 2009 by V The King

[Cody Seb]

As The Maghreb has an up and coming Cannibas Supply Industry, many citizens of The Maghreb supported the bill proposed in Viniland and displayed support on web sites and television ads. Cannibas farmers feel that relaxation on all drugs in Viniland can only help their business there.

[Manetheren]

Radio Telefís an tIarthar Special Report

International Edition - North America

CALGARI, VINILAND - The recent nationwide vote on the legalization of all drugs in Tahoe's northern neighbor has set off a firestorm of events across Tahoe. From debate on political talk shows to the highest centers of power, the often ignored issue, for a brief while at least, came to the forefront of national politics.

While Viniland's population has always leaned slightly to the left when compared with Tahoe, its most recent center-left and libertarian governments have certainly created quite the stir. In general, the shift of power to center-left and libertarian parties has been felt across both Tahoe and Viniland, although the conservative National Party maintains a strong coalition government with the libertarian Democrats in Parliament here.

After a long and costly battle over cannabis - most often referred to as marijuana internationally - led to its decriminalization in 1996, the national debate over drugs mostly went away, only to return in force this past week. Polls showing a strong likelyhood of the passage of the decriminalization bill in Viniland caused commentators and lawmakers alike, from both the right and left, to call for continued strong control over the drug trade and a loosening of restrictions. The fear from many in Parliament in all three parties was that this bill could cause a flood of drugs over the loosely controlled northern border, starting a drug war and corrupting thousands of Tahoan Youth.

There were reports that the President himself, along with leaders in the Parliament, called prominent members of the Vinilandese government to personally ask them to fight this bill. President O'Deaghaidh publically stated in his radio address two days ago that "The passage of this bill in Viniland will have a serious effect on the freedom of movement across our joint border...Security concerns may have to be revisited."

However, with the bill's failure to pass the 60% threshold needed, many across Tahoe are breathing a collective sigh of relief, especially those living near and working in Viniland. Michael Finnegan lives in Victoria, but commutes to work in Nanaimo every day, working in an boat repair shop. The commute, which normally takes only 5 minutes, was estimated to take up to an hour if stricter border controls were put in place. Mr. Finnegan stated, "Now I don't care much about the whole drug issue, and certainly don't support it meself, but I would have to find a new job if crossing the border became anything more than driving past a street sign."

[V The King]

Legislative Assemblies and Parliament debates potential compromise

Calgari, Nova Coimbra: Today, members of the federal Parliament as well as members of all 7 states' Legislative Assemblies met in a convention hall in Downtown Calgari - the purpose was to discuss a potential middle-ground solution to the Bill 840.

After a lengthy and heated debate spanned several hours, the participants did not reach a resolution yet and will meet again tomorrow. However, hints given to the Vinilandese press may indicate that the solution might be to legalize and regulate all drugs falling on the "soft" field while maintaining "hard" drugs illicit. If such conclusion is the one that the politicians arrive at, then there will be another marathon of conventions, mostly involving physicians, pharmaceutics, pharmacologists and psychologists, where they will set the line for "soft" and "hard", maybe even creating a category in the middle.