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Jan 26 16 10:15 AM
The subject of local legends, this mysterious ruby-coloured cocktail is known for its high alcohol content, obscure ingredients and hallucinogenic effects.During the day, the two iron portcullises at number 10 Via Fratelli Calandra are tightly closed. There are no signs, and the graffiti that lines this quiet road in Turin, Italy seems to indicate a general state of abandon. But after 10 pm (every night but Mondays), two small lanterns turn on, and one of the shutters rises – the only signal that Tamango pub is open. It’s ironic, perhaps, that this bar – home to a strange ruby-coloured cocktail called Tamango that’s thought to have hallucinogenic effects – sits so close to Palazzo Nuovo, one of the main buildings at the University of Turin. You can essentially walk from the centre of reason and logic to something more resembling the crazy world of Alice in Wonderland in a matter of minutes. As such, students – and nightlife goers – tell many stories about the mysterious drink that’s often described as Italy’s answer to absinthe.
During the day, the two iron portcullises at number 10 Via Fratelli Calandra are tightly closed. There are no signs, and the graffiti that lines this quiet road in Turin, Italy seems to indicate a general state of abandon. But after 10 pm (every night but Mondays), two small lanterns turn on, and one of the shutters rises – the only signal that Tamango pub is open.
It’s ironic, perhaps, that this bar – home to a strange ruby-coloured cocktail called Tamango that’s thought to have hallucinogenic effects – sits so close to Palazzo Nuovo, one of the main buildings at the University of Turin. You can essentially walk from the centre of reason and logic to something more resembling the crazy world of Alice in Wonderland in a matter of minutes. As such, students – and nightlife goers – tell many stories about the mysterious drink that’s often described as Italy’s answer to absinthe.
A new ban on psychoactive substances in the UK is a catch-all backward step that ranks as one of the most unhelpful laws ever passed, says Clare WilsonIt’s official – the UK ban on legal highs that will begin in April is going to be one of the stupidest, most dangerous and unscientific pieces of drugs legislation ever conceived. Watching MPs debate the Psychoactive Substances Bill yesterday, it was clear most of them hadn’t a clue. They misunderstood medical evidence, mispronounced drug names, and generally floundered as they debated the choices and lifestyles of people who are in most cases decades younger than themselves. It would have been funny except the decisions made will harm people’s lives and liberty. The bill is an attempt to clamp down on substances that mimic the effects of drugs like cannabis and ecstasy. It stems from the media hysteria a few years ago over one of the best known ones, mephedrone, or meow meow, which was linked with some deaths. Mephedrone was banned, but new compounds can be made rapidly and other legal highs soon took its place. These can be openly sold on the internet and in “head shops”, seedy-looking stores found in most towns and cities. Prohibition didn’t work in America So “ban everything that gets you high” was the government’s reaction – and this bill is the result. The idea of a blanket prohibition is superficially appealing – yet fundamentally flawed. Banning something people enjoy does not mean they will stop doing it. It just means that instead of buying what they want from shops and legal websites, they now need to trade with criminals. Criminals have much less incentive to make sure their products are genuine and unadulterated or to refuse sales to minors. Prohibition didn’t work with alcohol in 1920s America, it hasn’t worked with heroin today and it won’t work with anything else people get high on either.
A new ban on psychoactive substances in the UK is a catch-all backward step that ranks as one of the most unhelpful laws ever passed, says Clare Wilson
It’s official – the UK ban on legal highs that will begin in April is going to be one of the stupidest, most dangerous and unscientific pieces of drugs legislation ever conceived.
Watching MPs debate the Psychoactive Substances Bill yesterday, it was clear most of them hadn’t a clue. They misunderstood medical evidence, mispronounced drug names, and generally floundered as they debated the choices and lifestyles of people who are in most cases decades younger than themselves.
It would have been funny except the decisions made will harm people’s lives and liberty.
The bill is an attempt to clamp down on substances that mimic the effects of drugs like cannabis and ecstasy. It stems from the media hysteria a few years ago over one of the best known ones, mephedrone, or meow meow, which was linked with some deaths. Mephedrone was banned, but new compounds can be made rapidly and other legal highs soon took its place. These can be openly sold on the internet and in “head shops”, seedy-looking stores found in most towns and cities.
So “ban everything that gets you high” was the government’s reaction – and this bill is the result. The idea of a blanket prohibition is superficially appealing – yet fundamentally flawed. Banning something people enjoy does not mean they will stop doing it. It just means that instead of buying what they want from shops and legal websites, they now need to trade with criminals. Criminals have much less incentive to make sure their products are genuine and unadulterated or to refuse sales to minors.
Prohibition didn’t work with alcohol in 1920s America, it hasn’t worked with heroin today and it won’t work with anything else people get high on either.
Read more @ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2074813-youre-not-hallucinating-mps-really-did-pass-crazy-bad-drug-law/
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
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