Literature with POSITIVE view on drugs (the argument from freedom)

[hampusforev]

Hey people,
I don't know if this thread might get shut down, because it's a rather controversial subject. If it will be shut down, I'd have to leave. I can't stand fear of ideas, and free speech, so I'll be gone if that's the case. Not saying it would be any great loss, but just to let you know.

Anyway, I'm writing an essay on drug prohibition, and my stance is fairly clear, I think we should abolish drug-prohibition. Not for any selfish reason mind you, I almost never smoke pot (just once or twice, and wasn't impressed), nor do I intend to use anything "stronger". My sentiment is entirely concerned with freedom, the freedom to do what you want to your body (same argument could be made for prostitution). It's just that simple. If the government tells you that some mental states are illegal, they're trespassing on your consciousness!

So, what I'm looking for are examples of pro-drug literature, or pro-freedom literature. Either explicit or implicit, and when I say "pro-drug" I don't necessarily mean that they end up president of the US in spite of being a coke-head (*cough* Bush *cough), but just literature that advocates freedom.

I know Candide deals with freedom over the state, and I intend to read it. Any suggestions?

Cheers

[Mr Endon]

The only untouchable topic is current politics, so I don't think you'll have a problem just because the topic is controversial (although you're really asking for trouble by mentioning GWB, and such an unnecessary comment, too!)

I've never come across literature on drugs, but maybe you'd benefit from Martha Nussbaum's Sex and Social Justice, where she defends gay rights and the legalisation of prostitution. Maybe you could work your way to drug use from there?

[hampusforev]

Yeah I guess the GWB comment was unnecessary, but he's not CURRENT politics is he? And come on, taking a jab at GWB is standard operating procedure now a days.

Yeah I guess I can take a look at that book, wouldn't hurt, right? I've read Naked Lunch and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which are at least accounts on how it is to be a junky.

[Mr Endon]

Ha, I know what you mean, nevertheless I know at least couple of users in this forum who'd get offended by that, so it's always better to tone it down before you post.

Had forgotten about Fear and Loathing, that's a nice idea.
I'd look into Jack Kerouac.
What about Keats's 'Ode to a Nightingale'?
Of course you can't cite a stand up performance in an essay, but you should probably get acquainted with Bill Hicks.

[hampusforev]

Oh I'm so glad you mentioned ol' Bill Hicks. Man I love him, listened to Rants in E-minor again and of course he's a great account. But even though he's my favorite comedian, the essay is on literature, so canonical literature would be the key. But I definitely think I could use his stand up pieces as a reference, not as a case and point, but as a quote.

[Alyoshka]

It probably isn't totally what you're looking for, but it sure is about drugs: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh; it's brilliant! I wouldn't say it's against drug-prohibition, but it's a great novel about the effect drugs have on you and your life. If you're writing about drugs, that's no minor issue. It really made me think differently about drug addicts.

I second Keruoac. That's probably more what you're looking for, but I recommend Trainspotting as well.

[Mariamosis]

I am not sure of any pro-drug literature, however, there are a number of good magazines that provide personal testimonials, articles, political agendas, etc.. on such matters. Ex: High Times ( I can't remember any others... although there are tons... it's been a while since I worked in a head shop)

Although, many authors were on drugs when writing some of their better works...

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' while on cocaine and Thomas De Quincey wrote an account of being on opium in 'Confessions of an English Opium Eater'. I don't know if this helps any....

[The Comedian]

Here's something different for you: Try Alan Moore's run on the Swamp Thing comic series. Excellent reading and it offers a different, but positive spin on drugs.

Good Hunting!

[amarna]

"Artificial Paradises" by Baudelaire.

[hampusforev]

Thank you everybody. I know drugs can totally screw up lives, just like the Beatles, heavy metal and internet porn can do (yes I know of examples of all three). But ultimately it's an issue of freedom, which is why I'm speaking against prohibition. I'd like to provide some great authors who wrote about drugs, not that it adds anything in terms of argument, but just for reference.

[AuntShecky]

Aldous Huxley wrote about LSD long before the late sixties, when it was in the news. Sorry, but I can't remember the title of Huxley's specific novel about drugs.

[PeterL]

Anything by the Beats would fit. Huxley's Brave new World Revisited and The Doors of Perception. De Quincey has been mentioned. Some of the Sherlock Holmes stories mention Holmes' use of cocaine and his defense of it against the discouragement by Watson. There have been a fair number of books published that made surveys of such literature, but I can't remember titles.

[Lokasenna]

Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone takes a very interesting view on the uses, both positive and negative, of opium consumption.

[Wilde woman]

Allen Ginsberg's long poem, Howl, jumps to mind.

[hampusforev]

Yeah I love Howl, I know there's a lot of Ginsberg-bashing going on at times, but the angel headed hipster and the starry dynamo in the sky proves that he can write that old hippy.