Is it right for The Psychedelic Society to adopt the language of past civil rights movements?

[Johnny Vodka]

psychedelic pride is coming your way!

http://www.psychedelicsociety.org.uk/blog/take-part-in-the-first-psychedelicpride-photoshoot

Personally, I think it's a great idea, but something tells me some folk (not necessarily on here ) will have a problem with the comparisons being made.

 

[Onket]

http://www.psychedelicsociety.org.uk/legalise-mushrooms

Signed!

 

[Belushi]

I can't say it's a cause that particularly interests me but there's nothing wrong with them campaigning for a change in the laws.

 

[Blagsta]

It's absurd. Psychedelic drug use is a choice.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

It's absurd. Psychedelic drug use is a choice.

The actual *expression* of sexuality is surely a choice, no?

It might seem trivial, but think of how many people like to go to the pub or have a few beers to switch off after a hard week. To me, psychedelicpride is all about saying "I like to smoke weed/take shrooms" and I will not be labelled a criminal or deviant for doing so. It's also about asserting rights over your own mind and body.

 

[Blagsta]

The actual *expression* of sexuality is surely a choice, no?

No.

 

[ska invita]

Psychedelic drug use is a choice.

yes, and its should be a civil right to have the choice to choose to do it or not

 

[Citizen66]

There's absolutely nothing illegal about picking mushrooms and eating them afaik the law only comes into swing if you try to extract the drug (by boiling or whatever).

 

[Johnny Vodka]

There's absolutely nothing illegal about picking mushrooms and eating them afaik the law only comes into swing if you try to extract the drug (by boiling or whatever).

Wrong. Possession of fresh magic mushrooms is a crime.

 

[Blagsta]

yes, and its should be a civil right to have the choice to choose to do it or not

It's hardly the same as struggles against racism and homophobia.

 

[Citizen66]

Wrong. Possession of fresh magic mushrooms is a crime.

Not saying you're wrong but do you have a link for that? (Or is this a recent law?)

What about the sale of morning glory seeds? Nutmeg kernels?

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Wrong. Possession of fresh magic mushrooms is a crime.

"Picking & eating" wouldn't be classed as possession.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

There's absolutely nothing illegal about picking mushrooms and eating them afaik the law only comes into swing if you try to extract the drug (by boiling or whatever).

That was changed when people started selling them in Camden. Possession of untreated mushrooms is illegal now.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Not saying you're wrong but do you have a link for that? (Or is this a recent law?)

The law was amended in 2005.

 

[Citizen66]

Cheers both, yeah just googled it. Can't see how they'd prove whether you'd picked them deliberately or accidentally though. Surely foraging would be used as a defence?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

As far as the Psychedelic Society goes if they can stir up a controversy over their use of language then they'll have made more impact than I expect. What I've seen of them so far fits under 'mildly embarrassing.'

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Cheers both, yeah just googled it. Can't see how they'd prove whether you'd picked them deliberately or accidentally though. Surely foraging would be used as a defence?

Try telling that to plod if you get caught out in the fields with 200 liberty caps. I think they'd assume you knew what you were picking.

 

[ska invita]

It's hardly the same as struggles against racism and homophobia.

a civil right is a civil right - there may be a scale of importance that people attach to different freedoms, but they can all be classified as civil rights.

 

[Red Cat]

It's a mild provocation surely, not to be taken very seriously.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

a civil right is a civil right - there may be a scale of importance that people attach to different freedoms, but they can all be classified as civil rights.

Absolutely. It's a great injustice that people can get a criminal record/penalties for having a bit of weed. If alcohol were suddenly made illegal, you'd hear people loudly complaining about rights.

 

[ska invita]

I think the Right To Roam was fought on civil rights grounds....IIRC...(the clue may be in "Right" to roam!)

 

[ska invita]

It's a mild provocation surely, not to be taken very seriously.

i dont see it that way at all - i dont find it provocative, and i definitely dont think they're trying to insult anyone - the civil right angle is just a slightly different tactic to get a law changed.

If they gave it the "I HAve a Dream" bit and really invoked MLKjr, that might be a little insensitive, but even then the sentiment is fair enough - i do have that dream!

 

[FridgeMagnet]

The problem with this is that it draws a comparison between the status of psychedelic users and cases where people were protesting against being socially and legally discriminated against because of who they were, hence needing "pride". Black people were denied civil rights because they were black. Psychedelic drugs are not banned because society discriminates against psychedelic users - they're not even a group outside of their desire to use psychedelics.

It comes across as if they think they are being personally discriminated against, which makes me just think "whiny self-obsessed twats" and also detracts from any message of legalising psychedelics (which I broadly agree with).

 

[Red Cat]

i dont see it that way at all - i dont find it provocative, and i definitely dont think they're trying to insult anyone - the civil right angle is just a slightly different tactic to get a law changed.

If they gave it the "I HAve a Dream" bit and really invoked MLKjr, that might be a little insensitive, but even then the sentiment is fair enough - i do have that dream!

I didn't say they were trying to insult anyone, I said mildly provocative, but they have consciously taken on language more usually associated with struggle against systemic oppression, and I think it's unlikely they're unaware of this and the gap between that and their own social position as individuals who use psychedelic drugs.

 

[Blagsta]

a civil right is a civil right - there may be a scale of importance that people attach to different freedoms, but they can all be classified as civil rights.

The choice to take drugs is the same as the right not to be murdered for your skin colour?

 

[Citizen66]

i dont see it that way at all - i dont find it provocative, and i definitely dont think they're trying to insult anyone - the civil right angle is just a slightly different tactic to get a law changed.

If they gave it the "I HAve a Dream" bit and really invoked MLKjr, that might be a little insensitive, but even then the sentiment is fair enough - i do have that dream!

"I have a dream" is surely more apt given the subject matter.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

The choice to take drugs is the same as the right not to be murdered for your skin colour?

'Pride' suggests more an equivalence with the display of sexuality. It's about 'coming out' as someone who is interested in or uses psychedelics. I can't see an issue with it at all in that context.

 

[goldenecitrone]

"I have a dream" is surely more apt given the subject matter.

'I have a hallucination' is better. Or 'I have a ten foot jiving squirrel'

 

[Red Cat]

'Pride' suggests more an equivalence with the display of sexuality. It's about 'coming out' as someone who is interested in or uses psychedelics. I can't see an issue with it at all in that context.

Well, it was you that raised it as an issue with your thread.

But, in what way are people who use psychedelics oppressed as a group?

And who do you want to come out to?

 

[BigTom]

Well, it was you that raised it as an issue with your thread.

But, in what way are people who use psychedelics oppressed as a group?

And who do you want to come out to?

People who use psychedelics can be jailed for that usage, that is oppression. I'm tending to agree with FM and Blagsta though, it's significantly different to homophobia/sexism/racism and similar.
I'd like to be more open about my previous/current drug use in general though, in the way that no-one feels the need to hide that they went down the pub and got pissed last night in general company.