I think the GP means "date rape drug" to mean CNS depressants that are extremely unlikely to be used recreationally.

Which don't exist. All date-rape drugs are used recreationally in smaller amounts.

Well, that's embarrassing. Thanks for educating me. I don't know how it didn't click that out of all the CNS depressants I know, only the one (Rohypnol) isn't found pleasant by people (within some dose range). Turns out I was wrong.

I remembered years ago reading, and recognizing as BS, some policeman's story about a bust of GHB dealers, implying there were no recreational uses, and that it must be intended for date-rape. Yet somehow I still believed some TV scare report in high school that having Rohypnol without a prescription could only mean it was intended for date-rape.

On a side note, I did know of recreational chloroform use. My dad is a retired anesthesiologist, and our family kind of adopted one of his closest work friends, a much older nurse anesthitist, as a surrogate third grandmother. In the old days, after a long surgical case, she would often drive home pleasantly buzzed from second-hand chloroform inhalation. In the old days, the nurse anesthetist would sit right over the patient with a stopwatch and an eye dropper full of chloroform, adding a few drops to gauze over the patient's mouth every time the patient's pulse got a bit fast.

Yep.

The only drugs I see not being used recreationally are antipsychotics and antidepressants, and even among those there are some exceptions.

And possibly scopolamine and other deliriants, but those are arguably the worst date-rape drugs ever despite the media hype.

Alcohol is legal, everywhere, and just works better.

> Any store that sells knives contributes to murders.

Many countries has laws that regulate the sale of certain kinds of knives that are created primarily for use in fights/combat.

> I would argue that alcohol is the biggest date rape drug by a large amount. Do you advocate banning alcohol?

Good point. There's still an order of magnitude or two between those options.

Also the alcohol is mostly consumed voluntarily unlike date rape drugs that are almost only consumed involuntarily.

The most common "date rape" drug (GHB) is consumed by many not for sexual violence, but for its depressive effects. I have observed several people who used it because of how it made them feel.

So again, saying drug dealers are selling drugs specifically to help rapists, is no more likely than the liquor store specifically selling to wife beaters and drunk drivers.

That's interesting, thanks!

Now a quick question for you: are you equally for second amendment rights?

The same logic applies here IMO.

FTR: I'm in favour of 2nd amendment rights (in the US at least) but not a hardliner, so I'm mentally processing now if this goes both ways and I should agree with you. I don't think so but I'm considering it.

I'm not sure the link between the legalization of drugs argument and 2nd amendment, but yes I support the right of people to own guns. I can abide by reasonable restrictions but free people should be allowed to own firearms.