UN - Operation Mekong Dragon - Looking for meth, heroin, cocaine.... and pangolins? Red Sandalwood? Turtles, tortoises, and ivory???

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[–]noshore4me 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Because pangolins are endangered. The scales are procured by killing the animal. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin Meth is a dangerous drug and like most other dangerous substances has been legislated against to make it criminal in an attempt to prevent excess human death. Are you purposefully being ignorant as to why laws are enacted?

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I was trying to get you to think about the relationship between the pangolin and drugs. Consider why the pangolin scales are so coveted and valuable.... The linked page you gave says pangolin scales were used in Chinese "traditional medicine".

I found a UN report that says this about pangolin scales:

China reports regularly releasing these stockpiled scales for domestic use by designated hospitals and manufacturers of patented Chinese medicines.

The UN knows that pangolin scales are used in place of drugs created by pharmaceutical companies. Meth is also manufactured in drug houses and sold on the street, competing directly with pharmaceutical companies that also sell addictive drugs. Hence, the title is fitting: United Nations: Office on Drugs and Crime. Pangolin scales are used in place of drugs.

[–]noshore4me 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Just because it's used in weird concoctions, it doesn't mean it's a drug. Examples of other fucked up items in "traditional Chinese medicine" are rhino horns and tiger bones https://archive.ph/QIEGP Just because some old Chinaman tells you it's a medicine, it doesn't mean it is.

This is the same country that fins sharks for a tasteless item to put in soup as a status symbol. https://archive.ph/Nd7EL

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

You say "it doesn't mean it's a drug" even though pangolin scales are a very coveted and expensive item. What are these people paying for and why would they be willing to take risks to have it? Maybe they know something you are unwilling to admit, that it is used as a drug.

[–]noshore4me 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Or they're from a superstitious culture who believes keratin (the same thing that makes up your toenails) has magical medicinal powers. Diamonds are also very coveted and expensive items that is smuggled, does that make them a drug?

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have never used pangolin scales and I have never tried meth, and do not intend to do so. I have no personal experience how either act like a drug, but the people who have seem convinced that it is a drug. I will not talk to you about this any more. You are free to argue with those that have personal experience with these substances and you can try to convince them that they are wrong.