Another point that Bruce pointed out was that simply, the demand for those other drugs just isnt there. 15-20 million americans smoke weed every month, thats magnitudes more than the amount of users for all other drugs combined. Additionally I contend that the gangs are ALREADY involved in all those other things, at least by legalizing we remove 60% of the profit and make it that much harder for them to operate.
Yes drugs are dangerous, but so is drano, and i believe any 10 year old can go buy some, so these idiots can argue all they want about how its for the kids, but as we know dealers dont card, so its not about the kids...
That is true.
Prohibition of a widely used substance is a complete waste of time. The other drugs (heroin, cocaine. etc.) are in much less common use, so the police could spend their time going after only the hard drugs, if cannabis was legal.
But prohition does allow the gangs to profit, for any substance that is prohibited.
However, vis a vis hard drugs, in my view one way to cut-off the gangs at the knees is to view the drugs problem as a health issue rather than as a criminal one.
In my ideal scenario, drug addicts, whether heroin addicts or coke addicts or whatever, would come into a centralized offices (or mobile medical vans) and have a doctor certify that they are indeed addicted to those substances. Then, once registered, they could come in for their daily fix(es) under medical supervision.
I know that folks say that this would cost a lot of money, but the current system costs way more money. Right now, junkies have to steal, mug, rob banks, prostitute themselves, and so on to get their drugs. When a junkie breaks into your car to steal $0.20, you might have $200-$300 dollars damage to your car, and this is likely at, or under, your insurance deductible amount, so you are out a few hundred dollars. Similarly, when you are mugged, and so on. Also, since the government would be supplying the drugs (and buying them at pharmaceutical grade, in bulk), the gangs could not sell their drugs, since the prices would plummet. Furthermore, if no one is enticing younger people to use these drugs, (i.e. free sample of smack or crack from the gangs), we might be able to get a steep tapering off of the numbers of hard drug addicts.
I know that this is an "ideal-world" scenario, but anyone with experience in analysing/reviewing drugs overdose deaths KNOWS that the current methods of criminalising the users and cracking down harder on the gangs, simply increases the gang's profit margins and hurts the addicts. (and society, as the gang violence kills people, the addicts spread disease by needle/pipe sharing and prostitution, the public spends so much money policing the problem, and so on.)
Having a pure, clean, measured dose, taken under medical supervision, in a clincal environment, would also reduce the number of overdose deaths, as the users could be monitored, and dosages are measured and controlled. Some folks say the the addicted would not use such a place, BUT, most addicts would take the path of least resistance, so a free good supply would be AOK with them.
The one exception to this group might be those addicts who are also mentally ill, as their paranoia, might make them reticent to use clinical services. But we might be able to accomodate these folks, by also giving them some mental health care, and perhaps, anti-psychotic medicines.
My idea would require that many other facets be worked out. In any form, it would meet with tremendous opposition, but I do think we need to try new methods to try to solve the problem.
I have gone way off topic.
Later.
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