It is talked about as if just legalizing drugs in general, will make those drug gangsters just "go away."
What happened to the huge criminal gangs that grew up under prohibition? I thought most of those actually did just "go away"... some, I presume, turned to other criminal activity, but that's hardly an argument one way or another (we can't legalise X or the criminals will turn to Y??).
What these people never discuss is what homemade drugs, like LSD, and "Meth" do to a person, what crimes are committed under these influences, how readily nearly everyone can make the stuff
And again, as the equivalent, what about the huge cottage industry of moonshine - illegally distilled alcohol, often cut with meths and with no real regard for purity? That went away once legal commercial product - weaker, but cheaper, easier and safer - was available.
Meanwhile, once the criminal surroundings are taken away, there will be less concept of 'gateway' drugs to begin with: as with the end of prohibition, I expect the criminal element itself to greatly shrink [possibly violently] as it won't provide a living.
Then without the threat and stigma of being a criminal to begin with, those with drug problems may be more inclined and able to seek help and less driven into crime themselves. Although I would not be inclined to treat leniently anyone committing crimes because of their consumption of (now-legal) drugs, in fact the reverse... with the freedom to take them comes the responsibility not to harm others. |
