Reply #11: I think you're mis-interpreting the "war" analogy

[anarch]

We should not abandon the concept of "pre-emptive war" because it isn't effective, or because our administration is incompetent, but because it is prima facie unjust. So is the arbitrary declaration that certain naturally occurring substances should be banned, and the not-quite-so-arbitrary incarceration of certain groups in staggering numbers based on these unjust restrictions.

As for your other points: okay, I see what you are saying as far as drug addiction being a serious problem, but what we need is a strategy to deal with the real issues...the problem is that the way things are set up now, there is no "war on drugs", which would need a medical strategy, but a war on drug users. Imagine if even a tenth of the money spent on drug law enforcement was re-allocated to treatment programs.

I think there are some good aspects to regulation...things that are actually effective in protecting consumers and the environment, and so on. My whole point in mentioning regulation is to point out that there could be consumer protections without this draconian "smoke a joint, go to jail" attitude. Also, I think dishonest drug dealers should be punished...most harshly. Whether anything that people ingest/smoke/insufflate/inject or whatever is fit for human consumption is, I think, a matter of opinion. For instance, I think milk is disgusting and not fit to drink, but I wouldn't send anyone to jail for drinking it.

And I absolutely agree that meth is a horrible thing, and I've seen the damage firsthand too. But I've also seen people locked up for it who absolutely did not deserve it, and the damage done to them and their families by the stupid drug laws was much worse than anything the meth ever did to them. I suppose you could argue that locking them up got them off the meth...for a while anyway...but the price of this small and very temporary victory over addiction is way too high, if you ask me.

And I still maintain that prohibition laws are an entirely different animal than laws that are legitimately there to protect people, like laws against violent crimes.

Anyway, that's all I'm going to say on the subject, ever again. Good day to you.