Reply #35: I think we're capable of regulation to limit access

[RainDog]

we do this with cigarettes and alcohol and driving a car, with medicines...with all sorts of things in this society.

California Prison Focus: “no other society in human history has imprisoned so many of its own citizens.”

We put more people in prison than does China - per capita and in basic number. The U.S. has created a situation in which we hold 25% of the prison population of the planet, but only 5% of its population.

What does this say about our claim to be the land of the free?

Rather than approach health issues like addiction as a criminal act, we would spend less money, disrupt fewer families, create better options for those who have problems with addiction by treating addition as a health issue and putting money into treatment programs.

I don't want people to use heroin, ever. or meth. or who knows what other substance someone will come up with next. but I don't see that our current policies have worked to deal with the problems you mention. Our current system creates just as much damage - and, personally, I do have to wonder about all those shipments of drugs into the U.S. by our own govt. agencies that use this money to fund black ops, etc. This is documented. It's another way the war on drugs makes govt less accountable for its actions.