Reply #202: k/r

[mdmc]

what many people don't understand is that legalizing all drugs would not change that much - we would still have a drug war.

So, for instance, lets say we legalize heroin. It would be regulated. Heroin use is very dangerous and there would be all sorts of conditions such as enrolling in a clinic, attending meetings with a certified alcohol and chemical abuse counselor, and limits to how much can be used in a given time period.

Anyone addicted to heroin would need to enroll in order to get that "easy" legal fix. But they would need so much more. And their condition (user of heroin) would be known to the legal and treatment communities. So while heroin would be "legal", the legal use of heroin would in no way meet the needs of an addict. And the addicts condition would not be a secret. So they would have to be real careful in order to avoid police contact and mandated treatment.

The drug war will always be with us. I support legalizing and regulating the drug economy. It is the best way to avoid violence and addiction. It is a way forward in a losing war.