Decriminalize

I agree the only way to stop the insanity is to decriminalize all drugs. Slap a tax on them, paste a warning on them, and, like alcohol, let people have at it with eyes wide open. And when, inevitably, some people become addicted and ruin their lives, use the taxes for the programs that will get them clean. There will always be demand, especially with each new generation, so making their drug of choice illegal will not make it go away, and the misery caused by the narcos goes on and on.

But just say, for one crazy minute, all agreed, including various governments. How would it work? How do you set up the newly legalized organizations, the production facilities, the distribution channels, the purchasing outlets? And how do the narcos get a piece of that action? If it all falls under the purview of government, what's the incentive for the narcos to hand it over?

I'd say it isn't all that complicated except for the politics, because there will always be folks seeking to profit from misery and corruption who will fight to protect their interests no matter how despicable they might appear to be.

They can be regulated and sold like alcohol, cigarettes and OTC drugs, except I believe there is a huge number of folks who would simply prefer to grow their own pot or mescaline or psilocybin, which should be perfectly fine. Just like you are allowed to make your own beer and wine and even share it with your family and friends. No fuss no muss.

If the experience of Portugal is any indicator, decriminalization has led to a decrease in the abuse of "drugs", as well as a decrease in other problems typically associated with the distribution and use of stupidly banned substances in the USA. Here in Mexico we are decades behind the USA in fighting the stigma and stereotypes associated with people who use stupidly banned substances. The problem as always is getting folks to understand that it is infinitely better for folks WHO MAY BE YOUR OWN CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN to be able to acquire recreational substances that are relatively safe and to acquire them in a safe environment than to have to deal with possibly dangerous black market dealers who have little to no control over the quality, purity of relative safety of the substances they sell. While I'm pretty sure none of us want our children or grandchildren to do things like cocaine, heroin, meth or ecstasy, the fact is some of them are going to want to experiment. This is natural. So wouldn't you prefer your kids or grandkids be able to do so in as safe an environment as possible?