Quote:What I'm saying is that even with an increased focus on lowering availability, addiction rates have remained flat. Yes, numbers are bound to be off because of a lack of reporting, but wouldn't addicts be more likely to seek help with legalization? Wouldn't that be a good thing?

 

I understand that there's a monetary value on addicts. I'm not advocating for taking away the rehabilitation portion of the current "drug war" budget. I'm saying that the enforcement portion can be taken away and a portion of the tax revenue can also go to rehabilitation. Not only that, but with regulation batch strengths remain more constant and that's where the majority of overdoses originate.

 

At the core of this argument, I believe people have the right to make decisions about their bodies. You want to abuse drugs and develop a dependency? You pre paid for your rehab with each purchase.

Why would addicts be more inclined to seek help if legalized? If you are having to plan way ahead for the increase of rehab numbers, that should tell you it is a poor choice.

 

I understand where you are coming from on freedom of choice, but that choice goes beyond having an impact on that one person. The potential for societal issues and increased health issues cannot be balanced by a tax or mass release of drug offense prisoners.  Go to the nearest drug community and that is what you will see 1000 fold. Police will start to avoid it, businesses will leave, people stop working, poverty sets in, etc. The hard stuff is not an apples to apples comparison with alcohol or recreational marijuana. There is no benefit to making all drugs legal.

 

Maybe you are thinking more in line with decriminalization, not legalization? 

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