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Originally Posted by Alex Stroup
I agree it is wrong to give it away for free. The government should at least grow their own poppy and process it themselves and then sell it at non-profit prices.
The real benefit isn't even the reduction in transmittable disease but the elimination of the black market and ancillary criminal activity that goes along with it. Of course, 431 participants in all of Canada won't change much. They should just legalize it and create a healthy functioning above-board market for it. And all the other illegal recreational drugs too.
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Here, here. The vast majority of problems associated with drugs are problems resulting from the fact that they are illegal. Murders, theft, destitution, addicts not receiving treatment, exhorbitant law enforcement costs, organized crime. All would be drastically reduced, some of it eliminated, simply by legalizing it. If it's sold through legal channels, people won't be killed for owing their brother's roomate's buddy's connection $1,400. If it's legal, the government would be collecting tax on its import and sale rather then spending billions to fight a losing battle. If it's legal, people won't be too afraid of being arrested or losing their job to seek professional help if they need it. If it's legal, proper research can be done to determine drugs' effects and find effective treatments for problems. If it's legal, the market will set reasonable prices rather than crime syndicates extorting as much as they can so people will have less need to knock over the local liquor store for the next fix.
If it's illegal, people still get their drugs, it just requires theft and murder to do it.