Words simply fail me-

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Users use whether it is legal or not, and I doubt any significant increase in users will be evident if legalized. Therefore, supply and demand doesn't work as you are thinking it will.

I would have to completely disagree with you. In my experience, there are plenty of people that do not do drugs very often simply because it is harder to get than booze. I used to be heavily involved in that kind of thing. With heroin you're talking about hardcore addiction - yes, they'll get it anyway they can. But with more recreational, less addictive drugs, you'll get people who simply use when it's around. I feel the same way about alcohol - if it were completely unavailable tomorrow, I wouldn't go to the black market to get it, but as it is, I'll pick up a six pack at the supermarket.

[Sheila]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I would have to completely disagree with you. In my experience, there are plenty of people that do not do drugs very often simply because it is harder to get than booze. I used to be heavily involved in that kind of thing. With heroin you're talking about hardcore addiction - yes, they'll get it anyway they can. But with more recreational, less addictive drugs, you'll get people who simply use when it's around. I feel the same way about alcohol - if it were completely unavailable tomorrow, I wouldn't go to the black market to get it, but as it is, I'll pick up a six pack at the supermarket.

Although I probably would react the same way as you, CP (although my last experience with illegal substances was when I was 20), I think this argument is not true for many people.

If you look at the countries where heroin and other drugs have been legalized, those countries have a huge problem with the vast numbers of people who become addicted and are no longer contributing members of society. Just the stories coming out of the Netherlands are scary.

So although in principle I agree with legalizing drugs, I'm not sure that it's the right thing to do either.