Concerning the onging debate about drugs here, I'd like to offer some insight from an expert on this issue; not another knee-jerk reactionary. Cannabis (marijuana) should be decriminalized, not legalized. In other words, the government would not condone it or regulate it, corporations would not profit from it and no taxes would be collected from it. Just strike down all crimnal penalties for possesion and small-scale growing. Americans from all walks of life use cannabis - including lawyers, doctors, nurses, police officers, businessmen, politicians etc. etc. The occasional use of cannabis is of no more consequence to the user than drinking a bottle of wine once in a while - except for the legal consequences if one gets caught with it by the law. The legal consequences are expensive to society and expensive and potentially ruinous to one's livliehood. Medical marijuana is a necessity. Do some serious research on the subject.

As for the notion of legalizing hard drugs, I'll allude to two drug addicts I have known. One opiate addict went for a dose of methadone in the morning and began looking to score more drugs around noon. The methadone saved him a little money and hassle but left him stuck in his addiction indefinitely, living on the dole indefinitely.The second addict had a good job and a great deal of material possesions but lost it all due to heroin addiction. He entered rehab and returned to heroin a few times but did rehab again and kicked his habit for good. Now, he's a productive citizen again, working to regain the life he threw away at one time.

So,legalize hard drugs or build up a better rehab system; which brings better results?