... in my opinion comes down on the side of legalization, regulation and treatment. Drug use is GOING to happen; that isn't the real issue.

Did prohibition stop everyone from drinking alcohol?

We could do this a whole lot cheaper and eliminate all of the associated crime (theft, robbery, burglary and murder), without having to build enough prisons to house nearly 1% of the population.

It's not an easy issue, but only because of the moral implications. Simple cost-benefit analysis leaves no doubt which is the better approach.

----- jim o\-S