Mike, you wrote:

"I bet that stops a LOT of people! Bob, you know if someone is going to break the law having the illegal drugs in the first place they sure too worried about driving under the influence. It's just another law they don't agree with so they break it."

The affects on the behavior of a person taking most illicit drugs isn't the same as alcohol. They don't, as a rule, become emboldened and want to hit the road. Most psychoactive drugs make the user paranoid. The last place a person on acid wants to be is in a 7-11 or supermarket. They want to be home.

"It is the responsibility of the parents to keep kids off drugs. First, not all parents are responsible, next making drugs available doesn't help the parents in their efforts. Ever have an adult by beer for you when you were a kid?"

To answer your last question first, no. I didn't catch my first alcohol buzz until I was of legal drinking age.

As to responsible parents, legal or illegal activities perpetuated by their children is still their responsibility. ...to an extent.

Trying to make me and you take their role of responsibility upon our shoulders at an ever increasing rate is what is and has been happening over the last couple decades. The result of that is prisons full of nonviolent criminals, and a bunch of dead young people.

"I agree the "War on Drugs" does not seem to me to be really affective but I am not ready to surrender and give them to everyone who whats them as Jim had suggested."

Give them? I don't think so. Make them available, yes.

"I don't want MORE, I want LESS. Look at alcohol related crimes (where sober the person might not have done it) and add MORE drug related crimes."

That's where we're running into an apples and oranges discussion. Sobriety wouldn't necessarily prevent any crime. If it would, caffeine would be illegal. So would some CNS stimulating herbs. Personal responsibility is what I'm talking about.

"Bob, would you like a toxic waste dump next door? Neither would I, I look at widespread drug use as toxic waste on our society."

Making it illegal funds people who murder for a living outside of this country. It makes the products worth enough here to have turf wars in LA proper that will most likely top 1000 people killed in 2002.

The carnage in foreign countries aside, the draconian laws in some jurisdictions in the US concerning drug related offenses border on insane. I have a friend serving his 11th year of a mandatory third offense 25-year sentence for trying to pass a fake prescription. There will be a number of convicted murderers released from prison that serve shorter sentences before he gets out...

"Bob, would you like a toxic waste dump next door? Neither would I, I look at widespread drug use as toxic waste on our society."

Mike, I see too many people who look at and label people who use(d) drugs as toxic waste in or on our society. It's in this thread, promoting jailing first offense users. ...no matter the offense or age, jail time with Bubba is a solution? I don't think so.

Bob Happy Thanksgiving! I took a half day off!