Legalizing drugs would create problems, but it would solve a bunch of others. For one thing, most of the drug-related deaths I went to as an EMT involved stuff like unknown grade heroin (either too strong or cut with stuff like flour.) I know one thing. What we're doing isn't working.
“I know one thing. What we’re doing isn’t working.”
You summed it up perfectly with those two sentences! I know not the definitive, correct answer; however, our current path has no light at the end of the tunnel or even worse, I am not sure we have even found the dang tunnel!
I have seen ills and deaths caused by alcoholism and drug addictions. They are very limited in their differences, so I see nothing wrong with legalizing and taxing these items.
For those that complain about the immorality of legalizing and taxing this, then you must also be upset with credit cards, shopping malls, shoe manufacturers and any number of other vices that so many people seem to now be “addicted.” If not, then you are a hypocrite! There are people addicted to shopping and addicted to credit cards and addicted to shoes - so should we criminalize all of these items so as not to take advantage of someone that cannot control their own urges?