Surprise!

This may be a surprise to hear coming from puritanical, dry county Byron, but I think we should legalize drug use.  (insert gasps, shock, and shouts of outrage here).

Legalize drugs and sell them for practically nothing and guess what.  Mexico/South America's problem with the drug wars is gone.  Prisons won't be near as full.  The Taliban won't be able to fund their jihad anymore without  selling poppy's to make hashish.   A new industry based on hemp will be born again.  (That's a real useful material, not counting as a drug).  We can get a new tax.

The Netherlands have open drug laws and guess what.  The use of drugs by citizens Decreased. (see graph below)   Its a lot like drinking.  Underage kids drink a lot because its seen as adult, rebellious and cool.  After they can legally drink, they usually settle down after a few years.

I know this sounds really weird coming from me, but it could solve a lot of the wars and gang violence by removing the profit from the business.  Sell it for practically nothing and tax it a little bit, and the gangs won't make any money off of it, and gang violence will fall, just like it did in the prohibition.   What do you think Kellee?

PS I do not advocate drugs or alcohol. I know it is not a victimless crime, it hurts families and loved ones of the users.  However, people still get the drugs and still do it anyway.  Make it like alcohol and punish public intoxication rather than possession.  That said, I hate drugs and alcohol and what they do to people.