'Hypocrisy' of legalizing pot undermines America's war on hard-core drugs, general says

The simple truth is that prohibition has never accomplished its intended purpose. Indeed, it has produced far more negative effects than positive ones. Sadly, stricter laws and stricter enforcement only exacerbate the problem. As more timid suppliers abandon the illicit trade, the price goes up and more rapacious criminals are attracted to it. Users commit more crimes to afford the more costly drugs. Law enforcement is corrupted. Courts and detention centers are overcrowded. The cost to taxpayers escalates precipitously.

I am not a drug user. Never have been. Never will be. Have no interest whatsoever. However, I have a great interest in dealing with drug abuse rationally, to treat it as a disability rather than a crime. To find better ways of educating and otherwise discouraging youth who are now attracted to try the "forbidden fruit". To treat drug addicts rather than punish them.

Legalizing drugs would also make supplies cheaper and the quality would be better controlled. As with eliminating the prohibition on alcohol, organized crime would have to look elsewhere for criminal enterprises. Unlike the prohibition on alcohol, the prohibition on drugs has attracted a large cadre of youth gangs and financed them. They now have arsenals similar to military units. Cutting off their profits would help address this problem.

Sadly, there will always be people who use and abuse drugs whether they are legal or not. At least by legalizing them we would greatly reduce the cost to society thus leaving more money available for treatment.

I expect that many will disagree with me. Some will be afraid to take the risk of seeing what would happen if we removed the prohibition. Others will object because it is sinful to abuse the temples of our bodies. I'd love to hear other reasons.

However, there is one caveat. I would also advocate that those who commit crimes or cause harm to others or damage property, not be excused or have their punishments mitigated under the concept of impaired capacity as has been the case with alcohol. I would prefer that all such cases, whether involving drugs or alcohol, be punished more stridently. Inasmuch as use of these substances is voluntary and we know that our capacity to make good judgments is impaired while under the influence, I would advocate that crimes committed as the result of substance abuse be punished as though the person acted with willful intent or even malice aforethought, and thus receive maximum punishments. This would have the beneficial effect of making their access to controlled substances difficult for a longer period of time.

Well, at least, that's my opinion...