[BrianR]

I will now admit to having changed my mind on this topic.

Years ago, I was 100% in favor of banning marijuana. Now, after extensive research (no product testing though), I have officially changed my mind.

I cannot support the squandering of increasingly scarce resources on this largely victimless crime. Yes, I know many addicts steal to support their habits and that this is unlikely to change if we just legalized drugs. The prices probably won't go down with government control. That hasn't happened with alcohol or tobacco and it won't happen with drugs either. Even pot. Sin taxes are just too easy a target and few truly complain other than those directly affected.

Product quality is likely to go up, resulting in far fewer deaths from the "cutting" of drugs with impurities ranging from benign to poisonous to outright deadly. Further, lives might be saved by providing an accurate dosage versus the estimating that currently goes on, resulting in far too many emergency room admissions from overdosing.

I am now going to conditionally support legalizing drugs. The only condition is that users and addicts be held to behavioral standards like everyone else. If they rob, steal or kill in furtherance of their habits, they get tossed in the slammer. If they get caught driving under the influence, they are treated just like any other DUI.

Funds currently wasted on interdiction should be diverted to education (drugs are still bad, mmmmkay?) and treatment programs for addicts who want to get clean.

Fair enough?