The answer is so simple

     I have been around for a good while now, and have seen the good, as good as it gets, and I have peered down the other side too. I hope that this writing will strike a chord with some. 

     If you want to get rid of the drug cartels and you want to keep drugs out of your childrens hands; some will still fall through but, take the crime out of the drug problem. Legalize drugs. Plain and simple, if you can buy it from a reputable outlet why in the world would you still buy it on the street. And yes there is a criminal element in the drug trade. Duh, its illegal. If it weren't the criminals would have no need for it. Remember back to the 1930's, alcohol was illegal, thus making some people very rich. Now I'm not saying drugs are not a problem; however I am saying its not a legal problem. The problem is a social problem and does not need legality or lack there of as an additional problem. Now, if you take the money being pumped in to fight this losing battle keeping prohibition as the answer and turn it toward a proven remedy (sobriety) I think you will get further in your battle against drugs. As was mentioned before, prohibition creates a business and our government has had dealings of this sort before (days of prohibition). So it does seem unlikely that our government would make the same mistake twice. Yet, drugs become a legal problem rather than a social problem. Are you seeing the same circle I am? Just my take on solving a problem. 

Neo 

for those interested in a real solution

About LEAP -- The Summary

Founded on March 16, 2002, LEAP is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug policies. Those policies have failed, and continue to fail, to effectively address the problems of drug abuse, especially the problems of juvenile drug use, the problems of addiction, and the problems of crime caused by the existence of a criminal black market in drugs.

Although those who speak publicly for LEAP are people from the law enforcement and criminal justice communities, a large number of our supporting members do not have such experience. You don't have to have law enforcement experience to join us.

By continuing to fight the so-called "War on Drugs", the US government has worsened these problems of society instead of alleviating them. A system of regulation and control of these substances (by the government, replacing the current system of control by the black market) would be a less harmful, less costly, more ethical and more effective public policy.


the article goes on, please see the link for details and more information. I was listening to a member of LEAP on a conservative radio program and it just makes sense to me, rather than leave the control of controlled substances in the hands of criminals, a change in policy in the "war on drugs" could easily put the control in the hands of law abiding citizens.