I’m easy(and to a point, libertarian)...legalize it...but remember...there is a significant percentage of the population that will have psychotic episodes from their herb use....
I guess the response to that is that while everyone wants to legalize drugs in the Libertarian mindset, none want to think of the consequences.
I would be all right with that line of reasoning if the consequences were considered. For example, legalize pot but the person cannot receive any public assistance ever again. No freebies.
Same for other drugs. Plus, the police have a free hand when dealing with the person who becomes violent. Crazed PCP person on a rampage? Why should the cops fight them?
Everybody wants the rights, no one, and I mean no one, wants the responsibilities.
It is the major reason why Libertarian positions on drugs is nonsensical.
But would there be a significant percentage increase if pot were legalized? I've yet to see any evidence that fedgov drug policies have reduced drug use. According to the DOJ's own figures, the rate of addiction to opiates and cocaine was higher in 2000¹ than in 1900² when these drugs were legal.
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¹http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1454298/posts?page=88#88.
Crunching the fedgov numbers, it works out to an addiction rate of ~1.5%.
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²"By 1900, about one American in 200 was either a cocaine or opium addict."
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/demand/speakout/06so.htm
For those in Rio Linda, 1 in 200 = 0.5%.
You are right that a significant percentage of people risk psychotic episodes when using – and that’s why I oppose it. The least supporters could do is admit that. Oxford University studies have.