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%.
Reduction in drug use will not occur UNTIL there are really stiff penalties for users, and drug growing, manufacturing and selling is a capital crime in this country.
Right now there are no penalties except rehab and a short jail sentence for users.