I read this opinion piece this morning and disagreed with it entirely. While I fully support the legalization of marijuana, I think legalizing drugs of this nature---heroin or even cocaine---is not the same, and does not offer a solution, because the nature of the drug is different, as is the nature of the user. I have a hard time believing someone who'd resort to violent crime in order to maintain his or her drug-centric lifestyle would suddenly reform himself or herself if their drug of choice were legalized. In fact, I'd wager that the criminal element involved with this lifestyle is as attractive and addictive as the drug itself. Legalize heroin and "Eddie" becomes a legitimate contributor to society? Those are long odds, at best.
Is there a culture around smoking cigarettes? No, they are cheap and plentiful. The violence comes from protecting turf. How many rum runners do you see around today? Damn few. Except for a few moonshine stills out in the sticks, most people are very content to get their booze from the store down the street (its cheaper and safer thanks to gov. regulations). The same store I buy my rum from also sells Everclear (100% alcohol by vol.).
Now, our boy Eddie may never be a contributor to society, but he will be much less a burden and much less of a threat to the kids on the streets.
I have to deal with a lot of gang stuff at my very rural high school here in SC. If pot and cocaine where legalized the Bloods, Crips, FolkNation, MS13, etc would dry up for lack of funds and a lack of a need to protect turf. The people of south central LA would be much safer and the inner cities might see a renewal as the crime gangs melt away.