[Question_Assumptions]

Something to consider: Marijuana use in the Netherlands, where it's legal, is much lower per capita than marijuana use here.

I'm skeptical of cross-cultural comparisons like this. People use the same sort of argument to claim that since Japan has nearly absolute gun control and a very low muder rate, for example, that we should ban guns. Having lived in Japan, I've seen what an apples and oranges comparison that really is.

By the way, I've repeatedly said that I think a good case can be made to legalize marijuana in a regulated way but that tying marijuana legalization to a philisophical argument to legalize all drugs isn't the way to do it.

[ellery]

I agree with you -- I don't assert that the same would necessarily hold true here. My point is that the prevalence of drug use/abuse is not solely dependent on whether or not it's legal.

I think we agree on the solution -- I believe, first, that states are the rightful decision-makers on these issues; second, that marijuana in my state should be legal/regulated; third, that hard drugs should be decriminalized but not legalized; and fourth, that the government should increase its effort on anti-drug-abuse education and treatment.