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"I stated that I am willing to concede that a role for some type of regulation of some drugs."

Like changing the name of the Drug Enforcement Agency to the Drug Regulatory Agency is going to reduce the "devastation" to society? Please.

Legalize drugs then tell me if that kilo of pure heroin on the kitchen table is legal or illegal. If you think there's rights violations today, wait until drugs are legal and your regulatory agency is forced to distinguish between the two.

"But the absolute criminalization of marijuana, heroin and cocaine is much more devastating to society, and to individuals, than allowing people access to them."

Devastating to society? How?

I concede it's devastating to the trafficker and the dealer and the user -- but they made that choice. If a drug dealer is growing plants in the basement and he forfeits his house, I don't lose any sleep over it.

Yes, occassionally the innocent get caught up in the War on Drugs. But to say that's more devastating to society than the increased drug use resulting from legalization is ludicrous.

"You cannot seriously tell me that the War on Drugs has proven to be good social policy."

I believe regulating drugs is good social policy, where some drugs are legal, some are legal and only available by presecription, and some are illegal. I believe that a social policy of "if this recreational drug is legal then all recreatiuonal drugs must be legal" is insanity.

Yes, occassionally the innocent get caught up in the War on Drugs. But to say that's more devastating to society than the increased drug use resulting from legalization is ludicrous.

Drug usage in the Netherlands is half of what it is in Singapore, so you are absolutely wrong.

In Europe, children are given alcohol when young and are honestly told about it, and they do not have the alcohol problems we have.

In the US, we put up morons like John Walters who lie about the effects of drugs. Once the kids discover they have been lied to, they move on to other drugs, figuring they have been lied to about those as well.

John Walters and the ONDCP is America's gateway drug. Of course they know that, and do it because it keeps them gainfully employed. The Feds have a major interest in keeping drug use high: it enables them to expand militarization of the police in hopes of an eventual military coup.