this puts every street level dealer and supplier out of business as major drug companies/tobacco companies use economy of scale to simply undercut them.
I disagree, the economy of scale is already owned by the drug cartel kingpins. Legalization simply legitimizes the illegal drug industry; much like Joseph Kennedy's rum-runners suddenly became legitimate alcohol product "distributers" following the 21st Amendment radification.
Cheers,
OLA
And we all know how many drive-by shootings, kidnappings and bombings companies like Jim Beam, Smirnoff or Jack Daniels have perpetrated since... It's absolutely frightening! (sarc/off...)
I see your point and to an extent I agree, but as I said the only people this plan puts out of business are the street level dealers and suppliers, in essence the ones commiting the most violence and who have the most to lose. It doesn't touch the big cartels except to make them legitimate suppliers, and thusly by being legimitate, reducing the violence they need to exert to keep their markets.
People have been addicted to substances since time began, we're not going to get rid of that problem, prohibition clearly isn't working. What we need to get a handle on is the violence aspect of the drug trade that is tearing the US and indeed the world apart.