While it may sound cold and heartless, things like meth would be self correcting as those people don't last long. I would rather see the very effective advertizing campaign against meth stepped up. I don't know if you have seen the billboards or heard the radio adds but that is far more preferable than the jack booted thug approach that impacts all of us by stripping us of our Constitutional rights. I would guess that it is more effective too. I believe that there would actually be less meth heads around because once the obscene profit is removed, the drug pusher would be too. He could make more money at McDonald's. This source of targeted corruption of our youth would largely go away. Look at the "glamorous" lifestyle that rap videos promote with gangsters rolling in money. It would be a different story when the gangsters are driving second hand Yugos. Not quite as attractive to foolish urban youth.
The war on drugs is a charade. It was never fought to be won. There is too much money to be made. As you astutely observed, the natural place to start is at our borders. Interesting and very telling that in our war on drugs border control has been assiduously avoided. You also noted that to win the war we must FIGHT. Our borders have only been opened up more. Put up a wall and use troops? That's just crazy talk when we have a "virtual fence" /s Well, what if the point is not to win? There is far too much money to be made by not winning and keeping the war funded. Too much power and control to lose. What do you want a free society or something? The border issue is the root of many problems and perhaps, just perhaps it might be better controlled without lots of money changing hands to look the other way.
A far better way to do it is through education. Smart education. Having a stupid, fat "D.A.R.E. officer show up at schools all dressed up like some sort of fat ninja soldier in his custom painted, taxpayer funded Daremobile is counterproductive. The kids just laugh behind his large backside. If anything that has a negative effect. This becomes the face of the war on drugs and it loses all credibility. Shooting the neighbors dogs doesn't help much either when they are busting down the wrong door at 3:00 in the morning.
The Mexican drug cartels are a billion dollar industry. The Mexican government is powerless to stop them. Do you think the US government can control them? Do you think the US could enforce price controls on drugs? Why would they? This is still a free market economy and if legal, idiots will still pay a hundred bucks for a hit. AND the government will happily add an exorbitant sales tax (like cigarettes) on top of that. We already know there will be no one else to provide dangerous drugs if legalized. Do you think Big Pharma will suddenly start mass producing meth and cocaine? No, as we know, if legalized, The Cartels will incorporate into legitimate industries and the US will happily begin collecting taxes. Legal or illegal - the cartels win.
Well, what if the point is not to win? There is far too much money to be made by not winning and keeping the war funded. Too much power and control to lose. What do you want a free society or something? The border issue is the root of many problems and perhaps, just perhaps it might be better controlled without lots of money changing hands to look the other way.
I get it. You maintain the gubmint benefits from the WOD. Its all about power and control. Yet we know (from ending Prohibition) that legalization will ONLY INCREASE the power and control of government in our personal lives. How many thousands of laws are there now on the books regulating the sale of alcohol? When it can be sold? To whom it can be sold? What taxes (very important) can be assesssed? What fines and punishments are placed on violators? And on and on we go. Legalizing drugs is a liberal wet dream. That means they get to GROW the size of government and INCREASE the tax (and spending) revenue.
If you think the gubmint benefits (and they do) now, just wait till its legal. I call your attention to today's news from Seattle where extra police on duty to CONTROL the new marijuana laws.