Legalizing ("decriminalizing", "marionbarryizing," whatever you want to call it) only soft drugs will have no impact whatsoever on demand for hard drugs precisely because of the addictive nature of hard drugs. The cartels, crews, cookers and pushers will still do a humming business keeping the armies of hardcases supplied. Those people aren't going away, and most of them won't be tempted to buy kiddie stuff down at the government store. Turf will still be fought over, kids will still get whacked and single moms will still end up dead in alleys.
Legalization is a pipedream. Unless you legalize ALL drugs, that is. Supposedly no one wants that.
No, not all liquor is legal. I can’t buy 200 proof moonshine from Friendly Johnny from the back of his pickup truck in front of the county sheriff. :)
But you can buy a wide variety, from regulated producers who are responsible for the quality of their product, ie not blinding or killing the customers. When you buy it, you have to keep it sealed until you are able to consume it in the privacy of your abode.
I think the same thing can be done about drugs. Allow licensed producers to make products that are mildly intoxicating and allow these products to be sold at the licensed dealers, to which you have to take it home to consume. For most people, they will be happy about this. It will also cut some of the proceeds out of the cartel’s pockets.
I’m not looking at being able to stop all illegal drugs, that is not possible as we know from the War on Drugs. There will always be a market for crack, or crank, or meth or heroin or amphetimines. A small number of people will always seek out the ultimate high and they will also always be problematic.
However, most people are willing to settle for more moderate highs and controllable addictions and are willing to moderate their behaviours in acceptable ways in exchange for being able to legally buy this crap without worrying about spending the rest of their lives in prison for wanting to get mildly high.