[simon says what]

The problem I’ve had with all of it is the enormous cost to us for the so-called “war on drugs.”

I agree with everything you said, and I'd also add to the cost of the "war on drugs", the violence. I believe you would see a 50% or greater drop in gun violence within five years of complete legalization. The gang warfare we see in large cities is no different than the gang warfare we saw during prohibition.

That being said, I believe marijuana to be a different animal from the other drugs. Overdoses, addiction, and violence make legalizing harder drugs an honest question in the equation of societal good. Do we trade a reduction in gang violence for an increase in the above mentioned. Marijuana generally is not associated with these issues.

[antidisestablishment]

“I believe you would see a 50% or greater drop in gun violence within five years of complete legalization.”

I’ll take that bet! Say $50,000? Double or nothing @ 10 years?