[umgud]

I read the whole article and while this fella makes a lot of good points, his prescription to solve the probem is pure bunk and won’t work.

[USAF80]

I think it will work. Look what happened with alcohol. It's legal but you still can't go to work drunk.

People will take drugs whether its legal or not.

[Mister Da]

You're right! Bureaucrats & their enablers cannot resist wielding control over people.

“If you want to be a legal drug user, then you register.”

Uh, we already have millions of legal drug users - people who drink alcohol. Shouldn't they register as well? Alcohol DOES destroy more lives than all other drug abuse combined. Alcohol IS a drug & it is used specifically to get high.

(Waiting for the circular argument that alcohol is legal but illicit drugs are not.)

Let's tattoo a “D” on drug users - their hand would be appropriate, & an “A” on alcohol users. Perhaps a “P” for prescription drug abusers, & a huge “G” for gluttons.

Registration as a drug user would publicly, legally doom a person to mediocrity, at best, whether the person is capable or not.

Now, before you scream back that drug use dooms a person to mediocrity, registration or not, YOU'RE WRONG. Responsible drug use is no more debilitating that having a drink after work or taking a pain pill for a sore back. Contrary to your misconceptions, many successful people use illicit drugs. I have known doctors, lawyers, accountants, politicians, & computer whiz’s who use illicit drugs - years ago, of course.

OTOH, ABUSE of anything will be harmful to anyone. One or 2 drinks aren't bad - they may be good for you, but a fifth a night & you are doomed. Same for illicit drugs & cheese burgers. It is drug ABUSE that is the problem, not drug use.

Given that no other way of dealing with drug abuse has been tried in the US other than policing, & therefore, nobody has a viable solution to the problem, I suggest that the Feds get COMPLETELY out of the illicit drug policing business, & let the states try innovative ideas to solve the abuse problem, & leave responsible recreational drug users ALONE.

Finally, as a matter of principle & freedom, should the gov’t have the right to tell you what you may & may not consume?

[Clump]

There are no solutions to the problems in this country without a spiritual revival.
I am a former prosecutor and presently a defense attorney and I can say without a doubt that this “war” is a joke. There is no ability or intention to win it.
Government is not the solution.
The result of this “war” has been to complete the infrastructure needed for a full blown militarized domestic law enforcement dominated police state.
Now we have one.
Plus the two markets created by prohibition are now thriving.
The government market and the black market.
The rest of us get left holding the bag.