I’d say keep it criminal but change sentencing for users (not dealers) with a strong treatment-instead-of-jail option. Addiction is unique in that it’s both a disease and a crime (at least in its effects on society). I think the law should recognize that. Give addicts a chance at treatment. If they don’t make it, then leave them to their fate, and put them in jail for the non-drug crimes (trespass, vandalism, petty theft, etc.) that addicts inevitably commit. We should reinstitute the vagrancy laws. If you’re living on the street with no visible means of support then you need to either shape up, go to treatment, or go to jail. We need to thread the needle on this - not saying there’s an easy solution.
Here’s an easy solution: anyone caught smuggling opioids into the US is executed. They are bringing death into our country. That’s a capital crime.
you say “treatment” like its a cure or something.....it takes many rounds of treatment for a small number of people to be cured....and its not really a cure....its substituting one drug for another with the hope that the psychological side catches up..
>>I’d say keep it criminal but change sentencing for users (not dealers)
Why not dealers? If you’re going to legalize or in any way decriminalize, why would it still be illegal to sell or distribute? That makes no sense.