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You make a good point about the overburdening of our existing system. But as I pointed out in a separate thread, the high murder rate in Chicago (for example) is directly related to drugs being illegal. I said something like - "People don't do drivebys for a 2% profit margin." The other thing is that the WOD, because of all the dealers shooting each other and bystanders, is a direct cause of the leftists getting popular support for banning guns, which undermines the 2nd amendment.

Me - I would rather see them attack it from both directions. Decriminalize marijuana at the federal level - and then let the states decide. Some would probably react by increasing criminal penalties for marijuana. Some would legalize it. But it would be 10th amendment issue.

Then, reallocate the police resources currently consumed with marijuana arrests (paperwork, court time, jail population costs, etc.) and roll them on to heroin, cocaine, crack, and meth. The user population is much smaller for those drugs, and the increased police activity and increased money available should make a serious dent in the crime in that area. Also, at the federal level - reallocate cops and dollars that currently focus on marijuana to focus on the illegal immigrant problem.

That's how I would handle it.

Good points. I'm not as optimistic as you regarding the gangs. Take away the profits from marijuana and they'll focus on the hard drugs like never before (ending prohibition only stopped the violence associated with alcohol -- the gangs brought back the violence with drugs).

Increased police activity? Man, they're already getting a whole bunch of grief with no-knock, search and seizure, asset forfeiture, SWAT tactics, mandatory minimum sentencing, etc. Sounds great on paper.....

As I've stated before on this forum, state's decriminalization of 'personal use' amounts will get you 90% of what you want. The individual state could decide to punish the user with only a small fine (like a traffic ticket). No court time, no police time in court, no jail time, and it would not go on one's record.