Uhm...no one is saying that we'd federally subsidize heroin addicts. They would purchase their own and use it in their own private property, not in public. Public smoking needs to be outlawed, too.
Mr. Cole is saying precisely that: "Cole advocates the federal government producing drugs, controlling quality and potency, distributing free "maintenance doses" ..."
That's the dirty little secret to the Swiss (and others) claims. By making free heroin available to the addicts, you 1) reduce crime since they donn't have to steal to feed their habit, and 2) reduce deaths due to overdoses since the quality and purity of state-provided heroin is controlled.
The Swiss experiment started out, like Canada is now doing, with free clinics and clean needles to get the addicts off the streets and stop the spread of HIV. They were still stealing and still OD'ing until the free heroin was provided.
Interesting side note. Most of the heroin addicts are also cocaine addicts. The money they save by getting free heroin is spent on cocaine. Now the Swiss are considering adding cocaine to the drugs provided (voted down, surprise).