"The Australian group agreed with the Global Commission that the international and Australian prohibition of the use of certain “illicit” drugs has failed comprehensively. By making the supply and use of certain drugs criminal acts, governments everywhere have driven their production and consumption underground and have fostered the development of a criminal industry that is corrupting civil society and governments and killing our children."
Why are we assuming legal drugs are socially acceptable? Maybe statistically. But smoke near me and you will discover that some of us find nicotine socially unacceptable. In someone else's house I would move away. In my house, the smoker would be leaving - promptly.
So we have the "odd" suicidal flier, a couple of water intoxicated E users - anything more?
Meanwhile, in our local town this week-end, one man was killed and another has life changing injuries are a result of two separate violent incidents in the early hours of Sunday morning. The deceased was assualted outside a nightclub and the injured man was beaten in a pub. Alcohol is directly and indirectly complacent in the death and serious injury of tens of thousands of people around this country every year.
I do not believe a policy of "we can't stop it so let's legalise it" is a good policy, we have never stopped any crime, murder, , robbery still occur.
People will still steal to get drug money because the use of the drugs in anything but moderation is and always will be expensive and the taking of them to the extent that addicts do will prevent them earning enough money to buy them.
Dealers will still exist, they will come up with new drug connocotions, designer drugs and such to nurture a market, they will come up with cheaper drug options than the local chemist sells by using dangerous or cheaper ingredients.
The factories and farms will still exist to supply other markets around the world where drugs are not legal.
More people will die as they become more easy to get hold of, more people will become addicted, like binge drinking access to cheaper products will make more people do it.
I don't know what might work but I don't think giving up is the answer.
Personally I have never needed large amounts of alcohol or any amount of drugs to make me have a good time.