Somebody already pointed out the pharmas don't like the idea of drug legalization. Neither do beer and liquor companies. How much money will the crappy beer makers like bud lose when people can grow pot in their backyard? How much money will seagram's lose when nobody will buy shit like zima any more? "Law and order" politicians will always fight this kind of thing because they know many of their supporters are too dim to see that the war on drugs is a failure and a fraud. Then there are people whose livelihood depends on the billions we waste on enforcement of these laws every year. How many prison gurards will be unemployed when we legalize all drugs? I bet california could balance their budget if they let all the nonviolent drug offenders out of jail today. They could probably close 2/3 of their prisons tomorrow.

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The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
Justice Louis D Brandeis

You just reminded me of another large group that benefits from illegal drugs: defense lawyers.

who will still benefit because some people will always buy it without the tax stamp, or grow it without permission, or sell to minors etc just because they are purely contrary. theres plenty of cases to go around.

beer + pot = damn good buzz. pot gives you a serious thirst and the munchies. beer is cold liquid bread. its the perfect combination. i don't think it'll suffer that bad.
ps: who buys zima now? bleh

Of course meth is harmful, lol... everything is harmful if done in excess.

I hadn't htought of them. I wonder how many of them would have to find honest work if drugs were legal? There will still be the DUI business but that won't be enough to keep them all in business. Maybe some can make a living suing the chiselers who grind up stems into their bud or mix worthless toadstools in with the psilocybin mushrooms?

__________________
The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
Justice Louis D Brandeis

nah dude smoking meth is pretty much bad every time. i know a number of ex tweakers. that shit is bad news.

now coke... coke's not so bad if done responsibly. ive met 3 people who could use it responsibly.

Why wouldn't it be legal to grow your own?

or theyd just defend different angles.

for instance : minor gets caught with dope. man gets caught with dope lacking the tax stamp. man gets caught driving stoned. etc

Beside the point. Make it all legal, stop wasting tax dollars fighting the shit.

i'd say fighting meth makes sense. heroine too. crack as well. as to the rest, well i'd be willing to let it slide for funds to take down the above.

Why? If someone wants to get all tweaked I don't care.

I'm confused a little for including heroine on your list. I'm no drug expert, but isn't heroine the most natural illegal drug you can take and the most safe if taken in small doses (obviously the addictive nature and the increased tolerance are the biggest problems with the drug, I'm aware of that)?

I think makers of good beer and liquor will be OK. It's the people who make the crappy stuff that will suffer. The only reason people buy things like big bear 40s or bud is that it's a relatively cheap buzz. If they can blow a joint and drink iced tea instead or have a brownie and a glass of milk they'll go for it. People who actually like beer or, say, scotch, will still be willing to shell out for Ommegang or Laphroaig but brands like miller lite and johnnie walker red will suffer.

__________________
The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
Justice Louis D Brandeis

Why should those drugs remain illegal, but the rest can be made legal? I don't understand the problem with just ending the War on Drugs.

Heroine is not particularly "natural". It (diacetylmorphine) is synthesized from morphine which in turn is refined opium. So morphine and opium could both be characterized as more natural. So could cocaine (or at least coca) and pot and magic mushrooms.

__________________
The most important political office is that of the private citizen.
Justice Louis D Brandeis