Originally Posted by chassisman

I don't consider it social engineering. Taxes on things that create expensive by products are fair and just, IMO. Who should pay for the dying lung cancer patient with no ins, or the incarceration of the drug addicted felon who financed his habit thru crime? It would be a blessing if we could legalize and tax drugs. I'd like to see them taxed to the point where the rest of society could see some (tax and social)relief.

Originally Posted by Slon

What? Are you actually saying we need to tax drugs because some people might use them and also commit crimes? Are you going to tax cars because people might crash and cause damage to public property?

Originally Posted by chassisman

Question 1: Yes, not only commit crimes, but incurr other types of financial burdens on "the system".

Question 2: You may not call it a tax, but your car insurance is mandated and costs a substantial amount of money, right?

Risk comes with costs, and any rational person would agree that the legalization of drugs would come with risks.