All drugs should be legalized.

Your arguments are common so I already have some statements to make. 1. Black market, this idea is so obscenely wrong. The reason there exists a black market today is because the drugs are illegal right now. If you remove the market (by legalizing) then capitalism will take over, industrial production will begin and soon drugs will be available for legal purchase. Further, because it is industrial, it will fall under the wing of the FDA who will then consequently monitor the quality of drugs produced to make sure they are not cut with any bad drugs (this is a common problem with many drugs). Regulating the quality makes it safer. Besides, NO ONE wants to use drug dealers. Most would rather drive to 7/11 and buy something rather than wait around for their dealer to be ready. The black market would undoubtedly DIE. 2.Marijuana, LSD, Shrooms, Crack, Heroin, etc. None of these are dangerous in the short term (unless you overdose, which is an education of drugs issue not a legalization issue). Addicts sprout up, and over time if they are treated as patients (instead of as criminals and locked up) then they can return to normal life relatively easy (it's hard to do that with a felony on your record). But either way, danger is irrelevant, people KNOW what they are putting in their body and it's no one's business. Should we make cars illegal because they are dangerous? Probably, in the interest of safety, but we wont. 3.So why not take the money we spent on fighting the war on drugs, and instead of punishing people treat them as paitents and re-release them to society! At the same time, we should ignore casual users (except while being negligent IE. offering drugs to minors, DUI, etc.) 4.I have a short dialogue to prove that EVERYONE is addicted to something. Sex, alcohol, the internet, caffeine, chocolate, sports, etc. Me:"What is your favorite hobby?" You:"My favorite hobby is xyz" Me:"How often do you do it?" You: "Every day at least once!" Me: "Well you should stop." You: "Why?" Me:"It doesn't matter, you're clearly addicted to it! Therefore it is bad!" Enjoying doing something vs. being addicted to it are completely different. Granted there is a MINUSCULE percentage of drug users who do it for psychological reasons. But don't punish the rest of us, and don't ask us to give up a hobby that we like because you wouldn't give up yours either! 5.Certainly, studies! Yay! (Ps. evaluate the source of the study, not the website it's quoted on) http://cannabisculture.com... http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com... http://www.salem-news.com... http://www.webmd.com... http://www.foxnews.com... http://www.counterpunch.org... http://www.newscientist.com... I can quote dozens more, but the general consensus (among the impartial science and medical community) is that Marijuana is AT THE LEAST not UNHEALTHY. Now, Inhaling carbon is ALWAYS bad for you no matter what, but bongs and vaporizers remove a massive percentage of the tar and ash inside of marijuana and make it safer than it already is. 6.There would be no black market (unless someone is REALLY dedicated to NOT paying taxes on them) because the quality, availability, and price would be fair and not involve going to some dodgy part of town to get drugs, you could go down the street. The only government restrictions should be on taxation of drugs, which is completely within the power of state and federal government. Recently, here at WWU we had the former Seattle Police chief come and speak to us, Norm Stamper, he served on the SDPD for 26 years and is now a strong proponent of legalization because it's been such a huge waste of money, time, people, and lives. He's more qualified than any of us, how can you argue that?