In fact, however, there are many signs that the public is far more sensible than the political classes believe. Most people know that drug use has become commonplace. Indeed one of the chief problems faced by many parents in counselling their children is explaining that drugs that are virtually ubiquitous are actually illegal. There are signs too that public discourse has begun to move away from the stereotyped positions of the past. No one aside from a few cranks on the libertarian right argues that there should be a free market in all the drugs that are presently illegal.
Common sense suggests that different drugs have different dangers.
In a mature society, policy should reflect that fact. It may make sense to legalise cannabis. But only a fool would advocate that LSD, heroin or cocaine should be available over the counter in the same way as aspirin. One thing is clear. The policy of criminalising drug use that successive governments have imported from the United States does not work.