Because the black market drives up prices beyond what poor, desperate addicts can afford, and increases profits for dealers willing to assume great risk for great riches, there is an increase in property crimes such as theft and burglary by users, and crimes of violence and intimidation by suppliers. The general public pays a hidden tax, randomly imposed in the form of crime losses, along with open taxes for increased law enforcement and judicial activity. We must find a middle ground between legalization and prohibition. This policy recognizes the inherent damage caused by certain destructive vices, and incorporates the authority of the state to declare them contrary to the public interest, restricting access without an outright ban on usage, and concentrating efforts to reduce usage through education, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery services for everyone, not just those with money or insurance. Minimization targets supply and demand instead of use, yet does not grant these harmful products the status of being legal.
Minimization incorporates free market incentives against use and removes profits from sellers.
Pricing, delivery and taxation could be manipulated to eliminate sellers' profits and create lower costs to users, so they don't have to rob people to finance their habits. Advertising could be prohibited for vices, while buyers are still permit access to what they are going to get anyway. Packaging for such products could include information about treatment programs. While addicts might just ignore these most of the time, the information would be ready when the addict cried out for help. Minimization requires a commitment to rehabilitation services for all users when they are ready, without waiting lists.