Legalize all drugs?

Even the mention of the idea of legalizing drugs starts many people frothing at the mouth, quick to scream and shout about the dangers of drugs. But these are the very people that should be interested in some arguments for legalization. I am not going to dispute that drugs have a harmful affect on many people's lives - they do. I would however submit for debate the opinion that our drugs laws (UK)in fact exacerbate the problem, by obscuring its true depth, arbitrarily classing drugs with scant regard for the actual relative dangers of these substances (thus confusing the public on the issue) and spending huge amounts of money in arresting and locking up addicts who never change their ways.

The case I wish to make starts from the following premises:

1.Drugs policy up to now has failed. More people die of drugs (be they alcohol, tobacco or heroin) than ever before. Thus the need for the re-think
2. We need a policy that can deliver treatment to those that need it and put drug dealers out of business once and for all.

Thus I would propose that we legalize all drugs; but keep them under varying degrees of regulation based on a logical coherent system, informed by both addictiveness and toxicity.

Thus Heroin would be tightly controlled, requiring a registration with a qualified pharmacist. This would give us an excellent idea of the scale of the problem and a way to target treatment earlier to those most in need. We could entice users away from the black market through price competition (a good liberal/ free market solution if I ever there was one) . Black market sale of drugs would still be illegal and the risks involved would (and do) drive prices way above what the state would be able to charge.It may even be possible to put pressure on foreign (criminal) cartels by insisting on 'fair trade' drugs! Not only that but we could levy a 100-200% tax (depending on what drug) on drugs and still undercut the black market. Using the tax money for treatment and education centers; so essentially addicts would pay for their own treatment.

The relief on the average tax payer would be huge. The illegal drug trade would get the biggest kick in the teeth ever. We would have better data about the problem and hopefully prevent many from going to prison.

Whatever you think, people will always take drugs! The law has not nor will it ever be able to stop people. If people are going to take drugs is it not better that it is tightly controlled and regulated - so it would be harder for kids to obtain drugs, so criminals cannot make huge profits, and so the issue of drug use could come out of the shadows and into the light where we can truly see the problem for what it is?

There are many more arguments i could add here. My principal aim in this blog, however, is to show that the case for legalization is a good one, and not informed by loony leftism; but if anything a mixture of liberal philosophy and common sense!