I don't know where people like Billie get their idea that most of the illicit drugs out there are not dangerous. If they weren't then we would have nothing to fear from their use, but such is not the case. Perhaps we still need to intensify programs of education to convince people of the harm they are not only causing to themselves, but also to their families. A friend of mine who doesn't use drugs has just spent some time in the psychiatric ward of a local regional hospital. Most of the others were there because the use of drugs had severely affected their mental state.

If it were not for the use of drugs and alcohol, a significant proportion of the cases of assault, both physical and sexual would not be appearing in the courts.

Perhaps we should refuse to revive those who have reached the point of unconsciousness from the use of ice or heroin, and just give them the Darwin Award for removing their stupid genes from the community.

'...It also reduces testosterone production in males.'

GOOD

It occurs to me that to do what you suggest and legalise drugs, it would be necessary to persuade the rest of the world to agree to follow the same path, otherwise I am sure we would just encourage drug tourism to this country. It always seems incredible to me that anyone would even want to try drugs, but then I knew the consequences and that includes cigarettes and alcohol. Surely if education, and I mean real education, was adopted with kids being shocked into the reality of the drug culture by visiting hospitals, particularly accident wards and visiting prisons and talking to addicts, this might go some way towards persuading a large number that drugs are an expensive way of ruining lives and health. Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps people are still stupid enough to think they can avoid consequences in return for the benefit of a quick hit.

Stickman, in Ireland they have a program supplying smokeable heroin. You don't get HIV from smoking.
This business about scitzophrenia being possibly linked to marihuana etc is just more scare campaign. In the book Psychogenesis of Scitzophrenia it is suggested that the constantly changing images on tv may be a cause. Criminalise tv, don't think so.
The entire baloney about lawmakers being concerned about public health is shown up when they collect taxes from cigarettes in packs that state on them "this product may kill you".
If you want to see the disasterous effects of drugs on some people just checkout a few alcoholics. Booze is not only legal it is virtually compulsory, unless you wish to be stigmatised as a 'wowser'.

“The war against drugs, which most Western societies appear addicted to, is simply a scandalous waste of money, resources and lives.” Of course, it won't work because of the namby-pamby approach of most western countries to eradicating drug abuse. The law enforcement officers rarely have the backing of those in authority to send a clear message that drug abuse is not to be tolerated.
Small wonder that countries which have been successful to keep drug abuse to a minimum have taken a firm and holistic approach.

http://www.murdoch.edu.au/elaw/issues/v6n1/swensen61_text.html
http://lexingtoninstitute.org/922.shtml

From Philip's first link: "This phenomenon was unprecedented not only among communist countries, but also in Chinese history. When the Western world was in the chaotic medieval age, the Chinese empire of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) enacted a comprehensive legal code"

Is Philip a descendant of those Tangs? His perspective - at least with respect to drugs - doesn't seemed to have progressed much beyond those times :)