I really enjoy discussing the war on the drugs with people. A lot of good meaning people have preconceived notions of the drug war because they have been brainwashed by DARE, State Education, and the Major Media outlets.
People always go, "don't you realize how much meth hurts people, how could you want to make it legal?". A good way to point out this flawed argument pretty quickly to people is to say people will use no matter what, meth addicts/heroine addicts will always use regardless of legality. When I talk about this issue, I find it counter-productive to talk about a person's Constitutional Right to use drugs(or more properly worded the Federal Government's lack of authority to prosecute drug use). I always point out the fact that the Drug War creates an underground market for gangs and drug cartels which fuels crime and violence. Most rational people I come across accept this premise and while they disapprove of the use of drugs they hate the cartels and the crime that results from it. The fact is, the supposed "crime fighters" that support the drug war perpetuate crime. I think more people everyday are realizing this fact and more are opposing the drug war everyday. Soon, an actual majority will support legalizing marijuana recreationally. This is one issue I am hopeful about. Ending the drug war will result in the end of drug cartels and a rapid decrease in gang violence. It will result in a huge hemp and marijuana market being created which will create tens of thousands of jobs. It will break the monopoly the Drug Companies have on treatments and result in lower prices. Most importantly though, freedom will be restored. We will have the right to our property and our body. We will finally have the privacy we don't have now in our homes, we will no longer live in fear of smoking a plant.