More people die from the health affects of cheeseburgers than of all illegal drugs, why isn't there a war against fatty foods?
Thank you for bringing in the cheeseburger analogy. I use this one constantly.
Obesity is just as dangerous as a drug addiction. Yet we don't outlaw cheetos, mcdonalds, fries, cookies, or soda, do we?
No. No politician would ever do that. It would not get him re-elected.
Drug laws have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with politicans getting elected based on propogating a war against taboo chemicals.
Look at it this way, I can go to the store and buy a liter of antifreeze, come home and down a glass, then die. There are literally thousands of chemicals more dangerous than marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or any other mind-altering chemical you can name.
But the government says, hey, these dangerous chemicals over here, they're okay. But those ones over there, not happening. Danger is clearly not the issue.
We refuse to drink antifreeze not because of its legal status, but because biologists, chemists, and common knowledge tells us it's unsafe for consumption. By the same token, legalization of drugs would not create a flood of newcomers like the "slippery slope" people will have you believe.
People realize the risks involved with drugs. There is a tendency for addiction and bodily harm. People would make decisions and take into account these risks before using, just like alcohol, tobacco, or a Big Mac. But it should never be the government's responsibility to make a personal decision for everyone.
Information and education are far better methods of promoting safety than coersion via the DEA.
And as far as drug addictions go, do we really believe that politicians and judges can do a better job at rehabilitating a person than loving family and caring friends?
To answer the question at hand, though, Ron Paul could only decriminalize drugs at the federal level. If a state wanted to continue enforcing drug laws, so be it. But states that would like to decriminalize drugs would be free to do so without the federal government rearing its ugly hand.
