[CaptainCrunch]

I think when we look at other markets that have "legalized" drugs we fail to understand that the North American drug market is completely different. Its the big money maker for the cartel and manufacturers.

What would the cartels do to combat a legalization strategy?

they would attack the cost. Its not like we're giving away the drugs or it would be affordable for the government to do it. Can you imagine the cost in the Las Angeles area if suddenly Heroin, or Meth or coke was given away for free or heavily subsidized?

Most of these addicts aren't working, they're supporting their habit through other means legal or not, and they're looking for the cheapest high.

So the Cartel looks at the costs of a pack of Players extra lemony flavored crack, Canadian self injecting heroin kits, and they go to the addicts with a cheaper and probably lower quality but more potent and addictive version of the drug. Suddenly you see an influx of the synthetic drugs in Russia mixed in a bathtubs at pennies to the dollar to the government approved version. Why buy a $10.00 pack of injectors and have to go to a government center where you get lots of questions when we can sell you this $2.00 bag of Krockadile or however its spelled and you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Heck Frenando will even deliver it to you and give you easy term credit.

On top of that the other thing that the cartels will do is completely infiltrate the government sponsered system and subvert it.

Its great to point to a Holland and say look it works, but the drug criminals aren't simply going to fade away in their primary markets where they already have a massive foothold and control the market and make billions.

At the end of the day, I really don't think that the government should be in the business of the really harmful soul and people destroying drugs, the minute that you do that and have other companies manufacture it for a profit you will end up with a more corrupting maybe more civilized cartel that's legal with a high powered lobby group and tons of cash to spread around.

"Geez Senator Dingleberry, you encouraged us to manufacture Heroin for you, and we spent a ton of money on production facilities and growing operations, we're still not making enough, you should make it legal for us to advertise, and really let us sell them in corner stores"

I liked what someone said earlier. Go after the distribution and dealers, leave the personal use people alone, find a way to improve access to rehab and help for the addicts.