Let's take all "illegal" drugs out of the criminal codes.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Having drugs declared illegal is something like the Vatican Index of Forbidden Books.  All that happens is a black market and some fat cats getting rich running it, laundering money, and committing numerous offenses to defend their territory.

The "war on drugs" is unwinnable unless you get control of the drugs.  If they become legal commodities, then after the first flush of abuse, the whole thing should be no worse than tobacco, alcohol, or gambling addictions.  The next step is serious PR to point out all the effects and discourage use.  Meanwhile, what happens to the drug cartels?  Do they become legal like the bootleggers after prohibition?  Who would use a drug from a suspect source when you can use an FDA or Health Canada approved version?

[LivingInThePast 364]

It's not as clear-cut as many would hope: taxing previously-legal drugs will still create a black market, roads will be less safe since drugs are so widespread and people aren't thinking straight, and drug cartels move on to worse things.