[quote=squat300]if cocaine was available over the counter, coke use would be way higher. marijuana use would be higher. heroin use would be higher. hmmm.. meth use would be higher. LSD use would probably be a bit higher. I cannot think of a drug which would decrease in use from legalization.
I think alcohol use might decrease very slightly if all other drugs were legalized[/quote]
Okay, let’s assume the drug use would be higher.* Would that be because it was legal, or because there would be less social stigma attached to using drugs? Personally, I’ve never met anyone who said they wanted to use drugs but were refraining from doing so because drugs were illegal. Most people who want to do drugs will do them, irrespective of any laws; just like they did during the prohibition of alcohol.
*Would it seem that more people would use drugs if they were legal simply because more people would be willing to admit to to it? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been shocked by who uses drugs. We’re talking about very wealthy, put-together, upright people who privately use all kinds of drugs. I’m sure none of these people would publicly admit to using drugs, both because it’s illegal, and because of the social stigma. That still doesn’t keep them from using drugs, though.
