No sympathy for Gunmen

[Slaninar]

Why would the government lower prices on something that can cause mental illness, medical problems, laziness, unpredictable behaviour, crime and random violence, or ultimately death? We already have booze and cigarettes for that, so i can't really see them adding another problem to the equation.

Just to make some things clear:

Drugs don't cause violence as much as alcohol.
By low prices I'm talking about not taxing too much, not subsidizing prices.
Legal and cheap drugs have two immediate benefits:
1) Mafia looses a very big income.
2) Less crime done by drug addicts - since the drugs aren't outrageosly expensive.
Leaving the drugs illegal doesn't influence the number of addicts, unlike propaganda and fear mongering that is spread about it. There are better ways of decreasing the percentage of drug addicts in a population.

One of the reasons, apart from being a big source of "unseen" income, for keeping the drugs illegal is what you say: people tend to become "lazy". Not good, obedient workers and consumers.

And there will always be a black market where drugs are concerned, it's just simple competition and a way to make "easy" money due to the demand.
If the government sells whatever for £20, then the competition will say £15, and the people "most likely" to want it all the time would much rather pay £15 than £20, it's no different to going shopping, everyone loves a bargain, and they couldn't care less where it comes from as long as the cost is kept down.

This conclusion jumps over some obvious facts. Is there a black market for toilet paper? I'm sure there is, but not nearly as big as armed, as crime propelling - compared to drugs trafficing. If you let people grow poppy and produce heroin in their own back yards, how cheaper (and how to make it cheaper) would mafia prices have to be? And with that profit margin, what dishonest, easy money grabbing man would get into such business?!

And bearing in mind, as i said earlier, right now i hear about more people dying on "legal" highs than i do on anything else. So what do you do about all that shit that's killing idiots off, make it illegal???
I would leave that crap as it is, and let natural selection take its place. If you want to take something that says "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION" on the packet then more fool you, a bit like a bottle of bleach that says "DO NOT DRINK".  :groan

Things like education, making a more humane society, helping people - all good.
However, when someone decides to kill themselves, it should be respected as a free choice IMO. Whichever way they choose. Drugs, jumping off a bridge, racing motorcycles... 

Drugs and prostitution should be legalized.

And all the nations should start driving properly, on the left hand side, by the way.