I don't buy it. The world is filled with dangerous choices. Dope is one of them.
People need to be personally responsible for their actions. Gasoline is damned dangerous, but also very useful if handled properly.
The bad effects of these drugs are vastly overblown. Look at the most fundamental public health figure, mortality:
Heroin, cocaine, etc, are responsibile for less than 1,000 deaths per year in the USA. Compare this with alcohol: 150,000 and tobacco: 400,000. Clearly the "Drug Menace" is blown all out of proportion.
The biggest problem with dope is the crime it produces because of its illegality. Make it legal and the drug gangs will fold.
Prohibition INCREASES drug use.
David F Mayer