Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> Kathleen >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>> I could get behind legalizing it. Legitimize the growers, make 'em
>> claim their income, cut the criminals and importers out of the loop
>> and tax the bejesus out of the end product.
>
> Yep. It would also create legitimate jobs. Legalize pot and tax the
> churches. That would start us on our way out of the mess we're in

One of the side effects of criminalizing drugs is that it pushes the
prices up. Smugglers and dealers want to make enough money to make it
worth the risk. Then gangs get involved and use violence to protect
their business interests. The high cost of hard drugs forces some
people into a life of crime. When you need hundreds of dollars a day to
support a habit you have to steal thousands of dollars worth of goods.
Legalizing pot would cost the illegal dealers a lot of money. They would
be the biggest losers.

When I broke my collar bone a few years ago I was taking Oxycontin for 2
months. A prescription for 60 pills was less than $20. The pharmacist
told me that they sell on the street for more than $20 each. I don't
really understand the attraction of the stuff. I didn't make me feel
euphoric or anything. It just took the edge of the pain, or made me not
care so much about it. I have to say that when I started cutting back
on the stuff I had trouble sleeping, which seems to be an indication of
dependence. I laid right off the stuff, except when absolutely necessary.

I realize that the stuff is dangerous, but there is a case of a drug
that an addict could get by prescription and be able to afford. If the
person has to get it on the street it is outrageously expensive.