[Broken_Hippo]

For the most part, I completely agree with you. I'm supportive of drugs being legalized and sold - even the drugs I wouldn't personally do. I do think your first two points are slightly flawed, however.

1. Instant 50% reduction in prison population. More than half of all prisoners are there for drug crimes [1]. It costs 20-40k/year to house a prisoner [2]. There are approximately 2.2 million prisoners the US [3]. That equates to an instantaneous savings of $6.6 billion.

It will cut new admittance to prisons. Anyone currently serving time would need their sentences pardoned or legislation passed that allows for their released. Over time, still savings.

2. Elimination of the DEA. Instantaneous savings of $2 billion.

We'll still need some enforcement of the controls we put in place, though we can do it through other branches -likely something like a combination of the FDA, USDA, and the ATF. Lesser cost savings, but much better sort of spending.

Furthermore, I'm definitely into having marked shops for some drugs. I think smoke shops/coffee shops (for pot and hash) would be an improvement to the culture and give some alternative to bars. I'm fine with some hallucinogens being sold in a marked shop - and anything else that proves to be about as safe. I'd also make sure anyone working in the shops - either marked or unmarked - had some training or have training levels - basic knowledge for cashier with more advanced knowledge person on premisis at all times.

[darawk]

> We'll still need some enforcement of the controls we put in place, though we can do it through other branches -likely something like a combination of the FDA, USDA, and the ATF. Lesser cost savings, but much better sort of spending.

Under a partial legalization regime, yes. Personally i'm thinking they should all be legalized, though. The drug shops can be self-funding by charging slightly above marginal cost.

> Furthermore, I'm definitely into having marked shops for some drugs. I think smoke shops/coffee shops (for pot and hash) would be an improvement to the culture and give some alternative to bars. I'm fine with some hallucinogens being sold in a marked shop - and anything else that proves to be about as safe. I'd also make sure anyone working in the shops - either marked or unmarked - had some training or have training levels - basic knowledge for cashier with more advanced knowledge person on premisis at all times.

Ya I agree. I'd like to see the 'less harmful' drugs, like marijuana and hallucinogens completely legalized. Like, you can buy them at 711 legalized. For 'harder' stuff like cocaine, meth, heroin, et al, i'd like to see them sold by the unmarked government-run drug shops that don't advertise or try to encourage consumption in any way. That feels like the best balance of interests.

[Broken_Hippo]

For the first bit - I actually meant with full legalisation in government run shops with that. What you describe - I'm pretty fully in agreement with. Just details.

I mean, they'll have to have ways to verify potency in production. Heroin, if injected, will probably get some oversight like a drug. A infrastructure for the stores - I'd imagine in the states it'd be contracted out to someone private, but that still costs money. Spot tests for potency. USDA would wind up involved in the actual plant base: I don't know who covers imports from other countries where it is also legal. Then you have tax collection, cleanliness standards, and things like that.

Overall, I think it would save a good amount of money - especially when you consider 5-10 years out. The better part is that once it levels out some, the costs seem more are more predictable.

Edit: Accidentally deleted to much on a rewording, and added it back in.