[rayiner]

I mean that's verifiably not true if you look at the statistics. A majority of prisoners are not in for drug crimes. The ones that are are overwhelmingly in for drug trafficking, which is violent (selling something that physically hurts people).

You can argue that consent should make the act legal, but that doesn't make it non-violent.

[pessimizer]

> drug trafficking, which is violent (selling something that physically hurts people).

Only if selling sugar, rifles or skateboards is violent.

[douche]

Distributors of those legal products are rarely gunning each other down over the monopoly on distribution on a particular street corner. Driving it underground and making it illegal forces people to return to older, more traditional forms of conflict resolution...

[ycmbntrthrwaway]

Sometimes they are driven to the internet where they use superior conflict resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration and other mechanisms that work in the absence of violence.

[rayiner]

All of those things have non-violent uses much more important than their violent ones. Cigarettes are a better analogy--I think there is definitely a case to be made that is a violent activity.

[narrowrail]

What is the non-violent use of a rifle that is important? I sold pot in college in the 90s, and there was no violence. Perhaps it is the ilegalization of various plant materials that causes violence in the distribution process?

[rayiner]

Hunting, pest control, etc. Pot isn't that harmful, but contrary to popular belief most people are not in prison for possessing or even distributing pot. Heroin, meth, etc. definitely are harmful and addictive, and destroy lives. Selling them would be violent even if those products were legal (like cigarettes).

[ericHosick]

> Heroin, meth, etc. definitely are harmful and addictive, and destroy lives. Selling them would be violent...

Unless you can personally claim ownership of those people, among other things you're claiming ownership* of, there is no aggression (initiation of violence) taken upon your person or things when someone is destroying their life.

If you can personally claim ownership of those people, and society as a whole, then you are correct and the selling of the drugs would be an act of aggression towards yourself.

* The act of withholding something from others.

[OvidNaso]

And most opiate addicts (heroin) get hooked from opiates supplied by their violent doctor and local pharmacies.

[narrowrail]

Hunting and pest control are examples of non-violence? Is that your argument?

[rasengan]

Beat me to it! ;)