[digler999]

There is a middle ground, which is that you dont allow the free import of heroin into the country. Where you have uncut, known-quality heroin available as a tool to treat addicts going through withdrawal (or any other effective substitute), and where you (optionally) pursue only high level smugglers - people who are getting filthy rich peddling a deadly and addictive substance.

If we took even 1% of the total we spend prosecuting addicts and used it internationally, we could probably put a much more severe dent in supply. We already invaded Afghanistan, but in many cases helped the farmers instead of shut them down (this is a complex issue, opium is a much more valuable crop than food - but its a problem money can solve ). We could work with other countries to disincentivize coca production (again - the farmers that grow it can choose coca or bananas, guess which is worth more ?)

There are so many other ways to shut down the drug war, but the first place is to stop prosecuting people for possession.