[gerbilly]

> when the income of that product is going to large criminal organizations that also create problems

But that's just it, they wouldn't be criminal organizations if you didn't criminalize it in the first place.

To me, the war on drugs is a proxy for unpopular geopolitical actions or even domestic race wars that the US wants to fight.

[overkalix]

Maybe at some point in the past a decriminalization approach would have put a stop to the violence that is tied to illegal drugs. Maybe.

But that's not the case anymore. Cartels don't really deal in drugs, they deal in violence that rivalizes that of a state in terms of reach and often legitimacy. That's the source of their power, not the production/trade of drugs. If "soft" illegal drugs are legalized (and I think they should be) actors in the current trade will simply move their efforts to other sectors in which a violent actor can profit from combating state efforts: sex trafficking, racketeering, counterfeit products... politics...

I'm sure there will be a change but I agree with the previous poster -it will take generations.

[justwalt]

I believe he means organizations that are involved in other illegal or harmful activities sans the drug presence.

[jayar95]

Yeah, most organizations don't deal in _just_ weed. A lot of them deal in people too