We’ve tried. For 70+ years. Prohibition has caused more problems here than it’s solved…as it’s solved basically no problems.
For a large variety of reasons, the Singapore model doesn’t work here. It doesn’t even work across all of SEA. The Philippines have banned drugs for a long time, but they still have 2-3 million people who regularly use illegal drugs. 4% of Thais have used illegal drugs in the past year, and both countries have very strict laws about drug trafficking.
Most modern SEA country don't have those issue: Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea.
They all had severe drug problem in the 20th century. They all have drugs get you an express ticket to firing squad, and all of them don't have major drug problem today.
As for Philippine, they are close to failed state since 80s. Drugs lords are rampant, Duterte despite being frowned upon many philippines like him since he's only man are willing to do something about it.
We have not tried in the way southeast Asia does. Agree or disagree, drug laws in the west have never been as strict as southeast Asia. In Singapore, drugs are an immediate trip to the gallows. We've never had that here.
Phillipines has experimented with allowing anyone to murder anyone else they suspect of using drugs. That hasn’t significantly decreased the rate of illegal drug use in the country. This is despite making payments to people to summarily execute drug addicts. Thousands have been executed across the Phillipines. Drug use still about the same.
The “SEA Solution” isn’t even a universal solution across SEA!
I mean FFS we found out we were completely wrong about the prohibition on marijuana here in the USA. and Alcohol. What’s next? MDMA?
For a large variety of reasons, the Singapore model doesn’t work here. It doesn’t even work across all of SEA. The Philippines have banned drugs for a long time, but they still have 2-3 million people who regularly use illegal drugs. 4% of Thais have used illegal drugs in the past year, and both countries have very strict laws about drug trafficking.