Western civilisation is founded on the rule of law. Obey the law and you do fine, break the law and you get punished. When you start saying to people "Hey guys, we know you're breaking the law, but go ahead and fucking do it in this room, we don't mind, you won't get arrested or punished"
Here's a better approach to drug users: catch them, sentence them to mandatory cold-turkey rehab, don't let them out until they're clean.
However, from my POV, drug use is not just about a substance, but a life-style and emotional dependence. You can't just remove drugs and expect things to improve for a person, you need to provide holistic support - and let's face it, drug usage is an incredibly complex personal choice.
Treating drug use as a criminal justice problem rather than a public health problem is more expensive and gives worse results.
I think it's weird to ask tax payers to fund a very much more expensive programme (of police officers catching heroin users; of courts prosecuting them; of prisons holding them) especially when that programme has provably worse results (more harm to drug users; more harm to society; more cost to society) than treating drug use as a public health problem and providing harm reduction measures.
If that's the way it's going to be, why not let them simply die when they OD?
There are so many situations in which someone might illegally use drugs.
For instance, I self-medicate with various substances. I've gotten great relief over the years with ketamine, lsd, and mdma. I learned how to administer drugs in a safe and cautious manner. I have never been arrested, nor had any major social conflict, while under the influence.
With your approach, I should be sought after and sentenced.
Interesting