Drug use is a facet of human existence that needs to be managed, not a virus to be exterminated...
We have empirical evidence on cannabis, true. In that case (Netherlands) statistics say that "everything is roughly better", but differences are so small that it's difficult to say it's due to the drug laws.
We do not have empirical evidence on drugs that make you physically and/or psychologically addicted after one shot.
And there should be no toying with this. Getting of cannabis after years of using it is a piece of cake compared to getting of heroin after less than five shots. It's a totally different story.
Sorry, where did I say that? I am from Germany, drug use is not illegal here, only possession, trade and production. I am very well aware that this is a good thing.
> The laws only serve to make people like you feel better (ala sticking head in sand) and to line the pockets of drug cartels.
Stop judging me on your misinterpretations of my writings, please.
The process of getting off heroin is extremely hard, in fact going cold turkey can potentially kill most addicts. So without acceptance the only way off heroin is strength of will (and a lot of luck) or death. With expansive and non-judgmental rehabilitation the process becomes easier, and you'd be surprised that the sheer disgust most heroin users have at themselves when they've got dry is enough to keep them away from the drug for life.
Most heroin addicts, between the time the high dies and before the low begins, hate themselves for doing the drug. They aren't corrupt evil people, they're people who were stupid and didn't necessarily have to be weak willed to get addicted to it. Many people get much more help for being much more stupid and much weaker, so why don't we help the people who really need the help?
And this is why production, possession and trade of hard drugs has to stay illegal and has to be prosecuted. Because most drug victims are stupid at the point of time they try it first.