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It is misleading only in that the spending should have been per capita. I don't think that changes the point though which is that however much you spend it is just money wasted. As far as I am concerned money shouldn't be thrown away when the approach obviously isn't working no matter how much you think the goal is worth it. For the record I don't agree that the government should ban substances outright, just make sure they are labeled properly for the harm they do.

I thought the problem with drugs isn't the addiction but the black market.

The people get addicted anyway, but now the money needed to cure them goes where it can help and not to the mob.

I suspect it will be like the lottery money that was supposedly destined for the public schools, and it will just turn into a slush fund the legislature and governor can spend as they please.

The total number of non-addicted people is also rising, by that logic, which is why % is in there...