"Thanks, Ian Dunt, for stating the blindingly obvious. Since Mike Trace was obliged to resign from his governmental post in 2003 after being exposed by Melanie Phillips in the Daily Mail as being actively in favour of drugs legalisation, there has been no prospect of any change in the counter-productive Prohibition. UNODC, under the direction of Costa, is determined to give us more of the same. If any other policy had so manifestly failed, it would have been publicly discredited and revoked, but Prohibition is not a policy so much as a religion that requires blind belief in the face of evidence. Naturally, its adherents assume the moral high ground and think they can tell others what to do with their bodies. "

"This is a very measured and thoughtful article. I have read some of the supportive comments on Yahoo and broadly agree with them, particularly the point that the current policy very evidently isn't working - so maybe we should try another approach. As a former director of a Mental Health Trust, I have seen far too many young people (well over 90% of all those we did see, in fact) whose lives had fallen apart due to drugs - and once over that mental health precipice, the way back to health or even to any relatively stable form of functioning, is extremely hard. Most of these young people will never work again, even though some had impressive qualifications and had previously held down serious jobs; even more sadly, perhaps, the fracturing of their mental stability means that they will almost certainly never form lasting relationships either, so their chances of finding supportive life-partners, settling down and having families are also extremely poor. And in many cases, the only drug they had had experience of (usually the one they could afford) was cannabis. No-one should think cannabis is not a dangerous drug. Yes, some people can take it without apparent damage for years ('apparent' is an important word here, because long-term effects are largely unknown) - but, to quote a senior consultant at the hospital where I worked, 'for those who have any tendency at all towards mental fragility, it will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.' The very high long-term cost of caring for such a huge number of young people whose lives have been destroyed by drug taking is the answer to the person who commented 'so I suppose the rest of us have to pick up the tab' or words to that effect. We are picking up the tab already. "

"I agree with Russell about the blindingly obvious. Drug prohibition has not worked and must be changed to a more enlighted approach of decriminalisation. However, the extreme cynic in me believes that will never happen because of the huge anti-drugs industry that has been built up around the world, both in the criminal justice system and the anti-drugs agencies. The amount of industry depending for its existence is so large that like the banks, it will not be allowed to fail by a change to the status of narcotics and other addictive chemicals in our society."

"Peace on the Home Front Debaters debate the two wars as if Nixon’s civil war on Woodstock Nation did not yet run amok. The witch-hunt against the half-a-million strong witches assembled in August 1969 cannot be good for America, the world-leader in percentile behind bars. If we are all about spreading liberty abroad, then why mix the message at home? Peace on the home front would enhance credibility. The negative numbers that will bottom-line our legacy to the next generation can be less ginormous. The witch-hunt doctor’s Rx is for every bust to numerate a bigger tax-load over a smaller denominator of payers. Spend more on prisons than on schools. My witch’s second opinion is to grow your own. More consumer discretionary dollars will stimulate the rest of the economy when they are not depleted by prohibition’s black market. A clause about interstate commerce provides bogus constitutionality. The policy on the number-one cash crop in the land is no taxation; yes eradication, but money to frustrate enforcement grows on trees. The authors of the Constitution never intended to divert tax revenue to outlaws. America rejected prohibition, but its back. Swat teams aren’t slowed down by lack of a stinking amendment. The demonized substances never had their day in court. Nixon promised to supply supporting evidence later. Later, the Commission evidence didn’t support, but no matter. The witch-hunt was on. No amendments can assure due-process under an anti-science law that never had any due-process itself. Science hailed LSD as a drug with breakthrough potential, until the CSA (Controlled Substances Act of 1970) halted all research. Marijuana has no medical use, period. Lives are flushed down expensive tubes. The RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993) makes an exception to the CSA allowing the Native American Church to eat peyote. A specific church membership should not be prerequisite for Americans to obtain their birthright freedom of religion. Denial of entheogen sacrament to any American, for mediation of communion twixt the soul and the source of souls, violates the First Amendment. Freedom of speech presupposes freedom of thought. The Constitution doesn’t enumerate a governmental power to embargo diverse states of mind. How and when did government usurp this power to coerce mental conformity? Politicians who would limit cognitive liberty lack jurisdiction. Common Law must hold that the people are the legal owners of their own bodies. Socrates advocates knowing your self. Mortal law should not presume to thwart the intelligent design that molecular keys unlock spiritual doors. Those who appreciate their own free choice of personal path in life should not deny self-exploration to seekers. Should schools stop teaching that the right to the pursuit of happiness is inalienable by government? Simple majorities in each house could put repeal of the CSA on the president’s desk. The books have ample law on them without the CSA. Americans are already liable for damages when they screw-up. The usual caveats remain in effect. Strong medicine requires prescription. Employees can be fired for poor job performance. No harm, no foul; and no excuse, either. Replace the war on drugs with a frugal, constitutional, science-based, drugs policy."

"A great article, but I'm going to have to disagree with you when you say there are no votes in it. A mainstream party suggesting the idea could potentially force a serious debate on the subject (something the government has long avoided) and this would demonstrate to many many people that the current prohibitionist model is completely counter-productive. I would also ask: what is organised crime's largest source of income?"

"My best friend, a South African woman, is currently on remanded detention in a Venezuelan prison. She was caught in Aug08 with 2kg cocaine. Because SA currently has no Prisoner Transfer Agreement I have founded a movement to pressurize this Govt to sign onto the existing multi lateral PTA and extradite the more than 850 SA Citizens detained in apalling foreign jails, far from home, no money, no clothing, no medical care, no family... for years!! This is INHUMANE! Our people are suffering & this Govt is bucking against extraditions... but not for much longer! Take a look at our website, Locked Up in a Foreign Country ( www.lockedup.co.za ) for the shocking reality pertaining directly to the criminalization of drugs... and it's increasing fast. Having seen the devastation caused to people and their families I say DEcriminalize drugs, regulate them, manufacture & sell them under clinical conditions and use the law enforcement money for education and rehabilition! Seriously, if alcohol were invented today, by current standards it would be more illegal than cocaine... and it is more harmful with more destructive results!"

"I was thinking that a national I found drugs day would perhaps shake it up where every one phoned there local police told them they had found a small amount of drugs in the street and were on the way to hand it in lets see them cope with that day...once a week would cause mayhem.. bring it on.."