> >But I would consider someone terribly deluded if they thought that legalizing the drug would lessen its use or abuse. Making the drug legal would make it more commonly used and more abused >than the terrible levels it is abused at now.
>
> Why? I can't think of a single example of where this is true. I've even read web pages which sited information which pointed to the opposite. I know of one example off the top of my head, and that would be the repeal of Prohibition, which lead to less alchohol consumption and violence in general. What example are you pulling from? Just curious.
>
> Melanie

Really? It lead to less consumption and less violence overall? Perhaps I am wrong in saying what I did. Perhaps I am tainted by living in the country where more beer is consumed per capita than any country in the world. My biggest point was about abuse, however; I do not have a problem with drinking, though I have not for a long time; I do think that abusing the drug is immoral. I simply think that the legalization of a drug (and that is any drug) can potentially lead to more abuse. That is not what I said the first time; my first point was much stronger. But I will reserve it somewhat. It could be that I am just wrong on the point with marjiuana; though it seems to me almost entirely used by people who abuse it. If the legal punishment of its use is not a deterrent, then I would have a hard time convincing anyone that it should be illegal to use.

I do wonder, however, whether you are right about the alcohol example. It could be. I know so few people who use alcohol responsibly that I can hardly believe that its rate of abuse was higher before the repeal of prohibition. I may be wrong, and you seem to think that I am; if I am, then I have no real argument here.

Frum