>Did not I acknowledged that in my posting? I disagree
>with you, however, that drugs - or alcohol - are
>violence and social cost free. Cocaine often produces
>violent outbursts. Opium derivatives (morphine,
>heroine) are addictive, and addiction can have quite
>adverse effect on the addict and his/her family,
>including violent outbursts (esp. during withdrawal).
> Even pot, which indeed is quite benign and soporific,
>in some individuals it can produce paranoid reactions,
>extreme agitation and irritability, which may trigger
>violence.
So if drugs cause criminal behavior, the crimes themselves can be punished. Why criminalize the drugs, which normally don't cause criminal behavior?
Doug