[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

SOME people would avoid drugs if they felt the cops were taking it seriously....everyone knows theyre not, people tak edrugs round here in public view like drinking a can of pepsi....so hitchens argument did hold some water....the middle ground is simply to offer more rehabilitation to people whilst in prison....another area never discussed is the number of people high on drugs whilst driving....is there a proper test?

The only people who would avoid taking drugs for fear of the authorities are the people who aren't problem drug-takers in the first place. The reason that pockets of drug abusers are a problem is not the fact that the people are on drugs; it's the fact that it comes hand-in-hand with other antisocial (and already illegal) behaviors such as petty theft and minor assaults (usually against each other). The illegality of these actions doesn't deter them currently, so why would drugs being illegal deter them from that? The only people who it would deter are your "minor", generally law-abiding, drug takers (for example, cannabis-smoking University students). Should be noted that these are also the people most likely to have their futures (needlessly, in my opinion) cut short by a criminal charge.

In short; I think it would be an expensive waste of time. The court system is expensive, the prison system is even more expensive, and it wouldn't deter the problem drug-takers... who are already committing various minor crimes on a daily basis anyway.