Many of you have stated this premise as a rationale for legalization.
BUT,
First of all, wouldn't legalization lead to cheaper drugs, and thus more addicts?
For example, crack is a cheaper but more potent version of cocaine. When crack hit the streets, it created an epidemic that greatly increased the number of addicts.
Also, as I've asked before, wouldn't legalization thus remove much of the stigma surrounding drugs and thus bring in a new wave of experimenters? Furthermore, wouldn't lowering the price also contribute to inducing more people to try drugs?
Finally, basic economic theory is that as the price of a commodity goes down, demand increases. Why wouldn't hard drugs follow this pattern?
Second, wouldn't more addicts lead to more crime?
Okay, so assuming you agree with the above, we now have more addicts. Drugs may be cheaper, but there are more addicts now who have to commit crimes to support their habits.
Not only that, but just because drugs are cheaper does not equal an addict buying the same amount of drugs! If drugs are cheaper, an addict is going to have a shit-eating grin on his face because instead of getting one vial of crack for $100 he can now get two for the same price! He isn't going to stop at the one vial! He's a kid in a candy store who can now buy twice as many M&Ms than he could yesterday.
So you have crime to support the addict's habit. You also have more drug-induced crimes occuring because there are more addicts.
Finally, would the black market for drugs really go away? Supposing legalization occurs and a company like Merck gets into the hard drug business. Let's say it's selling a gram of cocaine for $50. Isn't a black market going to emerge regardless of the price in order to undercut Merck? And wouldn't that black market be driven by the same cartels or producers that exist today? Would the Cali cartel, for example, just decide to call it a day because of legalization? Wouldn't they fight tooth and nail to not only keep their grip on the market share of addicts but to use violence against Merck? They aren't normal businessmen, after all! They are hardened, violent criminals! So wouldn't they go after Merck's board, or labs, or scientists, etc? And wouldn't they also terrorize their addict customers with threats and violence to ensure that they buy the black market drugs?
And if it's the US government producing and selling the drugs, why would there not be a situation a la Columbia, with the drug lords assassinating government officials, judges, police, military, etc.?
I really can't imagine the cartels throwing their hands up in the air and just giving up their enormous profits without an enormous struggle.
Looking forward to your thoughts.