>>And it's the illegality of the drugs that causes the crime, in several ways. First off, citizens who otherwise don't even get parking tickets are assigned criminal status by just consuming them. Once you imprison them, they mix up with real criminals and some of them take that as school. Once out, they are branded as such, have a harder time finding a job, and some will resort to the skills acquired in that school.
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>All true, and if they are arrested three times as a felon they become a permanent inmate. Is that still true?

I'll let the natives answer that, I'm a bit out of the loop with what they have for a legal system. I think it was three misdemeanors and you're a felon or some such catch.

>>Second, illegal drugs are far more expensive because there's a monopoly and the cost of doing business illegally (including the cost of weapons, shipments lost, bribes, lawsuits etc). Then these drugs are purchased by people who can't really afford them - addicts aren't exactly affluent, so they're desperate, caught between the addiction, empty pockets and the price of a dose. So they'll sell stuff from their own house, from family, steal, rob, do anything - and thus become criminals for real.
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>There are still the many doctors who supply their "patients" with as many drugs as they need, deals made or not.

Well look at all those drugs for ADD and other imaginary diseases ((c) Frank Zappa) - they're all somewhat diluted narcotics, peddled legally to minors and at prices much higher than on the street, as you also have to pay the deal...um, doctors' fees.

>>Third, the drug peddlers' marketing division is not restrained by any kind of scruples or morals. As their customers die or
>become unable to pay, they make new ones.
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>For those who are unable to pay, other crimes are open to them to get the money they need. Are the "customers" still killed for non-paying today or are other means of disposal used? I guess I am thinking of the Costra Nostra and the old days perhaps.

They probably get some bad cut delivered, or something much stronger than what they're on, and then they OD and die. Ooops.