> In our country the social problems of alcohol and tabbaco seems to be much more of a problem than the use (and abuse) of softdrugs.

Hi Walter,
I think you've hit the nail on the head. The same seems to be true here. I don't know if they keep such stats, but I'd be willing to bet that alcohol has caused more deaths, broken up more families, and cost the tax payers more in money for welfare, medical expenses, etc than all the drug cases combined.

The "war on drugs" will continue. Why? Because of money. To many people would loose their jobs if the war was abandoned. To much fear and propaganda has been spread to the public about the "evils" of drug use, and alot of the public laps it up as gospel. The goverment said it so it must be true. Any one remember the goverment classic "Reefer Madness"?

The problem as I see it is as simple as supply and demand. If someone wants it, someone will find a way to supply it, period. All you have to do is look back at prohabition. It's the same thing. I for one think it's time to look at the facts. Legalizing softdrugs, taxing and controlling them, much the way they do alcohol and tabacco, is the only thing that makes good sense. Use the money generated from the tax, and the money saved from the "war" to help out the truly needy of the US and the world.

I now step down off the soap box.