The Wall

[OngBonga]

How many families would be positively influenced if meth is legal?

Many. There would be less people going to jail. There would be more people reaching out for help because they no longer have to fear repurcussions. So yeah, it would positively impact on at least some families. Meanwhile, making it illegal doesn't positively impact on any families, because legality is proven to be an innefective means of stopping junkies getting wasted.

[BananaStand]

Many. There would be less people going to jail.

A minuscule number of people go to jail as it is.

If you're referring to people going to jail for crimes more serious than mere possession, then the number is less minuscule. But I would argue that the criminals, will still commit crimes.

Drug traffickers will just exploit the legal status of drugs in the US in order to use it as base for manufacturing and distribution to other places where it's not legal. That's whats happening in Colorado right now. Pot is legal, so people grow it (legally), and then ship it off to the black market
http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/01/2...-states/47334/

Furthermore, the black market in Colorado doesn't seem to be hurting. In fact, with so much legal production locally, street prices have gone DOWN, making the black market even more attractive. Who's going to pay $400 an ounce from a legal dispensary when the old fashioned drug dealers are selling zips for $240?
https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarre...83#.rxGlBEZ0oR

Burdensome taxes (the supposed 'benefit' of legalizing drugs) seems to be motivating more black market activity than it stops.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...arket/7292263/

"Those barriers to entry already create the potential for the black market, and then you add these taxes on top of it, and it makes it impossible to get rid of," said Denver attorney Robert Corry

There would be more people reaching out for help because they no longer have to fear repurcussions. .

Huh? What repercussions? There is no consequence to admitting you have a problem and are seeking help. Also, I don't know about other places, but my state has laws that protect 'good samaritans' when it comes to complications from drug use. In other words, if you're worried your friend took too much, you can take them to an emergency room or call the cops for help, without fear of arrest or charges, even if you yourself are high as fuck, and have full syringes just lying around in plain sight. Immunity.

So yeah, it would positively impact on at least some families.

And nothing else bad would happen? Really?

Meanwhile, making it illegal doesn't positively impact on any families,

False. You already cited the numerous households suffering from alcohol abuse. How many of those might suffer more if the user graduated to a stronger substance? How likely is that to happen if the substance is widely available?

because legality is proven to be an innefective means of stopping junkies getting wasted.

Proven? How? Say there are 1 million frequent heroin users in the US. That's a hypothetical number. Can you prove to me that number would not go up, at all, if heroin became legal?