Frankly; I am of the opinion that we have been too lenient with drug smugglers/pushers..execution is not out of order(IMO) considering how many people they kill and how many families they destroy. As I see it, the user is an enemy of our country by supporting an illegal smuggling industry. Even the domestic illicit drug business makes much money and doesn't pay taxes on it..but cost the taxpayers much for their addicts that need hospitalization, rehab, repairs and crime.
It may seem harsh, but swift justice and execution for anyone in the production & distribution of such should be the practice. Part of the problem with capital punishment now, is the inmterminable years that go by with them living off the rest of us.
Not being a user of drugs, alcohol, tobacco or any other addictive substance, the either/or argument is not germain as I see it. For instance, Dale says he loves his daughter very much and I am sure he does. ..But then he goes on to say he would rather have her smoke some pot than to become an alcoholic. Nobody wants their child to be addicted to anything, but the idea that it should be one or the other is rather specious. My wife and I have been married for 52 years, raised two sons and 4 grandchildren and none are addicted to anything..simply because they don't use any addictive substances. So you see, a person doesn't HAVE to maintain a "habit".
I think on this one, Alsaqr and Rex are right..we should not coddle the buyers of illegal substances either..Jail, with hard labor, at least as much as they can stand, is in order. Let's face it, many criminals are involved in criminal activity because they want money without working for it! This would be a chance to learn what labor is about..little rocks from big rocks, if nothing else..
Some try to equate their or otrher's drug use as "freedom". I wouldn't care so much if they only hurt themselves, but when some drug-crazed individual runs a stolen car down the freeway at 100 mph and kills a family..that's not "freedom". When some drug-crazed nut rapes and/or kills a little child,..that's not freedom. When some drug soaked loser costs taxpayers $100,000 for rehab & repairs (perhaps several times over)..that's not freedom.
The prison for the addicts should be secure and not a "Club Gitmo". More like "Stalag 17" would be better; if prison were unpleasant, fewer would want a return trip. As far as guards furnishing dope to the dopes..that makes them a pusher and pushers get snuffed.
Tex has the idea..perhaps incoming dope should be treated and let go, but first with a warning to the drug-using populace that the next thing they smoke, sniff, inject or whatever..may be their last..
There; I have said all these things, knowing they will not be enacted ..simply because many people don't believe that evil exists or that there is any right or wrong. In fact they get to the point where they cannot TELL right from wrong; only "if it feels good, do it!" ....And so we will plod on toward our national destruction..