Your replies seem to indicate that criminalization and harsher penalties for drug use decrease rates of use. In fact, there are many studies that indicate the o

Your replies seem to indicate that criminalization and harsher penalties for drug use decrease rates of use. In fact, there are many studies that indicate the opposite - it is the case that decriminalization does not tend to increase rates of marijuana usage. Where decriminalization has been followed by increased marijuana usage, we can see states with harsher penalties experience greater increases. If you believe that marijuana use is an absolute bad, and you want to decrease people's use of marijuana, you should do so from a place of knowledge and data. Seek out interventions that actually decrease drug usage. Don't cling to a demonstrably ineffective intervention (harsh legal penalties) just because it feels good, especially if that intervention is expensive and harmful to individuals. Ninja edit for link to review of decriminalization studies: https://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/marijuana-decriminalization-its-impact-on-use-2 https://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/marijuana-decriminaliz...