Yes. And, especially this: >I would ask the counter question: what is there to gain from criminalization? People ask the "what about hard drugs?" question as

Yes. And, especially this: >I would ask the counter question: what is there to gain from criminalization? People ask the "what about hard drugs?" question as if criminalization has solved the problem. It obviously hasn't, and has instead created all of the problems associated with the supply-side (i.e. rampant violence, over-crowded jails, etc.) The demand-side problem is clearly going to exist. So, in what possible way could it make sense to additionally create such a monstrous supply-side problem that criminalization creates? Worse, the incredible sums of money spent battling this completely manufactured supply-side problem could obviously go towards ameliorating the demand-side effects.