What will happen if we end the War on Drugs?  Won't our children all be on drugs and won't drug-related violence escalate?  The answer is a confident NO.  Let's take a lesson from Alcohol Prohibition.  Prohibition spawned the rise of organized crime.  Alcohol became very profitable on the black-market.  Being illegal, only criminals would do business in Alcohol.  These criminals had no respect for human life or laws.  Violent crime escalated as gangs fought over territory.  Alcohol use increased.  When Prohibition was repealed, Alcohol use drastically decreased (after a short initial increase, no doubt by curious law-abiding citizens).

Years later, along came Drug Prohibition.  After the government declared war on drugs, illegal drug use increased every year.  Every time the government has escalated the war on drugs, drug use has increased.  Along with increased drug use came violent crime as a new breed of gangsters fought to get their share of the profitable black-market in drugs.  Gangsters use children to push their product to other children in schoolyards, a practice reputable companies have never resorted to. 

When we end the war on drugs, we will see the same results we saw with ending Alcohol Prohibition.  Drug prices will drop dramatically, reputable pharmaceutical companies will most likely take over production of safe versions of drugs and market them only to responsible adults (despite what the media might claim).  Violent crime will drop dramatically and the streets will again be much safer.  Is this a naïve utopian fantasy?  No.  It is a scenario based on our nation's past experience.

Another Consequence of Prohibition is the destruction of civil rights.  In the name of the drug war, warrantless searches and seizures have run rampant, asset seizure has become a primary fund-raiser for authorities, gun control (I.e. victim disarmament) has been expanded, privacy rights are violated, and free speech has been attacked.  Because of the power of organized crime and profitability of drugs, corruption in law enforcement has increased.

Often when someone comes out for legalizing drugs, they are accused of wanting to use drugs.  That is not the case.  I just want to live in a safe environment.

Relevant articles from Cato Institute.

Time to End the Drug War
Another Drug War Casualty
The War on Drugs has Failed, Speakers Charge
Speech by Edward Crane on Legalization
A Clear Head on Drugs
The Wide Ranging Consequences of the War on Drugs
The Drug War and the Homicide Rate: A Direct Correlation?
Reefer Madness in Washington DC
Stop Arresting People for Bad Decisions
The Hydra-Headed Drug Business
Gary Johnson is Right
The War the Police Didn't Declare and Can't Win
A Solution Between Prohibition and Legalization
The Drug War On The Constitution
Drug Legalization, Criminalization, and Harm Reduction