Really?So accidents caused by alcohol abuse has been "solved" around the world?Or cancer developed by smoking is surely a rarity?Or even addiction of legal drugs are few and far betwenn?We already have numerous problems plaguing the drugs we are allowed to use.Just because lets say cacaine is legally allowed to use, do you believe that problems are going to dissapear from thin air?Do you trully believe South America will create clinics especific to use this drug, in a controlled enviroment?Or Asia?Or Africa?Or even the USA?Netherlands and a few other countries in Europe are the exception, since they have a really high social responsability.Legallizing drugs would solve mostly drug traffic related crimes, like murder, drug mules and so on.But it would create so many more problems, like drug abuse in parties(imagine the abuse it would have in university parties if that were legal to use?), drivers under the influence of strong drugs which could be even worse than alcohol, and many, many more.And how can you better control long-term biological damage from those illegal drugs, if even we have problems dealing with the legal ones?It would just pile up.

To be quite honest here, neither solutions are ideal.The best one of all would be to ban acess to the hardcore drugs, like cocaine and meths for example, but at the same time give a proper education to the masses.Not just drug-related, but overall.When you know more, you are less propensed to do stupid things.The reason governments dont do it/hardly do is because its a long-terms plan.Educating the society takes time and effort, and politicians prefer the results to be shown while they are in power for their own gain.

Unless of course the 'other people' have to pay for the damages your usage causes. To the users body or to the users neighborhood/family.

Idealistic thinking isn't realistic thinking. The fact of the matter is, those addicted to hard drugs have to want to give them up, and many don't. Nobody actively goes into life WANTING to start using hard drugs. Providing a safe place to use and a safe way to use helps those who are either too physically or mentally addicted to their drugs of choice do so, provides them with the help they need on the spot if they chose to try and quit, and keeps them away from those they may influence directly or indirectly to use as well. Isolation in this case is one of the best forms of education. Not the ONLY one, obviously, but isolating usage and teaching young people not to use is the most realistic of ideal options. It's worked wonders with cigarettes in the past five to seven years with banning open smoking and those cringey but effective orange banner ads.

We should end the war on Marijuana. At least change how it's classified, since it's been proven to have medicinal purposes. It doesn't belong in the same catagory as cocaine. Hell, alcohol kills more people than weed, why not lump that in with cocaine? We need to keep battling stuff like Meth and Heroin, since more and more people are dying from those drugs.

Yes, the failed drug war should end and emphasis should be on treatment instead of incarceration. Putting people in jail because of drugs doesn't solve anything.

I believe the DEA is finally looking into reclassifying cannabis.  You know you have a failed policy/classification when a majority of people know that the schedule 1 listing of cannabis is complete bullshit.

Should we? Absolutely

Will we? Absolutely not - we just banned trans fat in our foods. We're heading in the exact opposite direction. It is a nation of hand-holding I-know-better-than-you government control. The freedom to poison oneself seems to be restricted, no matter how impotent the poison itself actually is. I strongly disagree with my government on the direction in which the nation is heading in regards to personal freedoms which seem to be reduced by the day.

Ron Paul was brilliant on this point, it's unfortunate no one was listening. If you legalize heroin tomorrow, there will not be a mad dash for it. The same users will continue as such, but it will be available without frequenting a seedy vendor in an unsavory location. Why should the government dictate what one does to one's body? Isn't that the entire mantra of the pro choice debate? 

Not solved, but they're not as bad as the problems involved with illegal drug use and without all the criminal activity surrounding the banned substances. A big part of that is because they're regulated. You're far less likely to OD on prescription painkillers if you keep to a set dosage whereas when using heroin you have no clue about purity. And as they're regulated, if you do become addicted you only have a few avenues to get your fix and are more likely to get noticed and get the help needed. 

@ bolded

That assumes we treat them as we currently treat alcohol and to a lesser extent tobacco. When I say regulate it means you have to go to a health center where you get the full education shock beforehand, get limited dosage so you can't OD, make it illegal to re-sell any drugs you do get, ensure you carry a certificate whilst carrying the drugs and limit the places you can actively be under the influence etc. In exchange, you get a product with a guaranteed level of purity. 

Regulation and education are much better alternative then all the crap that we have with the war on drugs considering all the drug issues still exist but are brushed under the carpet whilst we happily let cartels and gangs profit from the violence and brutality they inflict on society. 

Yes. The war on drugs should end. People with addiction need HELP and rehab, not to be imprisoned for years of their lives.

I'm not sure the DEA has the authority to reclassify pot.  I think only legislation, Congress, the executive branch or an administrative action by the USAG can do so.