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James,

I am not disputing that heroin is a deadly drug nor am I condoning heroin use. But people who choose to do heroin are harming themselves and only themselves - hence, a victimless crime. Drug addiction is a health issue, not a criminal issue. You can attack the supply (dealers) all you want but new ones will inevitable pop up. There are tons of other legal substances that are also deadly -fast food, cigarettes, alcohol. Should we prosecute alcohol producers for alcohol fatalities? Should we charge cigarette companies for every cancer death? No, because we as individuals need to be responsible for our own actions. For some reason we drew an arbitrary line in the sand and said that certain substances are so DANGEROUS we can’t allow them at all. I’d much prefer if we took even a fraction of the money the DEA spends annually on its “war on drugs” and put that towards rehab centers, public service announcements, and warning labels that explicitly list the risks of narcotics. It’s also funny you assume I’m a liberal while simultaneously voicing support of the nanny state.