re: RE: legalizing recreational drugs and selling them in shops

Because a lot, and I mean a lot, of careers and fortunes rest on a healthy supply of drug offenders.

ETA: I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, but people are usually going to act rationally, and that entails looking out for their self-interests. Keeping drugs illegal serves many peoples' self interests, from the prison guard all the way to the pharmaceutical representative. And before people say we're "protecting" the user and others, society has no problem with sending people home with highly addictive and deadly drugs - so long as a DR writes a script. We're still trusting the person to act responsibly. They could down half the bottle, die, or kill someone in a car crash. If "illicit" drugs were legal, quality and potency could be monitored and regulated, hence you'd have fewer ODs (as most are caused be unknown strength).