Discuss: Should drugs be legalized?

A topic suggested by members:
Drug legalization vs prohibition.

Most people take drugs in one form or another. Whether coffee, cigarettes or, err, chocolates. Some people are addicted; others take them only under certain social settings. But there are many more drugs that may not only be physically addictive, but can also affect someone's mental abilities, and potentially wrack havoc to his/her everyday life. From widely available alcohol, fashionable cannabis, ecstasy, meth, heroin, cocaine, to legally available opioids, there are plenty of poisons to pick from.

Prohibition is usually the first reaction by most governments. And most people have only seen cocaine and heroin on TV as a result. But it is seen as an ineffective policy by many, who argue that legalization is the better strategy, whether to uphold freedom of choice, improve oversight, or to minimize drug-related criminalities. But legally available drugs such as opioids are also causing an epidemic and tragic lost of lives in the US.

Should cannabis be made legal? Or alcohol be made illegal? Can someone who is craving for drugs rationally exercise their freedom of choice? Is locking up drug users and destroying their careers really the least-bad approach?

Should 'drugs' be legalized?

P.s. As Tipsy Thinkers, we will empirically test the effects of certain drugs as part of our important intellectual discussion.