Essentially that's what I'm saying, jimmyt. A system where possession for use was legal, and where supplies could be obtained from legal sources, for a price reflecting the actual cost, which would be relatively low.

Obviously it wouldn't solve all the problems, but it would make it possible to set about solving them. There wouldn't be people poisoning themselves with the additives dealers cut their stuff with, and the accidental overdoses where someone gets a supply of stuff that is a lot less dilute than they are used to. And since the prices wouldn't be inflated, the pressure to raise money to pay for a habit would be lower, and that could make it safer for everyone else to walk the streets.

Alcoholism , and the self-destruction and damage to others involved, is a terrible thing. But generally speaking prohibition as a way of eliminating it doesn't have a good track record.