Guest, firstly I fully understand why you are posting igcognito, and hope you respect my similar reasons for doing the same.
But I don't fully agree with you. Maybe all heroin addicts started on cannabis, but not all cannabis users turned to heroin, I would be interested in the figures both ways, if available.

Should we ban alcohol because some people, a minority of people, are unable to control their drinking to the point where it wrecks their lives?

Should we ban cars because some youths find joyriding stolen motors a suitable pastime, wrecking theirs and others lives.

How about prescription drugs too? Should we ban sleeping pills because some people are unable to function without them? Also wrecking their childrens lives, and what about the anti depressants that are handed out on a regular basis?

I agree with the comment above that were cannabis legalized, it would prevent the hash smoker venturing into a world where other drugs are widely available.They would not be the easy prey that they once were.

I also think that if this were to happen, it would not decrease the heroin abuse, there are some folk who will always seek out the illegal stimulant, and their first drug of choice would probably change to another illegal one.

Having said all that, and fully understanding why you will not agree, I do think that we should be putting our taxes/resources into providing as much support and help as we can, to ensure that the people who for whatever reason, have an internal self destruct button, can avail themselves of the help required,IF they choose to take it. I think that is where our responsibility ends.

There are countless rehab organizations out there, providing excellent help to those addicted to drug/alcohol. But the user has to WANT to be helped.And in order for them to be helped, they also have to accept responsibility for their own problem first. It isn't anyone elses fault that they became addicted. They may have been mitigating circumstances that fuelled their desire to escape reality, and those issues also have to be addressed/counselled too.

I work voluntarily at such a rehab centre, and have too many sad tales to tell. But also many success stories. I do empathise with what you are going through. The innocent family are as much of a victim as the user.But I also believe that legalizing cannabis will have no effect on the heroin or crack statistics. Meanwhile I really wish you, your son and your family all the luck in the world. Hopefully he wants to be helped.