War on drugs failed say heads of MI5, BBC, CPS....you can say that again

According to a new piece in the Telegraph The "war on drugs" has failed and should be abandoned in favour of evidence-based policies that treat addiction as a health problem, according to prominent public figures including former heads of MI5 and the Crown Prosecution Service..... (click the title to read the full story)

Look at the devastation that is caused to whole families by sending so many to prison. Crime is increased. Billions are spent, and now entire countries are destroyed by it (Mexico, Columbian etc). When are we going to wake up and take a more progressive view? Drugs have many downsides as does alcohol but a crime? Surely it should be a personal choice... take away the profit for the criminals and use it to raise taxes and cut prison populations. Okay you may need to build more rehab clinics but my bet is it will work out much cheaper and you will have a happier population around the world...