Pro

Four reasons why

Costs. Some of the $8 billion spent on interdiction and local enforcement could be used for education and treatment, which receive less than $500 million.

Organized crime. Cocaine and marijuana sales bring drug lords more than $20 billion each year. Legalization would wipe out their major source of funds.

Foreign policy. The U.S. drug habit generates $2 billion in revenues for Latin American thugs. Crackdowns severely strain relations.

Revenues. Treatment programs could be financed by taxes on drugs, like taxes on alcohol and tobacco.