Please stop this insane discussion. Drugs and prostitution are illegal for a reason. As the Gent mentions above, these are “destructive activities.” I know it can be argued that smoking and drinking are also destructive activities and they are leagal. However, smoking and drinking in moderation does not destroy families, lives and degrade our societies. I won’t even go in to the diseases that are spread via prostitution and drug use, and the burdon they place on our already strapped healthcare system. With each passing day personal surrvival becomes more difficult. I won’t go in to the whole economic crisis discussion, but we can’t open up more pits of despair into which the helpless can throw themselves. To paraphrase JP above, we cannot surrender ourselves to vices through legalization in hopes of better controlling them. How about murder then. We can set age limits you know. You have to be 18 to legally kill. The person you kill has to be a “bad” person or have done something bad(the definition of bad to be determined at a later time). Sure it’s a ridiculous premis, but to me so is leaglized prostitutiion and drugs. Would it have made any difference if Gov Spitzer was participating in a legal activity? Not to his wife and family I’m sure. Would it matter as much if the Govenor had a few cocktails and maybe a cigar every now and then. I think not. What would make anyone think our state or federal government could control either activity in an effective and efficient manner.