WHY NOT JUST HAND OUT THE DRUGS AS WELL?

Re: - Health workers address public fears about free crackpipe mouthpieces

I was wondering why, if the mouthpieces are being handed out for
health reasons, the government doesn't just grab the bull by the horns
and hand out the drugs too.

It would certainly be healthier to have users not taking drugs
adulterated and cut with goodness knows what, and would have an impact
on the crime that results from addicts trying to maintain their habit.
Taken further, if the government entered this branch of the drug
business (they already control tobacco and alcohol after all) they
could be helping the development of democracy in Afghanistan by
providing the opium growers with a legitimate market, which could give
them a reason to oppose the Taliban more forcefully. I'm sure the
Colombian government would be helped by reducing the power of the
drugs cartels there too. If drugs were available in government run and
supervised facilities it would be necessary to impose draconian
punishments on those who continued to deal drugs for themselves, but
with cheap or free government approved drugs available I'm sure bottom
would soon drop out of the market for the pushers. Do you think maybe
this is a step too far for our politicians to consider?

Andy Cowan