So, David Henderson is now a criminal.

His crime; using cocaine or more accurately getting caught.

His punishment, likely the loss of control of his successful international business and the inability to travel overseas ever again.

Does a conviction for personal use of drugs justify the impact of that conviction has on society? When convicted, people can lose their job, or their busines, as is the likely case for David Henderson. Does that do society any good? No.

Prohibition of alchohol was a complete failure, and the prohibition of drugs is also a complete failure. When it impacts the lives of people like David Henderson it is undeniable that the so called crime is victimless except through the application of the law. He used cocaine as part of his entertainment, in the same way many people use alchohol, cigarettes or even driving fast in their cars.

Should he have a conviction? Did he hurt any one? Was he in control of a vehicle while under the influence? Did he use machinery? Did he rob or attack someone? No.

But he is now a criminal. For enjoying himself.

Use of drugs should be legalized across the board. Would the ‘P’ problem exist today if there was no prohibition in New Zealand? Unlikely.

There are problems with alchohol in society, and there is an argument that society would have an even bigger problem with legalized drugs. But the thing is, that problem is already there, and the big difference is, because one is legal and the other is not, people often do not get help until they have truely gone down a very dark path.

I personally know several alchoholics, and I know also several drug addicts. Guess what, the alchoholics get help, the drug addicts only do so when they hit rock bottom.

Outnumbering the drug addicts and alchoholics are the work-a-holics. They do far for damage to our society than the others, but that’s their choice.

That is what it comes done to. Choice.

I can go down the road and buy beer, and get drunk in the privacy of my own home and it is nobody’s business but mine. If I go down the road and buy cocaine for my own personal use, I am technically a criminal. But for what?

The current arguments to keep drugs illegal just do not stack up. There are already problems. But they are hidden under the guise of a responsible society that does not acknowledge the drugs are already there.

Legalization and regulation of drugs is the only answer that will ensure people like David Henderson are not made to be criminals for victimless crimes.