True, but a large number of murders, burgalries, assaults, robberies, thefts and frauds are directly tied to the illegal trade.
Not all that many..
Domestic abuse/violence is normally independent
Assaults are more likely tied to alchohol
Sexual assaults, alcohol or opportunity
I concede some burglaries and thefts are related but mostly it is career criminals who are too lazy to actually work for a living who find it much easier the just steal other peoples stuff.
Murders in this city are usually known to the victim and not drug related for the most part. Murders along border towns, probably a whole different ball game.
The point being, whether drugs are legalized or illegal, local law enforcement will truck along. I think we could better focus our resources on more effective prevention if we didn't tie up so much trying to arrest all drug offenders. We have street level narcs, Organized Crime detectives, Metro Tactical units, all focusing on drugs..