Good topic. It will surely generate some lively discussion. Myself, very much for it. The argument that it not a deterrent to crime is bogus. If you doubt it, visit Singapore. Drug possession, murder, violent crime of any type is not tolerated. Example, if you are caught with drugs, you are arrested, tried, and if found guilty, hung within 3 days. Believe me it is one of the safest countries in the world. You can walk out of a restaurant, leave your wallet on the table and come back 3 hours later and it is untouched. Serious crime just doesn't exist there. Malaysia is very much the same for drugs and murder. And again a safe country. Although Malaysia isn't as hard on robbery and other type crimes as Singapore and they have a lot more per 1000 people. Both countries look the other way on the sex trade, but that's common to most Aisian countries. But even that doesn't spill over into other crimes because of the strict laws.