this arises from caffeine and nicotine being regulated, meaning if other drugs were to become regulated too, caffeine and nicotine would no longer have this comparative advantage.
this is absolutely true. many other currently unregulated drugs would have no problems on society if they were to be regulated in the same way as caffeine. the only reason people aren't ruining their lives to get their coffee fix is because it is cheap, available, and safe. but the minute there is a caffeine prohibition, then there is a black market for coffee beans and tea and now we have to worry that those are laced with dangerous levels of other things, the costs sky rocket and people start taking out dubious loans putting them into the death spiral. plenty of people can use things like meth and be fine on a daily basis (pretty much already happening every day already), but only when it's available. many people getting their lives ruined due to the current shortage, thus requiring them to turn to black market for it.
this is absolutely true. many other currently unregulated drugs would have no problems on society if they were to be regulated in the same way as caffeine. the only reason people aren't ruining their lives to get their coffee fix is because it is cheap, available, and safe. but the minute there is a caffeine prohibition, then there is a black market for coffee beans and tea and now we have to worry that those are laced with dangerous levels of other things, the costs sky rocket and people start taking out dubious loans putting them into the death spiral.
plenty of people can use things like meth and be fine on a daily basis (pretty much already happening every day already), but only when it's available. many people getting their lives ruined due to the current shortage, thus requiring them to turn to black market for it.