I didn't say anything about a pharmacy and I specifically said that "An addict should be able to easily purchase a pure and dependable supply of Heroin".
I said that the corner convenience store was a bit too easy. Trying to do no brainers here as a starting point for discussion.
So, what's the right balance here? Do you think it should be sold in convenience stores with billboard advertising? You're entitled to think that and that's a place to start a discussion.
Sorry, maybe I went a little overboard there. I hadn't slept in a couple nights ( and not drug related for once) I don't actually think they should be sold in literal corner stores.
I was imagining something like, you get it from a pharmacy, the pharmacist takes you into a 'consultation room,' maybe asks you a few questions (primarily for reporting purposes), gives you some info on rehab if you're interested, give you some info on safe practices, give you some info on risks and how to reduce them and maybe some narcan ( This should be free of charge imo, only saves the state in the long run, here anyway, where its all paid for by the state)
And you walk out of there in 5 - 15 minutes and pay a fee. Which I imagine to be, probably a little high at first only because legit companies and or government entities (however which way its done) are gonna need some time to set up supply lines that allow affordable & high quality consistent products at the same time. But getting to the point of undercutting criminals in quality, price and accessibility is mandatory in my opinion.
I just don't want anybody who really needs them to be denied. Perhaps the old, the mentally ill, the pregnant/breastfeeding etc, get some extra time spent on their specific risks. I just don't want anybody to be turned down... except perhaps under 18 without parental consent - but even that would would present problems, like them just using somebody they know to buy it for them. No matter who we exclude, that just leaves the door open for criminals to still have a market, I'm not sure on all of the answers myself, I just see all the ways its gone wrong in the past.
I mean we already have dedicated places to buy alcohol, weed, cigarettes, coffee, kratom/kava. I imagine something like the way those are handled.
And no, I don't think billboards are a wise choice, for obvious reasons. Where I live, weed cant be sold with any advertising of any kind. They come in a foil-like container, with no marketing even on the package, other than the thc concentration ( which I think is stupid in itself, but a story for a different time.)
There's no cigarette commercials, there's no weed commercials, for some reason I guess there's still alcohol commercials, though that can be just as bad as anything else we are discussing here.
Anyway, I just really think easy accessibility is key. And I took your post for leaning to the idea that individuals needs to jump through hoops to get the product they need. I saw that as a way for criminals continuing to operate. If I was wrong about that, I apologize.