MASSIVE ATTEMPTS TO PUNISH AND STOP THE USE OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS IS CONSIDERED UNWISE AND DOOMED TO FAILURE. A COMBATIVE CLIMATE IS SEEN TO EXIST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOUTH -- THE PREDOMINANT USERS OF DRUGS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES -- WHICH IS REINFORCING AND EXACERBATING THE NATURAL TENDENCY OF YOUTH TO REBEL AGAINST DOMINANT CULTURAL AUTHORITIES. THIS IS BELIEVED TO CREATE MORE OF A SOCIAL PROBLEM THAN THE USE OF THE DRUGS. THE USE OF DRUGS, PARTICULARLY CANNABIS, FOR RECREATION IS COMPARED TO THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO, BOTH SUBSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN HARMFUL WHEN TAKEN TO EXCESS. PERCEPTIVE PERSONS ARE SAID TO SEE THROUGH THE HYPOCRISY OF SELECTIVE LEGISLATIION AND ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE USE OF DRUGS WHOSE USE IS COMMON IN THE YOUTH SUBCULTURE. THE QUASI-MEDICAL USE OF DRUGS (USING DRUGS TO RESOLVE AN EMOTIONAL OR PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT) IS VIEWED AS THE DANGEROUS ASPECT OF THEIR USE. HEROIN IS CLASSIFIED AS A DRUG USED MOST OFTEN IN THIS MANNER. CANNABIS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS JUDGED TO BE USED ALMOST ENTIRELY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. LAWS APPROPRIATE TO PATTERNS AND DEGREES OF USE FOR PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ARE DEEMED THE MOST RATIONAL APPROACH TO DRUG LEGISLATION. THE MINIMIZATION OF THE KNOWN ILL EFFECTS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DRUG USE IS CONSIDERED A LEGITIMATE AIM OF SOCIAL POLICY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT CONTROL OVER THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS BE ESTABLISHED SUCH THAT ANY DRUG FOR WHICH THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED DEMAND BE AVAILABLE AND AS EASILY PURCHASED LEGALLY AS ILLEGALLY. (RCB)