Why is drug use illegal?

Not dealing but just using them. More people are killed by aids but they don't make premarital sex and other irresponsible behavior illegal and with sex you're spreading the disease to other people as well and not just hurting your own body. Some laws just seem rather arbitary because there are plenty of more harmful things like smoking that are legal.

idk but these are statistics talking; in Amsterdam drug use is legal and their crime rate is much less than ours, also prostitution is legal and less people have aids.

drug companies are not making money off of non prescription drugs and the government is making too much money off of the failed war on drugs.

added. If you research it may suprise you the amount of drugs laws that were were passed as a result of stereotyping those of other races

Simply because the law says it is.

Your right about about the whole AIDS thing. Drugs are illegal because the government doesn't want us hurting ourselves I suppose. They've never really explained themselves have they? This is just a personal opinion, but I think that if you want to get high, you should go right ahead. Suicide isn't illegal, now is it? And plenty of decent people have used drugs. The Beatles were Huge drug users. They took trips with their mind. That's pretty cool, huh? To be able to escape and go to Pepperland, even if only for a little while.

Are you trying to legitimize you drug use?

Sorry, its just wrong. It ultimately comes down to kids. A govt. entity can help to do something about the damage to kids from drugs by making laws. The potential damage that could be done to kids, by allowing their unpenalized use by irresponsible parents, friends is staggering. Just in psychological damage alone, observing parents for example. Far, far beyond anything cigarettes could do. Even now it does such damage, those that take the drugs don't care in the least. In my line of work, I see this first hand. Thank God we have something to help protect the kids.

You've made some good points - and I believe if people would use recreational drugs in a responsible manner which wouldn't endanger or disrupt other peoples lives, there would be no problem.
Unfortunately, the reality, as aptly demonstrated daily in this country and verified by the number of inmates who were under the influence when they committed their crimes, let alone the domestic violence concerns, traffic fatalities, lost production and other concerns - a great many people cannot even use alcohol in a responsible manner - and legalizing even more substances would only increase the problem.
Recently, a man jumped over the counter at a local pharmacy with a knife and threatened the pharmacist's life - he left with with several small containers of Oxycontin - I seriously doubt a smoker or alcoholic has ever been that desperate.