Senator Ryuun is also mistaken on his second point. The spice producers of Naboo favor this measure because they know that people will not turn to Cartels for legal drugs. Despite what Senator Carson says, there are many good, decent and otherwise law abiding citizens—perhaps misguided in certain respects—who would never turn to a cartel or syndicate except that they are faced with an unreasonable, prohibitive legal system. The drug cartels exist to supply drugs that are considered illegal; with more of the harmless varieties legalized, the incentive to deal with Hutts or criminals is drastically undercut, and so are their profits.

Senators, please do not see this measure as "giving up," as Senator Carson has said. There are 10 varieties of spice specifically listed here as illegal (these are the truly addictive, harmful varieties). The rest are mostly harmless, and many of them can be refined or synthesized in one's own home or starship. This measure is simply an acknowledgement of reality that these drugs will be used, whether or not we agree with this, and in doing so we are also striking a blow at criminals who prey on the weak and the addicted.

By no means is this a substitute for anti-criminal or anti-drug efforts, but as law enforcers will tell you, this measure assists those efforts. I ask, respectfully, that Senators who have voted thus far reconsider their votes.

While we have not done a full study (this will take time, in order to consider social circumstances and drug use statistics), there is reason to believe that a heavily trafficked world such as Brentaal, for instance, could potentially save as much as a billion credits in a year, on fees and tariffs that would otherwise be unpaid on account of smuggling. I prepared some graphs on this matter before I came to the floor, for the Senate's consideration (see below). Figure 4, in particular, illustrates my remarks.

Also, while I am not informed on Druckenwell's particular situation, I am told by Brentaal's law enforcement officials that Senator Vanden is correct insofar as this measure could allow them to reprioritize and use more of their resources to combat more serious drug offenses, rather than insignificant ones. As a result of these conversations I am further convinced to support this bill.

However, I also recognize that a federal bill requiring the legalization of these spices on all worlds is, equally, a use of government power. Thus I propose that planets have the ability to place further restrictions on these drugs if they feel it is appropriate to the circumstances on their own worlds. That way, no planet is forced to legalize these substances and, at the same time, they are not told that they can't do so if they choose. In other words, legalize these spices on a federal level and let our member planets make additional regulations as they see fit.

I vote in favor of the bill, with such an amendment included.

Furthermore, it has now been 11 days since I challenged Senator Kruus to back up his words with facts.

But Senators, please take note, that the recent incident on Taris only illustrates the compelling need for legislation such as this. There might well have been no such incident if legislation of this sort had been passed; if legal, harmless varieties of spice were available, there simply wouldn't be as much demand on Taris, or any other world for that matter, for the sort of hard substances that the Hutts and, apparently, also the Lucian Alliance were importing there. This bill is needed now, more than ever.

Senators, please reconsider your votes especially in consideration of the new amendment.