molecular printers?

[Blobbenstein]

If a household molecular printer became possible, and one could synthesis usable amounts of any chemical, or drug, then what would that do to society?

What would that do to the pharmaceutical industry?
What would that do to recreational drug laws?

Would it become illegal for an ordinary person to own a molecular printer?

Illegal drugs makers could get their hands on them, and make illicit drugs; no more drugs smuggling, but molecular printer smuggling instead..

ETA: just Googles molecular printing and someone mentioned that things like ricin could be made...

What if the molecular blueprints for a deadly virus got out of a research lab?

 

[Second Summer]

It would have to be banned. The virus scenario illustrates why. Technology and science need regulation in the law, but at this point it's far behind the challenges posed by current developments.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I wondered for a long time about the replicators on Star Trek. They would have to have a block on making some things.

 

[yakherder]

They'd probably ban certain types of ink cartridges lol. Crazy stuff. Already close to the point where I could repair my M4 just by highlighting firing pin and lower receiver and hitting print. Control in the near future will kind of difficult.