Ahhh, my second favorite topic, aside from Legalization of Cannabis. This is partly due to the fact that i can use pretty much the EXACT same argument, but at the same time there are other reasons to have it be legal.

Legalize it, Tax it, and Regulate it. This is a good idea because, exactly like marijuana, Legalizing it would take it out of the hands of the criminal element and make it much safer.

As far as Prostitution being Degrading to women, i would like to make a distinction here:

There is Human Trafficking, and then there is Legalized Prostitution.

In Human trafficking, Women are treated like cattle. They are often abused and forced into Drug addiction. This is a horrible practice and should be stopped at all costs.

Currently, unless you live in the State of Nevada, USA, or Amsterdam, NL, Human Trafficking is a persons only option to pay for sex. You can contract All types of nasty Diseases. Once a woman is in, she never gets out.

However, if you go to Nevada, the Prostitutes will gladly tell you that they WANT to work at the brothel, and in so many words will say "Degrading? Hell, i filled out an application. I can quit this job ANY time i want to, no questions asked."

The Prostitutes receive health benefits and get FREE Compulsory STD and AIDS tests. There is an almost NIL chance that you will get an STD from a legal prostitute. Not to mention you are required to use condoms at a legal brothel, AFAIK.

Having Prostitution be Illegal is worse than it being legal.

And all Religious arguments against Prostitution are Bogus, because if you believe that Soliciting prostitution is a Sin, and it was legal to do so, you can simply make the choice NOT to do it!