The Economist is not exactly a liberal institution, nor a libertarian bastion. So when it steps up and calls for an end of the War on Drugs, it makes as splash (via TalkLeft). It doesn't break any new ground with regards to the arguments for drug legalization (short version - prohibition has never worked and does more harm than good), but the piece does a particularly good job of dealing with objections to legalization.
It is also perfectly honest about the issues at stake. Drug legalization is not a panacea. It will have some negative consequences, particularly in First World consumption countries, which may have to deal with increased addiction issues. Nonetheless, legalization is "the least bad policy" and would, globally, do more good than harm. I've never been convinced otherwise.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Stop Making Sense
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1 comment:
I read that article too. Very good points. How long will it take us to learn that prohibition does not work?
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