Since my last post has sparked some interesting discussion regarding the legalization of drugs, let’s dig a little deeper. Obviously this is a HUGE issue with many facets and implications. One facet is whether marijuana should be treated the same as “harder” illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Another is legalization (making a particular drug legal to buy) versus decriminalization (leaving the drug technically illegal but making enforcement a very low priority, effectively instructing the authorities to look the other way).

I am far from an expert on the subject and only tonight started reading about it more fully. But a few initial ideas keep popping up as I read:

1. When people want something, but the government makes it illegal, a black market appears. Ridiculously high prices result from the risk involved, leading to huge profits for the dealers of the banned item and huge incentive for others to become dealers themselves. (see Prohibition)
2. When a product is bought and sold on the black market, none of the typical mechanisms exist for quality control, safety, or resolution of disputes among suppliers, dealers, and buyers.
3. Black markets typically produce other types of crime due to their unregulated and off-the-record natures.
4. As a nation we have spent billions of dollars fighting drugs every year for decades. Yet illegal drugs are still quite common along with their associated problems. Whatever we’re doing isn’t solving the problem. For an interesting look at our failure in the war on drugs, rent 2001 Best Picture nominee Traffic.

Obviously the preceding statements support the idea of loosening restrictions on drugs. However, other facts and theories support their continued prohibition, such as:

1. Illegal drugs are banned for a reason: they are dangerous. Many argue that marijuana is no more dangerous, or even less so, than alcohol or tobacco, which are obviously legal but heavily regulated. But few would dispute that harder illegal drugs can cause drastic and potentially fatal harm to the human body, that many are extremely addictive, and that they had destroyed countless lives.
2. Legalization would increase the number of users and some of the associated problems, such as users who drive under the influence, decreased productivity, addiction, and use by minors who might not fully understand the dangers involved.
3. Even if some or all illegal drugs were legalized, many questions remain regarding the new market for them. Who would be authorized to sell them? Could a user buy them at the corner Kwik-E-Mart, or must he go to a pharmacy or specialized store? Would a doctor’s prescription be required? Why would a doctor write such a prescription? Is there an age requirement for a buyer? A background check? Who manufacturers the drugs? What insurance company would sell liability insurance to the manufacturer of such dangerous substances? Would the drugs be taxed like tobacco and alcohol? If so, how much, and where would that tax revenue go?
4. There’s obviously a moral question as well. Should the government make it illegal to do things that most people think are wrong? It already does on many different issues, but is that right? What role should a person’s free will play in the debate? Should I have the legal right to damage my body with cocaine if I so choose? What about alcohol or cigarettes, which kill MILLIONS more people than illegal drugs but are legal in America?

If you are interested in further reading, here are some places to start:

• Ron Paul (former Presidential candidate and Texas congressman)
• BusinessWeek: Should We Legalize Marijuana for Tax Revenue?
• NY Times Freakonomics Blog on Marijuana
• Edubook: Pros and Cons
• Associated Content: Pros and Cons
• Balanced Politics : Pros and Cons of Marijuana Legalization
• CNN Politics – Cafferty Blog: Time for US to Legalize Drugs?

In case you’re wondering, I’m not a closet pothead. I despise tobacco and all illegal drugs unless they have some legitimate medical purpose. The only non-medical drugs I use are caffeine (daily) and alcohol (occasionally). I’m just a fan of common sense. If our society is going to create and enforce a law or invest in a program, I want to see a positive return from that investment. I want our society to be as strong and healthy as it possibly can be, including all the different elements of life. If the war on drugs does more harm than good, which I believe it does, then let’s work together and figure out a better plan.

What are your thoughts on this issue? I would take a poll, but I fear the issue is too complex to fit neatly into a single-question poll.