Posted by Bob Janova at 8:11pm May 19 '10The question is, who is really behind it? I can't believe that American citizens, given a free vote on the matter, would support the current policy. Economists should be pressing for legalisation as the reduction in policing costs and the huge increase in tax take would be a huge boost to any country. And I don't really see a big industry lobby that could be twisting the arms of government â unless it's tobacco, but I don't think that legalising other drugs would do them much damage (surely tobacco companies would just move into other drugs too?).
The worst part of it is that US pressure keeps our drug policy (real or perceived) just as dumb, and particularly at a time when we could really use that tax money. It also is a major factor in several nasty wars, in Latin America and in Afghanistan (where large areas are moved to support the Taliban because NATO destroy their crops because they're opium farmers).
Last year, half of all federal prisoners in the U.S. were serving sentences for drug offenses.
That was the most shocking part of the article, as I already knew most of the drug policy craziness.
The worst part of it is that US pressure keeps our drug policy (real or perceived) just as dumb, and particularly at a time when we could really use that tax money. It also is a major factor in several nasty wars, in Latin America and in Afghanistan (where large areas are moved to support the Taliban because NATO destroy their crops because they're opium farmers).
Last year, half of all federal prisoners in the U.S. were serving sentences for drug offenses.
That was the most shocking part of the article, as I already knew most of the drug policy craziness.
It is indeed madness. - Bob Janova