NCJ Number
113186
Journal
Public Interest Issue: 92 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 3-31
Date Published
1988
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Legalizing drugs may be the optimal strategy for addressing the drug problem in the United States, when compared with the advantages and disadvantages of current and planned policies.
Abstract
Legalization could take many forms. At one extreme is the libertarian vision of almost no government restraints on the production and sale of drugs or any psychoactive substances, except perhaps around the fringes, such as prohibiting sales to children. At the other extreme is total government control over the production and sale of these goods. In between is an approach in which government makes most substances available to competent adults, exercises strong regulatory powers over all large-scale production and sale of drugs, makes drug treatment available to all who need them, and offers honest drug education to children. These legalization scenarios should be discussed despite the hostility of most Americans to the idea. Current drug programs have failed and are costly and counterproductive. In addition, repealing many drug laws would probably not lead to a dramatic rise in drug abuse. Legalization would not represent a capitulation to drug dealers, but a way of putting them out of business. Finally, the chance that legalization would increase drug abuse is only a risk, not a certainty. We need to honestly evaluate our options, including legalization, if we are to find the best solution to our drug problems.