Drug Prohibition Is Harmful (From Legalizing Drugs, P 26-28, 1996, Karin L. Swisher, ed. -- See NCJ-160030)

• NCJ Number: 160033
• Author(s): B Ehrenreich
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 3 pages
• Sale Source: Greenhaven Press
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Federal Government has misdirected resources to eliminate the drug problem; because prohibiting drugs has made the drug trade highly lucrative and allowed organized crime to flourish, law enforcement efforts should be abandoned in favor of decriminalization or legalization.

Abstract

An estimated 40 million Americans have tried marijuana at some point. Yet, in some States, possession of a few grams of marijuana can result in a lengthy jail sentence. Prohibiting cocaine and heroin may be even more harmful than prohibiting marijuana, since organized crime groups are the primary beneficiaries of drug prohibition. Although drugs can cause death, drug prohibition kills as well, particularly in urban areas where many homicides are drug-related. The author does not recommend a "cold turkey" approach to drug legalization, instead starting with marijuana and then moving slowly to cocaine and heroin.