Evolving a New Policy for Illicit Drugs

Abstract

The primary objective of drug policy should be the minimization of harm which can result from the consumption of certain drugs. The pharmacological and toxicological properties of drugs can cause harm by inducing antisocial behaviors, causing morbidity or death from overdosage, or tissue damage. Other social problems attributed to drugs, such as crimes of property or violence and corruption, are essentially the unintended negative consequences of the policy of prohibition. Prohibition also represents an increasing financial burden to the state because of costs of law enforcement, court proceedings and prisons. Modifications to prohibition policy which may attenuate some of its disadvantages are reviewed. Alternative policies are offered which should offer greater individual and social benefits and fewer negative consequences. It is proposed that the essential problem associated with the policy of prohibition is the nature of the illicit market. The proposal favored is one which can eliminate the illicit market by the employment of “market forces.” However, some questions remain to be answered and this paper may encourage some responses.