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Prohibition versus Legalization Do Economists Reach a Conclusion on Drug Policy? by Mark Thornton
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What to do? Keep current policy on drug prevention? Increase spending and efforts? Decriminalize and/or legalize drugs?
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War on Drugs Economists have at the forefront of the debate. Criticism of ineffectiveness Unintended Consequences Violent crime Corruption of police Corruption of public officials
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War on Drugs Costs (2005): US Gov’t cost report on drug control; $12b In a separate US Gov’t report; Incarceration: $30.1b Police protection: $9.1b Legal costs: $4.5b State & Fed corrections: $11.0b Total:$34.7
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Survey of Economists 15% favored status quo 21% favored increased efforts 58% favored a change in policy 71% favored legalization or decriminalization <2% favored stiffer sentences and increased enforcement budgets
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Survey of Americans 36% favored legalization or controlled distribution of most drugs 40% believe decriminalization of cocaine would reduce violent crime 3-1 margin preferred addiction treatment and counseling for drug users over fines and/or imprisonment
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Demographic Characteristics CharacteristicReformersProhibitionists SexMaleFemale RaceWhiteNonwhite EducationCollege or moreGrade School OccupationProfessional/FarmerClerical/manual Income levelHigh and MiddleLow AgeYoung and Middle50+ years RegionNortheast and WestSouth ReligionJewish or noneProtestant PoliticsIndependentDem. and Rep.
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Positions Against The permanent reduction in price caused by legalization is likely to have a substantial positive effect on use, particularly among the poor and young Prohibition shows that the society can make a dent in the consumption of drugs through laws.
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Positions Against The estimate of al the effects of drug use needs to be improved substantially before it can be determined whether the benefits outweigh the costs of decriminalization. The elasticity of demand is not zero; Decriminalization will sharply lower prices Will lead to a noticeable increase in use of drugs, new users and addicts
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Positions For Taxpayers, who are usually not associated with illegal drug activity, foot the bill of the war on drugs Tax revenues from legalized drugs could fund drug education and rehab
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Positions For Prohibition has, at least in part, led to; Increase in street crime Increase in gang activity Police corruption Congested courts Overcrowded prisons The repeal of alcohol prohibition led to the demise of bootleggers
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Conclusion The general consensus among drug-policy researchers and economists is in opposition to prohibition Still, only timidly in support of decriminalization and even more timidly in favor of legalization
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Conclusion The ONLY feasible way to eliminate the black market for drugs is to legalize them The legalization of drugs will lead to some, maybe different but nonetheless, problems Much more research needs to be conducted before a legalization policy is enacted
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Work Cited Thornton, Mark 2007. Prohibition versus legalization. The Independent Review, Winter 2007, pp417-433.
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