Libertarianism 101: Why Drugs Should Be Legalized

Let's get this out of the way first ... Do I use illegal narcotics? Not at all. My last toke on a joint was in 1981 ... I think. Do I want my kids to smoke dope or snort cocaine? Absolutely not! Do I want them around people who abuse drugs ... any drug? Of course not. So, why would I be in favor of legalizing substances that are currently illegal?

Personal Freedom & Individual Responsibility
You come home from a hard day at work and, in the privacy of your own home, decide to have a beer and a joint ... to unwind and relax. Why is the beer legal and the joint illegal? Does one cause more harm than the other? Is there something in the federal or state consitutions that say one type of drug is okay while others are not? As long as our personal drug use does not result in injury to another person or damage to their property, why should smoking a joint in our living rooms be illegal?

A Colossal Waste of Money
Federal, state, and local governments spend an incredible amount of money on the war on drugs. This is our money that is, essentially, wasted. Do people still do drugs, even though they're illegal? Do drugs still enter our country from South America and Asia? Are the drugs still present in our schools? Do I have to even bother to answer these questions? Studies have shown that there are more cost effective means for fighting drug abuse ... and, after all, that really is our goal, isn't it? We want to move people off debilitating drugs and toward a produtive life. A non-violent drug offender does not belong in a cell. He belongs in a treatment program that will return him to his family and his workplace.

Some Links of interest:

• Economic Consequences of the War on Drugs


• Drug War Crimes, The Consequences of Prohibition


• Controlling Cocaine: Supply Versus Demand Programs

Criminal Activity
Think of the crime and violence that result from making drug use illegal. Think of the non-violent drug offenders who are incarcerated at the public's expense. What about the gang activity and violence associated with drug trafficing? If you want a striking parallel, think back to the days of alcohol prohibition. What were the results of this prohibition? The Valentine's Day Massacre, Al Capone, Gangster Activity, the foundation of the Kennedy fortune (I just had to add that one ...) ... For an excellent comparison, please read this article, Prohibition and the War on Drugs.