Drugs ... Legalize It?

Here are a few questions I have;
How can the Government control the sale of drugs when it is being grown or manufactured, mainly, outside of the U.S?
Should the Government subsidize what is now elicit drugs?
Tobacco farming might be a tightly regulated if not subsidized industry. How would our collection of elected "Sheople" even understand how to approach this subject? I have read allot about alcohol prohibition and would this not lead to a similar disaster in reverse?
I guess I have questions lots of questions.
Also, what about the social ramification of drug addicts who now buy drugs on the streets. Will they be allowed to purchase, say ummm Crack at Wal-Mart in the cigarette line?

Sent by BlackinUSA | 2:07 PM | 8-15-2007

Absolutely! I nearly jumped out of my pants when I heard the idea of legalizing drugs on NPR. Thank you. I have always felt that you cannot regulate something that is illegal. The commenter above noted prohibition. Historically, we see first that the prohibition of a substance or activity does not stop people from taking part in it, however the activity or substance because violent because there is a lot of money to be made in the trading of illegal goods. The risk of capture or confiscation by legitimate authority such as the local police department or custom agency is worked into the price, making it higher and therefore very profitable. Once the prohibited activity, in this case, narcotics is legalized there is a whole new realm of regulation that opens taxes even where the common tax benefits monetarily from the drugs instead of spending to stop it. Also, since the risk of jail time is much decreased the cost therefore goes resulting in a lowered demand for participation in the drugs trade by our nation's unskilled youth. The main point of course being a reduction in violent crimes. Now, that one is trading a legal good, thefts can be reported to authorities and the need for vigilante justice is no longer. Not that fictional television is by any means a legitimate expert on the subject but it it interesting to see the "legalization" of the drug trade in the third season on the HBO television show, The Wire. I applaud your quest and share his remorse at the small-mindedness and puritanical mentality of many in our nation and its government. I'd love to hear further discussion on this issue. Thanks, again.

Sent by Simone Cifuentes | 3:16 PM | 8-15-2007

Marijuana, yes, addictive drugs like heroin (and nicotine) no. Too many unacceptable social consequences from the latter.

Sent by THOMAS POPE | 9:19 PM | 8-15-2007

Legalization! That makes to much sense for the U.S. government to do! They want to make criminals out of all the decent citizens of the USA! Put everyone in jail!

Sent by John Law | 2:35 PM | 8-16-2007

Legalization for marijuana and decriminalization for everything else is what I think the first step should be. The War on Drugs has done so much damage and part of that damage is that people won't even consider legalization as a viable option. I think if you could show by legalizing marijuana that it wouldn't lead to chaos, people might be more willing to consider other options. At the very least decriminalization for users could help relieve some of the pressure on the jails and restore some of the opportunity that can be lost when you have a drug possession conviction. Eligibility for financial aid is one example. It's a little hard to turn it all around when they won't even let you go to school!

Sent by Megen Ellis | 4:45 PM | 8-16-2007

How about the NPR staff was on legalized drugs when they got rid of the original News and Notes Roundtable. The bloggers roundtable proves that bloggers are meant to be read and not heard.

Sent by dt | 9:12 AM | 8-17-2007

I want to thank News and Notes and the News and Views blog for not just sweeping by this issue.

My personal feelings aside, this is a very controversial issue and the mainstream media and the government tend to demonize drug usage and respond to any discussion about changes in drug policy with a "Fingers-in-the-ears-I-Can't-hear-you" approach. I'm glad your integrity allows you to leave it to the listener to make up their minds. This is why I keep listening.

Sent by Brian Fields | 3:22 PM | 8-21-2007

Just decriminalize and be done with it. It's the easiest and most expedient way. Otherwise it'll be another wedge, litmus test issue to grand-stand on.

Sent by Jon Jeter | 8:07 PM | 8-22-2007

The prohibition on alcohol was so bloody that Americans with common sense could see that the greater evil was the underground market and its violent ways. It took them 12 years to change it. Cigarettes kill more American each year than ALL illegal drugs combined. But I do not think making cigarettes illegal would end smoking.

Start with Marijuana, which most people do not know, can be a good medication to fight other more harmful drug additions. You don't want crack when you're stoned, you want cracker. Many people with drug additions are just people who have an addition to the feeling of an altered state of mind. I could see that some hard drug users would give up the hard drugs if they have legal marijuana as a crutch.

I would never touch alcohol (drink daily) again if I could vaporize marijuana legally. Of course the alcohol industry knows this and contributes to fight decimalization. In the mean time US drug laws have the effect of helping me destroy my liver, while the less harmful drug marijuana causes our prisons to be over crowded. I guess we have lost our common sense.

Sent by Big Daddy | 11:21 PM | 10-21-2007