Economic approaches to the decriminalization of drugs drug legalization is gaining everwidening support in most western societies. In fact, for those two critical groups of youth 15 years and 1618 years, prevalence rates have declined for virtually every substance. Professor sowell understood the economic and social dynamics of drug illegality more than 25 years ago. Kate waldock is a doctoral candidate in economics at the. Pdf the economics of drug legalisation researchgate. The economics of drug prohibition and drug legalization. The illegal drug business causes damage on two fronts. The effect of marijuana decriminalization on the budgets.
Our results indicate that decriminalization of the production and distribution of drugs may lead to a reduction in violence in markets where organized drug criminals meet licit competition. One of the main arguments for legalizing drugs is that people should be free to consume whatever they want, even if it is harmful to them, as long as others are not affected. Because drugs can be potentially harmful or be the cause of violent behavior, there must be strong controls placed upon the use of these substances. Overall, legal marijuana could mean a big push for state. The causal link between drugs, death, disease and crime is not direct, but is mediated by culture, socio economics and policy responses. In 2012, the think tank australia 21, released a report on the decriminalization of drugs in australia. Feb 11, 2015 as this chart from transform drug policy foundation shows, the proportion of the population that reports having used drugs at some point saw an initial increase after decriminalization, but then a. An increasing number of countries and subnational jurisdictions have therefore been reducing or eliminating criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use, on grounds both of proportionality and effectivenessoriented policy. Nevertheless, it is interesting to track the changes in drug indicators since 2001 and explore the perceptions of key informants in order to give some picture of the effects of decriminalization. The call comes in a new report on how to prevent, diagnose and treat hiv among key populations, including drug users.
The economic case for the us to legalize all drugs. These decriminalization of drugs pros and cons suggest that the benefits seen in portugal could be something that other nations may experience as well. An important issue in the debate is how to measure and compare the total harm caused by the prohibition or potential legalization of drugs. Proponents of drug decriminalization generally support the use of fines or other punishments to replace prison terms, and often propose systems whereby illegal drug users who are caught would be fined. Policy makers need to address growing calls by a number of organizations and people who use drugs for the. Decriminalization is the removal of criminal penalties for drug law violations usually possession for personal use. S is that it would lessen assets the administration cost of disposing of consumptions on forbearance authorization, for example, anxieties, arraignment, and detainment. According to the report, after 5 years of the decriminalization policy have been implemented, study shows that drug use within the country decreased tremendously. Pdf the effects of decriminalization of drug use in portugal. One such topic identified by ghsa, the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, forms the basis for this project.
Crime, decriminalization, drugs, externalities, legalization, optimal tax, prohibition. Depenalization and decriminalization smartdrugpolicy. In portugal, drug use is treated as a medical issue, not a crime. It appears that where decriminalization of drug related activities has occurred, it was done with the purpose of securing the health and safety of the individual and the public. Jul 14, 2017 maybe the usa can learn something from portugal, where all drugs were decriminalized in 2001 compared to portugal, drug overdose deaths per million in neighboring spain are 2. Opinion how to win a war on drugs the new york times. Drug decriminalization and the price of illicit drugs this study is an empirical assessment of the impact of the drug decriminalization policy followed by portugal in july, 2001. The paper attempts to describe the economics of the drug. Portugals drug policy treating, not punishing europe. Producers of drugs will be required to pay taxes, settle lawsuits and invest in making their products safer in order to minimise. Oslo between mexico and the united states and had 70 percent of the economy in the.
Jan 08, 20 the economic case for decriminalizing heroin. These are important victories, but they are not enough. The best way to punish dangerous drug cartels is to put them out of business. Pete buttigieg says we should decriminalize all the drugs. One solution to reducing the number of people swept into the criminal justice system for drug law violations is to enact various forms of decriminalization of drug use and possession. In fact, the benefits of keeping marijuana and other illicit drugs illegal clearly outweigh the negative and predictable consequences of legitimizing these substances. Some opponents of these measures worry a decriminalization approach will encourage more people to use magic mushrooms and that drug addiction rates could increase, as the nation is. That concern is even more dominant when discussing outright legalization of drugs. How to win a war on drugs portugal treats addiction as a disease, not a crime. Drug decriminalization and the price of illicit drugs. Its purpose was to reduce the number of new hivaids cases in the country, as it was estimated around half of new cases came from injecting drug use.
Impact of the legalization and decriminalization of. Some people argue that if drugs were legalized as occurred with the repeal of prohibition, drug trafficking and the violence it engenders would disappear. States consider decriminalizing magic mushrooms best. Teenage use of marijuana in the netherlands where it is sold legally and openly is lower than in the united states. One would be hard pressed to suggest that decriminalization would result in a decrease in use, but what is the evidence that decriminalization would result in a significant increase in use. An economic analysis of different cannabis decriminalization scenarios. A group of 22 medical experts convened by johns hopkins university and the lancet have called today for the decriminalization of all nonviolent drug use and possession. Top medical experts say we should decriminalize all drugs. Economic analyses indicate that prevention programmes may be cost.
Decriminalization and legalization of drugs economic. Benefits of decriminalization decriminalizing drug possession and investing in treatment. The libertarian case for drug prohibition public discourse. It doesnt really undermine all the negative consequences from the illicit market. Mark thornton on the decriminalization of marijuana and. Jul 06, 2015 persico, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at the kellogg school, developed a new model of the drug market that accounts for the fact that buyers do not know a drugs purity before purchasing it, as well as the fact that they cannot contest sales of impure drugs. Some simulations of the legalization of marijuana and cocaine, using. By 1933, murder rates in the united states doubled to 10 in 100,000 of the population. The swiss use of other drugs including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines rose. Decriminalization laws avoid imposing harsh punishments for possessing a substance that is safer than alcohol, while freeing up law enforcement to focus on serious crimes. Miron is senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies at harvard university and a senior fellow at the cato institute. List of books and articles about legalization of drugs.
How marijuana legalization reduces violent crime and puts. Now, numbers just released from the european monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction paint an even more vivid picture of life under decriminalization. Jun 07, 20 the drug trade tends to most adversely affect the poor. Essay the argument against decriminalization of drugs. Decriminalization and legalization of drugs economic impact. Thomas sowell why drugs should be legalized youtube. Pdf milton friedman, drug legalization, and public policy. As a matter of fact, those places that have decriminalized.
Since 1985, the federal government has run a declared war on drugs and while initially australia led the world in harmminimization approach, they have since lagged. Legalization and decriminalization the concept of controlling drugs is a relatively recent phenomenon, and one that has been met with limited success despite the billions of dollars spent. The effects of decriminalization of drug use in portugal. This chart shows key developments since portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001. Of course, the biggest concern prior to decriminalization was the quantity of illegal drugs consumed. The evidence from portugal since 2001 is that decriminalisation of drug use and possession has benefits and no harmful sideeffects. Decriminalization of all drugs would be the best solution better than legalization does the same things, treats drug abuse as a health problem not a criminal action, allows people to do what. Mark thornton takes a look at the consequences of todays prohibition that of drugs and how this has impacted on the economy, the counterfeiting of money and the lives of people. Decriminalization of drugs essay examples 3029 words cram. The argument that drug decriminalization, or legalization, will solve the budget crisis, reduce prison overcrowding and cripple drug cartels is simply not supported by evidence. His books include the economics of prohibition 1991. In the united states, prohibition against certain drugs, involving wars on them, has become one of our most visible and hotly debated national problems.
Approaches to decriminalizing drug use and possession. Drugs have never been accepted as a legitimate part of society. As a vocal advocate for drug legalization friedman brought the idea to the publics. Research by economist steve levitt and sociologist sudhir venkatesh found drug gangs in america are often organized as elaborate pyramid. The economic case for the us to legalize all drugs quartz. Explain the arguments for and against the decriminalization of drugs in the u. The drug policy alliance supports decriminalizing all drugs, not just marijuana. Supply rose to meet demand and switzerland became europes largest hemp producer. The effect of marijuana decriminalization on the budgets of. Drug use rates in portugal were found to be dramatically lower than the united states with decriminalization enacted. By decriminalizing possession and investing in treatment and harm reduction services, we can reduce the harms of drug misuse while improving public safety and health. The economic benefits of legalizing weed investopedia. In sum, decriminalization should result in fewer people dying and being sent to prison and more people living normal lives.
Economic approaches to the decriminalization of drugs. Decriminalization would increase the use and the economic. Portugals experiment in drug decriminalization has been a. Jun 27, 2010 professor sowell understood the economic and social dynamics of drug illegality more than 25 years ago. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The observer noted in 2011 that the war on drugs had failed and argued that when policies fail it is incumbent on our leaders to look for new ones. Making an economic case for legalizing drugs cato institute. The points of interest for decriminalization of medications in the u.
The economic benefits of legalizing weed have already been apparent as the first states have moved to change their legal positions. First it must be emphasized that marijuana, despite its criminalization, is widely used by a large proportion of the us population. The effect of marijuana decriminalization on the budgets of massachusetts governments, with a discussion of decriminalization s effect on marijuana use an update of miron 2002a jeffrey a. They would make the case that we should legalize marijuana because it. In portugal, drug use is treated as a medical issue, not a. States need information about the impacts of laws that legalize or decriminalize the use of marijuana, including its impact on driving safety and the states driving while impaired dwi system. A refreshing look at economics with topics ranging from sex, drugs, arms and music to energy, movies and farming, the internet and aids, diane coyle plunges herself and the reader into some of the world s most contentious political and social issues. The paper attempts to describe the economics of the drug market in. The seemingly fuzzy difference between depenalization and decriminalization is best explained by looking at the example of the only country todate to have fully decriminalized the consumption of all drugs, portugal. Is it better to have drug use made legal, and therefore taxed and regulated, or might this encourage more drugs to be consumed with the.
In other words, legalize drugs, and you get less violent crime. As politicians debate decriminalization, we urge them to get past fearmongering and focus on datadriven evidence about marijuana. A 2015 study found that since portugal approved the new national strategy in 1999 that led to decriminalization, the per capita social cost of drug misuse decreased by 18%. This month, portugal celebrates fourteen years of drug decriminalization. Drug decriminalization calls for reduced control and penalties compared to existing laws. Steve rolles is senior policy analyst at transform drug policy foundation and author of after the war on drugs. Portugal has been the first country to fully decriminalize all drugs usage since 2001. A balanced assessment of the evidence, rather than the ideology. Sep 22, 2017 how to win a war on drugs portugal treats addiction as a disease, not a crime. Voices the economic case for decriminalising drugs. Among his findings were that drug usage actually decreased among various populations. Research suggests that punishing drug users has some limitations as a major component of drug policy.
A 2015 study in the journal of health economics found that medical marijuana laws increase marijuana use in both adults and adolescents. Data confirm that marijuana decriminalization is long. Today in portugal, if youre found with a small amount of drugs. The prohibition of drugs is assumed necessary to reduce the consumption of drugs and thereby reduce the ills caused by drug consumption. The reason is they know that drugs are dangerous, they know that drugs are not a good thing in our society. This book explores the legal, social, economic, and political issues surrounding the banning of. And a widely cited study published in 2010 in the british journal of criminology found that after decriminalization, portugal saw a decrease in imprisonment on drugrelated charges alongside a. Apr 15, 2018 as clinicians with expertise in drugs, health policy, public health and addictions, the situation calls to mind a medical aphorism so simple it hurts. Criminalization and decriminalization of drug possession. Persico, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at the kellogg school, developed a new model of the drug market that accounts for the fact that buyers do not know a drug s purity before purchasing it, as well as the fact that they cannot contest sales of impure drugs. Journalist johann hari recommends the best books about the war on drugs. Drug legalization would make drugs both cheaper and more available, which in turn increases use. List of books and articles about drugs and crime online.
Niamh eastwood is executive director at release, the uk centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law. The economic case for decriminalising drugs the independent. The grand experiment is now considered a happy success considering it was adopted out of desperation and in the face of dire warnings from proponents of the global drug war. Lead directs people to drug treatment or other supportive services instead of arresting and booking them for certain drug law violations, including possession and lowlevel sales. In our recent study, just released by the cato institute, we estimate the impact of legalization on federal, state, and local budgets. The times calls for decriminalisation of all illegal drugs. The case for decriminalizing heroin, cocaine, and all other drugs. Miguel fonseca, 39, smoking cocaine in lisbon, where possession of small amounts of drugs is a minor offense. In 2009, glenn greenwald wrote, for the cato institute, a study of the effects of drug decriminalization in portugal.
Mexico has made great progress in terms of economic. Firstly, the drugs themselves do physical harm to at least some of the people who take them, mainly in the rich world but increasingly in new. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in european countries. Even in those countries where the use of some drugs is allowed uruguay, advertising or promoting drugs, or consuming them in a public place, is prohibited. However, opposers of drug legalization believe that the government has the right and responsibility to prohibit drug use. This article is excerpted from chapter one of the economics of prohibition. An economic analysis of different cannabis decriminalization. It appears that where decriminalization of drugrelated activities has occurred, it was done with the purpose of securing the health and safety of the individual and the public. Oct 19, 2018 this leads to a decrease in drug related crime in the mexican border area. Mar 08, 2004 a refreshing look at economics with topics ranging from sex, drugs, arms and music to energy, movies and farming, the internet and aids, diane coyle plunges herself and the reader into some of the world s most contentious political and social issues. Discover librarianselected research resources on marijuana legalization from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more.
Most of the decriminalization states impose a civil fine, which avoids the lifealtering collateral consequences a criminal record carries. The economics of drug prohibition and drug legalization jeffrey. The number of people arrested and sent to criminal courts for drug offenses annually declined by more than 60% following decriminalization. In canada, marijuana for medical use was legalized in 2001. Understanding the economics of decriminalizing marijuana. The case for decriminalizing drugs practical ethics series. The economic case for decriminalizing heroin the washington. Decriminalization doesnt deal with the supplyside issues, said eastwood. For example, many people fear that legalizing drugs would lead to a sharp increase in the number of drug users. Prohibition has an everincreasing impact on our daily life. Data confirm that marijuana decriminalization is long overdue.
We cannot looks purely to economic models of consumption, because there are simply too many variables which decriminalization will affect. Prohibition versus legalization independent institute. Oct 21, 2015 voices the economic case for decriminalising drugs. The drug policy of portugal called the drug strategy, was put in place in 2000, and was legally effective from july 2001. The best books on the war on drugs five books expert. Citing a growing scientific consensus on the failures of the global war on drugs, the. Studies on decriminalization of marijuana in portugal have indicated it to be a huge success. The effect of marijuana decriminalization on the budgets of massachusetts governments, with a discussion of decriminalizations effect on marijuana use an update of miron 2002a jeffrey a. The presumed justification for the special legal treatment of drugs is that drug use causes substantial harm both to drug users and to society generally. List of books and articles about marijuana legalization. What the us can learn from portugals drug decriminalization. Parallels since 2001, possession or use of any drug has been treated as a health issue in portugal. In practice, decriminalization means that otherwise lawabiding people are no longer arrested, let alone incarcerated, merely for possessing a drug. Impact of the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana.
Those are just two snapshots of what happens when policy is changed. There are disagreements regarding its impacts on both the legal and the underground economies. The percentage of people behind bars in portugal for drug law violations also decreased dramatically, from 44% in 1999 to 24% in 20. Decriminalization and legalization of drugs name institution decriminalization and legalization of drugs marijuana decriminalization and legalization is one of the most contentious issues today. Decriminalization of nonmedical cannabis in the united. The economics of the illegal drug market kellogg insight.
29 206 986 1004 1019 39 900 1224 1100 867 168 1421 562 1254 1302 890 518 753 807 1519 793 937 250 986 486 1198 921 887 1065 270 1449 811 83 1098 1391 5 1157 881 38 710 409