Legalize Drugs Now! - Walter Block.pdfVIP

Legalize Dmgs Now! An Analysis ofthe Benefits ofLegalized Drugs By MEACHANCUSSEUand WALTIK R~.oc:li* AHS~~RACT.The legalization of drugs woiilcl prevent our civil lilxrties from being threatened any further, it would I-educecrime rates, re- verse the potency effect, improve the quality 01 life in the inner cities, prevent the spread of disease, save tlie taxpayt.1. money, and generally benefit both individuals and the community as a whole. Our argu- ments are lmsed on a 1,asic appreciation of t11e hcnefits provided hy voluntary exchange and the role markets play in coordinating human activities. Ixgalizing drugs would eliminate many inconsistrncies, guarantee freedoms, and increase the effectiveness of the govern- ments anti-drug beliefs. The present war on drugs has not and will not produce a decisive victory. We advocate :i new approacli t o this imp~rtantsocial problem. Drug dealers are a thing of the past. Violent crimes and tlleft are greatly reduced. 1)rug-related shoot-outs arta c~nheardof. The streets Ms. Meaghan Cussen is ;I graduate o f the College o f t i l e Holy (:rosb in Worcehter, Massachusetts. She wrote this piper as a ii~niorenrolled ill I)r I3locks e c o m ~ ~ n iclass.c . Irotessor Walter Block is ;I 1nem1w1-of the fiicdty of the 1:cononlics I k p ; i s t r ~ ~ e;itn ~rht. Ilniwrsity of(:entr:~l.4rkanus. Conw:ty. AK, 72035, Dr. W:~lier131o(.ki\ Aclj~lncrScliolar at the Mises Institute. Dr Block has published numerotis szlri~l;~rlyarticles of economics in s u d ioumals~ ah Cultlrrul Qvrlrrmic.i.Jozlr7la~ofLrrhorEc.otir mics, hezwu~oJA~tzrnufiEco- nomics.JozrniuloJZihetTuncr~t.Stirdi~.s,Cunudiurt J I