Illicit drugs are vilified around the world, yet there remains a huge demand for these substances. Led by America and copy-catted world wide, laws have been passed to declare certain drugs illegal, and billions of dollars are spent annually trying to enforce these laws.
What have the anti drug laws achieved? Not much. Despite the best efforts of police, and the incarceration each year of tens of thousands of people world wide, drugs are readily available on the streets in almost every country in the world. The laws are a failure.
Illicit drug sales provide the main source of income for large organisations such as the Taliban, Mexican drug cartels, European and Asian crime lords and motor cycle gangs down to small time dealers in the suburbs. The market for their drugs is everywhere. People want them despite the risks, or in some cases because of the risks.
This drug income is tax free. Despite governments receiving no tax benefit from drug sales and having no control over their manufacture, labelling and marketing, they have to pick up the health costs of the damage wrought by these substances. Dealers can concoct anything from dubious ingredients and peddle them with no health warning labels and knowing there is no come back for adverse outcomes.
Few politicians are brave enough to admit the drug laws need reviewing for fear of being branded "soft on drugs". There are no votes to be won on such a divisive and complex problem.
Yet some countries have made changes to their drug laws and have reaped the benefits.
The Drug Problem Problem looks at anti drug laws, how they originated and spread throughout the world, compares todays drug laws with the great Prohibition experiment in the U.S., and examines what some countries are doing about their drug problem.
Should drugs be decriminalised? Should drug users be declared criminals and jailed?
Is there a better way? Read this book with an open mind and you decide.
What have the anti drug laws achieved? Not much. Despite the best efforts of police, and the incarceration each year of tens of thousands of people world wide, drugs are readily available on the streets in almost every country in the world. The laws are a failure.
Illicit drug sales provide the main source of income for large organisations such as the Taliban, Mexican drug cartels, European and Asian crime lords and motor cycle gangs down to small time dealers in the suburbs. The market for their drugs is everywhere. People want them despite the risks, or in some cases because of the risks.
This drug income is tax free. Despite governments receiving no tax benefit from drug sales and having no control over their manufacture, labelling and marketing, they have to pick up the health costs of the damage wrought by these substances. Dealers can concoct anything from dubious ingredients and peddle them with no health warning labels and knowing there is no come back for adverse outcomes.
Few politicians are brave enough to admit the drug laws need reviewing for fear of being branded "soft on drugs". There are no votes to be won on such a divisive and complex problem.
Yet some countries have made changes to their drug laws and have reaped the benefits.
The Drug Problem Problem looks at anti drug laws, how they originated and spread throughout the world, compares todays drug laws with the great Prohibition experiment in the U.S., and examines what some countries are doing about their drug problem.
Should drugs be decriminalised? Should drug users be declared criminals and jailed?
Is there a better way? Read this book with an open mind and you decide.
