The benefits that would come from ending the 'war on drugs' include a huge reduction in the number of individuals in jail, better quality control for recreational drugs where now there is none, less black money floating around the world getting up to no good, removing an entire class of predator (the drug pusher) from our midst and a huge boost in government tax revenue.
Just consider one question: What fuels the outlaw motorcycle gangs?
The main drawback in ending this futile war is that governments would have to invent another reason to spy on us. But as the 'war on terror' seems to be assuming that role, perhaps an end to the former would benefit all parties, that is both citizens and their governments.
Recreational drugs are here to stay. Instead of keeping our heads in the sand, why not get ahead of the curve? This would mean regulation, including alcohol, not prohibition, including narcotics.

>>What fuels the outlaw motorcycle gangs?<<

I believe they derive a lot of income from the manufacture and sale of amphetamines: speed cooked in bathtubs by god knows who instead amphetamines synthesised in proper laboratory by a proper chemist. Guess which batch of amphetamines will be more safe?

Cheers,

Tony

An addictive drug that causes great damage is already legal. However, alcohol did much more damage during Prohibition in the United States when it was illegal. Can't we learn from that.

BTW can we also stop thinking in terms of left and right. On the far right was Hitler and on the far left was Lenin, two enemies of democracy. I don't want to be anywhere on a spectrum defined by those two.

Come on Phil. i thought you once argued that we are dominated by neoliberalism. Looks like Friedman was not that influential after all, bit like the reality of the rest of life and economy.

Balance is the answer, not extremes between free reign or mass regulations. There are alwasy pros and cons from all arguments.

When we created a heroin drought, we all but compelled the production and use of crack and ice!
And indeed, even more violent crime.
Addicts rarely if ever spend their own money, but purchase their habit from the proceeds of crime, some of it violent.
The war on drugs has to date, cost more lives than the second world war and the Vietnam war combined.
A full two thirds of our prisons are full with drug offenders; and as noted, kids go in guilty of nothing more than smoking a little weed, snorting a little coke or shooting a little heroin.
None of these things result in harm to others?
Unless you factor in the crimes committed to make the money needed to feed the habit.
And then, only because these things remain illegal.
Make no mistake, we the public are paying for all these drugs through our insurance premiums, and the massive extra spent on housing/confining addicts.
Why, this trade goes on virtually unimpeded, even while offenders are parked in prisons.
The cost to us of housing just one addict, is now around $140,000.00 PA!
The war on drugs has been waged relentlessly for over fifty years, with no diminution of drug use or violence, rather, just the opposite.
And this war destroys thousands of lives and gobbles up billions annually.
Prohibition was sanely discontinued, because it didn't work and won't work.
Abortion was sanely legalised, because the laws against it were unenforceable.
Ditto actually making any substance illegal! They grow it, bake it, or find it growing wild in our forests!
We spend massive extra billions in additional policing and prisons!
For what actual outcome?
A different approach is required.
Education at early school age would be a useful start.
And the legalising of most drugs and outlets.
We grow poppies for heaven's sake!
And the illegal trade is all but funding the Taliban!
And that is only possible, because we have made this trade illegal.
If it were not illegal, Taliban funding would dry up!
Ditto Columbian drug lords!
It's a no brainer!
Rhrosty.

Good article and fantastic to read a bunch of sensible posts about it rather than the usual scare mongering about how everyone will become a drug addict the moment you legalize or decriminalize. Perhaps there really has been a shift in Australian public opinion. Unfortunately such rationality doesn't seem to have reached our politicians yet.