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This paper provides a critical review of the empirical and theoretical literatures on illegal drug policy, including cross-country comparisons, in order to evaluate three drug policy regimes: criminalization, legalization and "depenalization." Drawing on the experiences of various states, as well as countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands, the paper attempts to identify cost-minimizing policies for marijuana and cocaine by assessing the differing ways in which the various drug regimes would likely change the magnitude and composition of the social costs of each drug. The paper updates and evaluates Jeffrey Miron's 1999 national time series analysis of drug prohibition spending and the homicide rate, which underscores the lack of a solid empirical base for assessing the theoretically anticipated crime drop that would come from drug legalization. Nonetheless, the authors conclude that given the number of arrests for marijuana possession, and the costs of incarceration and crime systemic to cocaine criminalization, the current regime is unlikely to be cost-minimizing for either marijuana or cocaine.
Most Americans believe that their country's forty-year 'war on drugs' has failed. Yet, instead of a serious national discussion of how to reform US drug control strategies, there remains a silent tolerance of ineffective, socially harmful laws, institutions, and policies. What is most needed now is a far-reaching debate on alternative approaches that could reduce the risks and damage from the trafficking and abuse of illegal drugs. That was also the conclusion of a highly-regarded report prepared by a distinguished group of Latin American presidents and other leaders. This report proposes six US government initiatives that would set the stage for a thorough rethinking of US drug policy.
America's war on drugs. It makes headlines, tops political agendas and provokes powerful emotions. But is it really worth it? That’s the question posed by Steven Duke and Albert Gross in this groundbreaking book. They argue that America’s biggest victories in the war on drugs are the erosion of our constitutional rights, the waste of billions of dollars and an overwhelmed court system. After careful research and thought, they make a strong case for the legalization of drugs. It’s a radical idea, but has its time come?
The drug trade is a growth industry in most major American cities, fueling devastated inner-city economies with revenues in excess of $100 billion. In this timely volume, Sam Staley provides a detailed, in-depth analysis of the consequences of current drug policies, focusing on the relationship between public policy and urban economic development and on how the drug economy has become thoroughly entwined in the urban economy. The black market in illegal drugs undermines essential institutions necessary for promoting long-term economic growth, including respect for civil liberties, private property, and nonviolent conflict resolution. Staley argues that America's cities can be revitalized only through a major restructuring of the urban economy that does not rely on drug trafficking as a primary source of employment and income-the inadvertent outcome of current prohibitionist policy. Thus comprehensive decriminalization of the major drugs (marijuana, cocaine, and heroin) is an important first step toward addressing the economic and social needs of depressed inner cities. Staley demonstrates how decriminalization would refocus public policy on the human dimension of drug abuse and addiction, acknowledge that the cities face severe development problems that promote underground economic activity, and reconstitute drug policy on principles consistent with limited government as embodied in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Designed to cross disciplinary boundaries, Staley's provocative analysis will be essential reading for urban policymakers, sociologists, economists, criminologists, and drug-treatment specialists.
The foreign interdiction and source country programs on which the United States has spent $25 billion since 1981 are intended to reduce domestic drug abuse. To examine this intersection of domestic and international interests, the Council on Foreign Relations convened an Independent Task Force to review U.S. international drug strategy and to suggest possible future directions. The bipartisan Task Force -- chaired by Mathea Falco, President of Drug Strategies, and former Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters -- included experts with backgrounds in diplomacy, law enforcement, economics, development, public health, judicial institutions, human rights, and multinational business.
Criminal justice expenditures have more than doubled since the 1980s, dramatically increasing costs to the public. With state and local revenue shortfalls resulting from the recent recession, the question of whether crime control can be accomplished either with fewer resources or by investing those resources in areas other than the criminal justice system is all the more relevant. Controlling Crime considers alternative ways to reduce crime that do not sacrifice public safety. Among the topics considered here are criminal justice system reform, social policy, and government policies affecting alcohol abuse, drugs, and private crime prevention. Particular attention is paid to the respective roles of both the private sector and government agencies. Through a broad conceptual framework and a careful review of the relevant literature, this volume provides insight into the important trends and patterns of some of the interventions that may be effective in reducing crime.
This anthology is composed of primary sources written by many of the foremost authorities on drug legalization. Leading conservative, liberal, and centrist views are represented, introducing your readers to the broadest possible spectrum of opinions on the topic. Each chapter asks a pertinent question about the topic, and the viewpoints that follow are grouped into “yes” and “no” categories. This unique approach provides readers with a concise view of divergent opinions on each topic. Contains extensive book and periodical bibliographies and a list of organizations to contact are also included. Provide your readers with this invaluable resource, so they can understand the debate over drug legalization from all angles.
It's been half a century since Richard Nixon declared his "war on drugs" yet the international drug's market continues to flourish. According to UN estimates the illegal drug trade is worth 500 billion USD a year. This book seeks to investigate why law enforcement has had a negligible impact on reducing both the consumption and production of drugs. In addition the author examines alternative strategies to prohibition in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world. After all can policies defined by the Westphalian state, where sovereignty encapsulated by rigid national boundaries' that once limited trade both licit and illicit still function in our now interconnected world? The amalgamation of states into regional bodies such as the EU, ASEAN, NAFTA or the Eurasian Union coupled to neoliberal policies has radically changed notions of the Westphalian state and eased the distribution of merchandise, goods, capital and people in both a logistical and financial sense. Processes which have been meticulously exploited by both transnational organized crime and international terrorism, constituting a security threat to states across the world.With these questions in mind the author goes beyond the traditional rather individualistic approach to the drugs debate, one that essentially reduces drug consumption to a matter of "rights" "freedom" and "morality" and seeks to address the issue also from a security point of view. Key here is how organized criminals and terrorists have proven adept at exploiting the insecurities and social pathologies that have arisen with neoliberalism and globalization and how this impacts on the role of the state. In seeking to address the issue the book examines the drugs issue from various corners of the world. It looks to the opioid epidemic in North America, Dutertes "war on drug's" in the Philippines, drug consumption in Russia after the fall of communism, the increasing involvement of terrorist organization's in the narcotics trade in places such as Afghanistan or Libya among others, before concluding that we do have options to the drugs problem and that the only thing holding us back is a fear of ourselves. ABOUT THE AUTHORCim Fez was born in Canada in 1976 Most of his secondary education followed in the UK. He was awarded his Bachelor degree in modern languages from the University of Essex, where he would also conclude studies in the Modern History of Russia. In 2014 Cim would complete his postgraduate studies in international crime in Cambridge. Cim has obtained many years of experience working for social services with people afflicted by drug addiction. This work gave him a first hand account of the social problems that can arise from drug misuse, whether this be due to the dysfunctional lifestyles drug addiction invariably promotes or due to its associated brushes with the law. While working for social services it also became apparent how these socially maladjusted individuals at times manage to perpetuate cycles of dysfunction in further generations. This generally being associated with a mindset that is beholden or at the very least prioritises drugs over any other issue in their individual orientated worlds.Cim is a regular contributor for the news outlet East & West where in addition to crime he writes on Russia and the post Soviet space, international relations, current affairs and international governmental organization's.Cim is a regular contributor for the news outlet East & West where he writes on Russia and the post Soviet space, international relations, current affairs and international governmental organization's.