IF ALL DRUGS WERE LEGAL ? 

A longer discussion is at http://www.dpft.org/longrange.htm

THE BIGGEST FEARS EXAMINED

Hysteria: 

If drugs become legal they will be available on the shelves of every convenience store. 

Fact: 

Marijuana is already more available to teens than alcohol. 

It is unthinkable that legal marijuana would be sold in a manner less restrictive than now applies for alcohol. 

More dangerous drugs would almost certainly be available only on a highly restricted basis similar to current prescription sales. 

Again, illegal drugs are far more available than this already to those who really care to use them.

See: Children and See: Supply 

Hysteria: 

Legalized drugs means "a nation of Zombies" and "a lost generation of children." Many people who try them will become addicted. 

Fact: 

Research shows that prohibitions have little or no impact on drug use. 

[See: The Drug War Does Not Deter ] 

There is ample evidence to suggest that we might well reduce addiction more effectively over time. This section presents nine factors that help to explain why. 

[See: Factors To Consider] 

Prohibitions may well make problems worse for the two most critical groups, children and those who abuse drugs rather than simply use them.

Conclusion: 

The most likely outcome of regulated supply on the amount of drug use is that there would be a minor shift in market share among casual users with increases in the use of some drug being compensated for by less use of other, possibly more dangerous, drugs. Drug abuse might go up slightly but evidence suggests the reverse may be true. In any case, prohibition so alters the harm done by addiction that less net harm would almost certainly result. This does not even consider the immense benefit of the certain evisceration of the drug cartels. A balance sheet that weighs policy decisions must be based on reasonable assumptions and not on fear. This fear helps stifle debate and accountability for the damage and all the victims caused by the drug war. 

In Change we suggest that results can be tested with low risk steps.