Drugs

Paternalism

A policy or practice of treating or governing people in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities.

-- doing something for someone because of what you believe is in their best interest, regardless of their choices

Mill's harm principle: see 155 (Bonevac, 4^th edition)

"...the only purpose for which power can be rightly exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."

It is morally permissible to restrict someone's liberty only if doing so will prevent harm to others (someone other than that person)

It is not morally permissible to restrict someone's liberty in order to prevent that person from harming himself/ herself.

Different legalization strategies

1. Libertarian -- no government control

2. Total government control of production/ sale

3. Regulation

-- most substances now banned --> legal

-- regulated (like tobacco, alcohol)

-- treatment available

-- honest education

-- savings/ taxation

3 basis arguments for legalization

1. Current drug control policies fundamentally flawed, have failed and will continue to fail

2. Current drug control policies costly & counterproductive

3. Legalization would not lead to dramatic rise in drug abuse.

(expands on each.)

1. Reasons for failure

stop drug traffic

-- source -- where it is grown and processed

-- borders

-- streets

1. If enforcement is effective, drugs will be less available, more expensive, and lower purity.

2. Drugs still readily available, cheaper, more pure.

Milton Friedman's arguments for legalization

Moral:

Government has no right to tell people what to do.

Prohibiting drugs is telling people what to do.

Economic:

We should only have policies whose benefits outweigh its costs.

It costs more to prohibit drug use than to allow it.