The case for legalising drugs

by The Economist Wednesday, Aug. 01, 2001 at 11:34 PM

Moral outrage has proved a bad basis for policy on illegal drugs, says Frances Cairncross. Time for governments to go back to first principles

The case for legalising drugs

Jul 28th 2001

Prohibition has failed, again. It has long been clear that the laws on drugs are doing more harm than good. For understandable reasons, governments and voters alike are reluctant to face the facts. The case for legalisation is strong, both in principle and as a practical matter ...