Pubdate: Wed, 16 Apr 2003
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Art Powell

DESPITE POLICE EFFORTS, 'DRUGS ARE HERE TO STAY'

The April 9 article "Nobel idea tried on Downtown Eastside" was very 
interesting. However, one should also consider the elasticity of the demand 
curve that relates to how demand changes with changes in prices.

One would expect that drug users, being addicted, will pay almost any price 
to get their fix. Somehow, buyers and sellers will find each other 
regardless of police actions.

Thus, increasing transaction costs will increase the price and the total 
money spent on drugs. This will also mean more crime and more money spent 
on policing.

On the other hand, if drugs were to be legalized, transaction costs could 
be reduced, prices would come down so that most drug users could pay for 
their habit out of a working wage, crime would come down and policing costs 
would come down.

Art Powell

Enderby 
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MAP posted-by: Beth