Pubdate: Wed, 19 Mar 2008
Source: Agassiz Harrison Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Agassiz Observer
Contact:  http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1344
Author: Justin Morgan

FREE NARCOTICS WON'T WORK

Dear Editor,

Re: Letter to Editor - Narcotics should be free to stop crime, March 5, 2008

I would like to point out that legislation couldn't make drugs 
'free'. The economic theory of supply and demand would suggest that 
as long as someone demands narcotics, the supplier will always be 
able to charge them up to whatever value the addict places on the 
narcotics. Just because a law allows something to be distributed for 
free does not mean that it will be done so. Currently, there is no 
reason that illegal drugs could not be distributed free of charge, 
and yet they are sold at a high premium.

Drugs could be made free to the end user (the addict). For this to 
occur, the government would need to decriminalize the narcotics first 
and then formalize the industry and subsidize their use. To compare 
this to an existing situation, the methadone project attempts to 
provide addicts with a product that can be controlled and 
distributed. And yet the drugs are not 'free' as one might hope, we 
share the cost throughout society via taxation. Still, a black-market 
exists for methadone on the streets, as it does for many other 
controlled narcotics.

Many negative externalities are not considered in the proposed 'free 
drugs' plan. Assuming a plan was put into place that allowed drugs to 
be distributed without charge to the addict. If there were a 
rationing regulation, we delve back into the world of black-markets. 
If there were no rationing regulations, we may be without the petty 
crime that is associated with addicts. Back to 
economics/supply-demand: if the price of a product is decreased (free 
to the end-user), the consumer will consumer more. Look at bars as an 
example. If liquor is made cheaper, customers will consume more than 
at the higher price. Suddenly we find that the health care system is 
facing an increased load of illness correlated with drug-use. Not so 
free. There is also the consideration of coexistence with more 
drug-users. Researchers have looked into decriminalizing narcotics in 
an effort to drive the prices down naturally but this does not escape 
the side effects that go along with cheaper drugs. One might compare 
the situation with that of alcohol, an addictive and 
physically/socially destructive substance when used in abundance and 
without regulation that is taxed, socially acceptable, and industrialized.

Justin Morgan

Harrison Mills
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom