Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2013 Zachary Greenberg Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Zachary Greenberg Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n013/a04.html Note: 1st of 5 Responses to this OPED: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n013/a04.html CAN DRUG LEGALIZATION END THE DESTRUCTION OF LIVES? Perhaps the real paradox of the war on drugs ("Have We Lost the War on Drugs?" by Gary S. Becker and Kevin M. Murphy, Review, Jan. 5) is how those who profit most from the drug trade have the largest incentive to perpetuate the illegality of their product. Although commonly dubbed the "black market," the drug trade is far from a traditional market system, as competition is based on territorial rights, corruption and brute force as well as supply and demand. As a result, those who control this lucrative industry seek to keep the system in place rather than see it destroyed by the ruthless efficiency of the free market. A combination of tough-on-crime politicians, law-enforcement officials, social conservatives and drug cartels form an unlikely coalition set on perpetuating a system that maximizes the profit of criminals while destroying any legitimate competition. And we all suffer because of it. Zachary Greenberg Saint James, N.Y. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D