An interesting piece by Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones explores the idea that lower cocaine prices on the street are the cause for the declining rate of violent crime in the U.S. over the past 15 years or so.
I have no idea whether that notion has any merit. However, inadvertently the article makes many points that bolster the case for legalizing drugs like cocaine. One of the consequences of making such a high-demand item (as evidenced by the price people are willing to pay for it) illegal is that people will finance their desire by committing crimes – property crimes and violent crimes. This country saw that during Prohibition, and rolled it back. I, along with many others, believe we should do the same thing with other illegal drugs. There's nothing special about alcohol, which manifestly has the same sorts of undesirable impacts on people and society that the illegal drugs do...
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