End The War On Drugs - Chapter 8

Prohibitions Create Business Opportunities

EDITOR’S NOTE: A few years ago, I penned a first draft of a short book, “End The War On Drugs” I offer an updated version, in serial form, here on Substack, for my paid subscribers. I will publish a chapter each week.

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CHAPTER 1: A Catastrophic Failure
CHAPTER 2: A Brief History
CHAPTER 3: A Society Rooted in Individual Liberty
CHAPTER 4: Use vs Abuse
CHAPTER 5: Societal Cost
CHAPTER 6: Use and Addiction
CHAPTER 7: Free To Choose

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Ponder water flowing in a river.  Gravity, an omnipresent force, causes the water to flow downhill.  Blockages in the riverbed may divert the flow of water, may cause it to pool up in places, or even dig new channels, but ultimately the water will find its way.  The history of legislations regulating and prohibiting human behaviors offers us many examples that recall the behavior of a river.

The nation banned alcohol in 1920 via the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.  The "Great Experiment" was an unmitigated disaster.  Not only did alcohol consumption continue, but criminal enterprises became organized, the gangster culture flourished, public servants were corrupted, respect for the rule of law was eroded, prisons were filled, and government spending at all levels grew despite the loss of revenue from alcohol and other taxes.

The lessons are clear - banning behavior that people wanted to engage in won't stop them from engaging in it.  It might slow them down, it might make them seek out different avenues, and, yes, it will deter some.  But, at a cost.  Basic economics come into play here - if people want something, others will realize this and find a way to sell it to them.  If the sellers can't do it legally, they or other sellers will do it illegally.