Harvard economist: Legalize all drugs to stop border violence

[seanotube85]

I think heroin is overly exploitative. It should NOT be encouraged commercially. However, there is not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that throwing people in jail for USING heroin only makes the problem bigger and badder. I say legalize all drug use, spend what we save from prison on rehab centers.

[4345ghee]

How to fix the economy: Tax the shit out of tobacco companies and religious organizations, then LEGALIZE all drugs and tax them a little bit as well. PROBLEM SOLVED.

[4345ghee]

Jeffrey Miron is a fucking hero.

[alanlafranchi]

Two words: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. If you are an alcoholic and you get loaded and drive your car and kill yourself or somebody else, YOU are responsible, not the government for letting you make your own choices.

[RebelDangIt]

why the fuck does america think they own the world?

[streethustla34]

Usa rly needs to stay outta other countries business. Fuckers think they own the planet

[animejerk05]

Dont legalize marijuana or any other drug. Contrary to the popular belief history has taught us that countries with legalize drugs have a far higher crime rate than countries that it remain illegal. Go ask china and their optium problem in the 1700s. Or in modern terms go ask other western countries with holland that has legalized marijuana and how their herion problem tripled in the last few years

[greylloyd]

Logic - it'll get ya every time.

[TheNemo71389]

Legalize all drugs who gives a fuck. If you want to be a crackhead you'd be one anyway even if it was illegal.

[animejerk05]

@TheNemo71389 Are u crazy do you really want crack legal i bet you wouldnt like it much if one of those crack head were driving a car high and ran you over. Or if one of your coworkers came to work high and caused injuries on the work place

[TheNemo71389]

@animejerk05 Who gives a shit. Crackheads will drive high anyway that is if they can afford a car. Workplaces still should allow drug testing just like how alcohol is legal and you can't come to work drunk. Point is people will do drugs anyway whether illegal or legal but the drug dealers are the main ones profiting.

[SirGriefALot]

Compare the violence done by the Mexican carrells to the violence done by the Budweiser cartel.

[magicidiot12345]

@SirGriefALot

if we legalized drugs then kids could buy marijuana....................

[psalm1501]

@magicidiot12345 uhhh.... kids can't buy marijuana now?

[magicidiot12345]

@psalm1501

Drug dealers wont sell to kids but corrupt business owners might.

[3rdAutisticCuckoo]

@magicidiot12345 And they'll be prosectuted, put out of business, or quite possibly be jailed if they do (depending on level of intention).

[magicidiot12345]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo

Shit that is true. but it could be bad to legalize it for other reasons.

[magicidiot12345]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo

I guess you're right...all this time i've been thinking "drugs are bad drugs are bad" without really thinking about it in depth. I feel like a new person...a good person!

[3rdAutisticCuckoo]

@magicidiot12345 Well, drugs are just drugs - they are not inherently good or bad. They can be used, and they can be abused, with some more prone to abuse than others. Impurities in black market drugs are a major problem, just as they are with unregulated alcohol (like moonshine). And then some, like cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy) and psychedelics have been shown to have valuable medical and therapeutic value in certain cases, but rigorous research is difficult or impossible due to existing laws.

[magicidiot12345]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo

after I made that comment last night i researched about drugs, the war on drugs and i realized how useless it is to keep them illegal and ive only ever drank alcohol before. it does way more harm then good making it illegall because it creates gangs. only problem is there arent any politicans who want to legalize drugs, might as well not vote eh

[animejerk05]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo bullshit doing crack once can kill you. That is a bad drug

[3rdAutisticCuckoo]

@animejerk05 Doing alcohol once can kill you. Should it be criminalised? 

[animejerk05]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo Alchol is a mild drug crack cocaine is not. You would have to bing drink or drink pure alchol which is illegal to kill yourself. Crack is a hard drug even one use can kill you or warp your mind to extreme levels you pose a risk to yourself and more importantly to others that choose not to do drugs thats why its illegal. And P.S alchol is illegal in instances were you pose a risk to other such as drinking and driving.

[3rdAutisticCuckoo]

@animejerk05 Mild my arse. Google "Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis" - an thorough, detailed report commissioned by the UK govt and published a year ago in "The Lancet". It concluded that alcohol use, while a little less harmful to the individual user than heroin, crack, and meth, was far, far more harmful to others, and overall was the most harmful drug of all. Cannabis use was much less harmful, and ecstasy and psychedelics were hardly a blip on the radar, harm-wise.

[animejerk05]

@3rdAutisticCuckoo You just proved my point you idiot alcohol is the most commonly used drug so it causes a lot of damage to society. While we cant make alcohol illegal again the least we can do is not make fucking more of them like herion on crack or meth legal. The consequences to society will be humongous.

[dtothelu]

@animejerk05 So people shouldn't have the freedom to choose for themselves?

[animejerk05]

@dtothelu Yea people should have the choice if they want to do crack and heroine are you fucking stupid. Do you know how many lost lives and damage to society that would cause if it was even more widely spread used. Do research on opimum in china during the 1200s

[dtothelu]

@animejerk05 I'm having a hard time trying to figure out if you're trolling or being serious or a dirty Cuban commy trying to destroy America. Freedom of choice and freedom over our bodies is what America was founded upon. Almost all of the negative consequences of crack and heroin are due to drug laws. Do you know how many lost lives and damages could be prevented if they were made legal?

[animejerk05]

@dtothelu Dude read a history book having lax drug laws doesnt make society better it makes it worse thats a fact Read up the opium problem in china 1200s they made opium illegal in the first place because of the major damage it was causing.

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 America was founded and built into an economic superpower during a time when drugs were not illegal. Before drugs were criminalized, there were no gangs shooting people over territory.

Did the Chinese regulate and tax opium as we currently do with alcohol? Just being legal is not enough. It must be taxed and regulated to eliminate the black market, criminal element. Not only that, it ensures that the drugs would be safer to use due to federal or state safety guidelines.

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 Why don't you research Portugals drug policies, which have reduced hard drug use, drug related fatalities, and have lowered teen usage rates with all drugs, including cannabis. How did they do it? By legalizing and treating addicts, instead of tossing them into prison and branding them with a felony.

History and current events are not on your side, sir.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows Prortugal didnt legalize shit they only decrimilized drugs for people that possess it in small amounts Get your facts straight if your caught with a large amount of drugs in Portugal you still go to jail and get booked

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 You are correct; they decriminalized. My apologies. Either way, the results speak for themselves. There is no denying that. The policies you support are causing misery in both the United States and Mexico.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows Im actually against the current drug laws I believe its a waste of money But there a big difference from decriminalizing possesion of small amounts of illegal drugs and not being under the influence of such drugs at the time of your arrest and allowing people to run wild with any type of drug any amount of drugs and running in the streets while high Like what this video is advacating.

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 That still happens even though they are illegal. We will still enforce laws that harm other's. He is not advocating lawlessness. Let's not forget how many police chases and officer assaults occur because people are intoxicated on legal alcohol. Do we punish everyone for the mistakes of a few?

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows there no such thing as being a responsible crack and herion smoker/injector those drugs screw up your brain much worse than alcohol Crack is one of those drugs that gets you hooked on the 1st try and you'll do anything to get more Make it legal and you'll have more people doing it plain and simple

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 Do you know all crack and heroin users? If you research on the internet, you will find that responsible users do exist. Portugal has shown the opposite of what you claimed was "plain and simple". Their policies have decreased (key word) hard drug use. Decreased.

Huffing paint can screw up your brain much worse than alcohol, too, but Lowes can still sell it in bulk quantities. Should you not be able to paint your home because other's have died from huffing?

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 As I said before, current events are not on your side.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows Your the one with current event problems Portugal choose decrimilization/treatment not legalizing it so people still cant use it for everyday use Instead of giving a user 10y in jail they get treatment Legalizing makes things worse Many countries in europe has legalized weed so people can use as much as they want what did they find the amount of users tripled and it acts as a gateway drug to herion and crack Legalizing is a horrible idea europe is proof

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 The number of cannabis users is very high in many European countries, but that means nothing. That's actually a good thing. It's better to get it out of the black market, and into the private sector, where it can create jobs and generate tax revenue. Heroin is illegal, which drives it into the black market and makes it extremely easy to purchase. The gateway theory has never been proven. Many pot smokers I know started with tobacco, so I suppose tobacco is also a gateway drug.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows The gateway theory has been proven in a lot of these countries because the amount of herioin users doubled right after weed was legalized that is a fact police confirmed most herion addicts started with weed in 1987 the swizz legalize drugs in a park within 5 years it became a magnet for drug users around the world they closed the park No indication of increase revenue for the country due to legalized weed Said one Official money for legal weed is crap

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 Correlation is not causation. The gateway theory has not been proven in that respect.

Tax revenue is tax revenue. If they have a spending problem, it won't make much of a difference. Money for legal weed is crap? California brings in a large revenue thanks to medicinal weed.

Before they started with weed, they probably smoked cigarettes. I suppose that proves beyond a doubt that nicotine is a gateway drug.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows If they are 10 herion users and they have been 10 herion users for approximatley 15 years in a row then weed become legal and it shoots to 30 users in 6 months than it can be concluded the legalization of weed was the main effect its basic statics 101 And the offical didnt meant a spending problem he meant there is no revenue generated by weed legalization because the new drug problem cause more damage than its worth decrimilization Maybe legalization NO.

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 We have had heroin fluxuations in the United States, and weed is not legal. What variables were used to control? Did population increase in that area? Tourism? Immigrants? Were those people homeless, employed?

Can you link the info so I can see what you are reading?

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows Of course we have herion fluxuations in the U.S yes tourism immigrants homeless and unemployed rates can influence all these things but not to that degree in a short amount of time. In these countries the rate Tripled None of those things combined tourism homeless ect would cause the rate to triple in 5 years Every person who did a survey in those countries came to the same conclusion legalized weed cause the rate to soar Legal drugs is bad the facts prove it

[georgelopezblows]

@animejerk05 You can provide links. There is info on the web if you need help doing so.

[animejerk05]

@georgelopezblows i cant link on youtube but just google legalized weed in European country and its effects you will find it

[bobshenix]

I like this man's clear and coherent answers... he's a great advocate to have for legalization.

[csincali]

What is the first thing people do when you tell them a can't? They do it anyway. Reverse psycology works. Legalize em all. It has already been proven that no more % of the pop uses not that they are illegal than they did when it was legal. The people are going to do it anyway so let them.

[suteners2111]

i like that guy :D

[selymak]

he's advocating the same stuff ron paul is advocating. hmm.. an educated harvard economist and ron paul on the same boat? coincidence?

[Crazyman1212]

why do they let these idiot reporters make stupid comments....you think doctors and teachers are going to start using heroin and meth because it's legal....gasoline is legal and for $1.29 a litre and a 5 cent grocery bag you can get really high and fucked up for only a $1.34....legalize meth and heroin keeps junkies from stabbing me with a needle for money so they can get there fix.

[jaggertone]

This is a controversial issue, but consider how much MORE money we will have for drug education and drug rehabilitation.

[MrKushbuds]

lmao how would we tax? is that even a real question i know she is playing devil advi but come up with a better question but i will answer...... sales tax .. jaws drop

[Ddstairclimber]

only Americans were dumb enough to ever criminalize alcohol, and still have very strict laws surrounding it

[rangingquiet]

It's illegal cause of peoples misuse. If humans had control over their actions then lots of drugs would still be on the market but NOO we like to go over-board

[MrKushbuds]

@rangingquiet but if you live in a america this law violates your constitutional rights and look a portugal they legalized all drug and use has droped . people alot of the you drugs because they are illegal and gives a addrinilan rush

[OptimismBlues2010]

Notice how the criminals faces aren't covered ready to be the focus of hatred, but the law enforcement officers faces are well hidden. Hiding behind those ski mask looking things, they look like criminals.

Is it just me or does prohibition turn actual law enforcement into criminals, in at least one way or more?

[Crazyman1212]

@OptimismBlues2010 this is not busting a hippie marijuana grow op, they are wearing the masks to hide themselfs from the cartels going after there family and friends...any police officer who has ever killed a high ranking drug cartel official has had there entire family killed...we need to legalize all drugs and stop there money supply, it's the only way to stop them. killing the cartels or arresting them will just lead to someone else taking power.

[antred11]

I agree that all drugs should be legalized. Everyone is stupid enough to want to destroy themselves should have the liberty to do so.

[GNAA9000]

"How would the currently illegal drugs be taxed if they are smuggled from other countries?" - Dumb Interview Bitch

Hello, bitch. They would be legally produced by pharmaceutical companies just like aspirin. Do you see drug cartels smuggling aspirin across the border?

[Prolite959]

2 years and only 7,000 views...

[cdmillig]

3:10 Here comes the psycho mom rant that really has absolutely not merit.

Who would've thought?

[capone6080]

Wow stop the ratings on this video, what it didn't go in their favor. U.S.A sucks this country is a joke and isn't free at all. Listen to this lady Don't people understand people who do drugs do them already whether they are illegal or not. Get that threw your think dumb close minded heads.. It's very simple to understand, are people this stupid or what...

[bossoholic]

@capone6080 Its the government! They want it all illegal for the prison industry and law enforcement jobs. Locking people up just to get their numbers in is what they do.

[rune123jm1]

Fuck the U.S.A, STOP PUTTING PRESSURE ON OTHER NATIONS!!

17,000+ dead in 2010 alone, in Mexico.

[rune123jm]

U.S.A



[riverlioness]

Government paternalist philosophy over grown adults saves the irresponsible, and ignores the needs of the responsible citizen. Responsible, rational citizens pay 7.7 billion in taxes to support a war on toxins irrational citizens choose to abuse. Violence and wars break out in American neighborhoods under prohibition, catching the innocent in the cross fire. Save the mathematicians, the scientists, the entrepreneurs, and the Doctors, not the cartel! Invest in scholarships, not prohibition! 

[TheBuckley555]

@riverlioness lol dude your missing the point.

neither do I.

but the fact of the matter is that if that does happen to you.

maybe you should read up on your constitutional rights bud.

the world's not just gonna magicly change.

it's ok. it will one day. but it takes time. and until that happens all we can do is smoke.

so smoke.

[riverlioness]

Legalize survival of the fittest. No matter how you feel about deadly drugs, In nature, potato is a dangerous plant, a person has the right to, sit down, and eat the leaves, Most reactions to that would be, "the guy knew the risks" we react differently to the excess of alcohol or intoxicants we know to be poison. Why? Are we above nature, to dictate "hey I'm going to prevent you from shooting heroin"? There are natural consequences to ignoring the risks, punishing people is double jeopardy.

[TheBuckley555]

fuckin a and eat mushrooms

[riverlioness]

@TheBuckley555

You are the one missing the point. When you see an economist he is talking Benjamin Franklin green. He is talking the kind of green NOBODY is crazy enough to smoke. That's the real high of this world!

You don't really believe prohibition has ever been a moral issue, do you? It's a battle over who is going to corner a market.

You and the police have your own little world. Politicians only hear the cash register cash-ing. All this crap about ridding the world of greed is a lie.

[TheBuckley555]

just smoke people

it don't need to be legal.

doesn't need to be illegal.

their all just made up words.

so just smoke

[ruggedrap81]

@TheBuckley555 Your missing the point

[TheBuckley555]

@ruggedrap81 how so?

what exactly is your point?

that it should be legal so we can smoke every day?

that would be great. But I already smoke every day. So it won't change shit really.

[ruggedrap81]

@TheBuckley555 Your missing the point, i dont like getting arrested for holding weed, i dont like getting harrassed bye police, i dont want to pay ridiculous fines for possession, i dont want cops raiding my house and beating my ass because im growing ganja, if its mass produced a pound of kush would be $100 and not $4000, the country would gain billions in taxes, its an all around good deal.

[riverlioness]

@TheBuckley555 The economist's plan Wait until Marijuana is legalized Go to broker Invest Buy new BMW. Stoner's plan Wait until marijuana is legalized go to dispensary Buy, buy, buy... The Politician's plan Pass laws prohibiting sale Beat anyone in the way Approve of it only with enormous pigouvian tax Collect collect collect

[samtheman2477]

most of the drugs that our docters proscribe us for pain have illegal drugs in it. i just dont get how our government has been over run by dipshits and they think that were the stupid ones? wrap your head around that shit

[naruto9902]

for sure this will illimate violence and corruption. The only fear that people have is the fear of dumb people not being responsible and hurting others. Alchohol does the same. Drink responsibly and we good. Use responsibly and don't hurt anyone else yes. One idiot doctor who is high and makes a mistake compared to the sickening violence, fear, corruption, and other crimes commited on thousands the scale is tipped more on that one. Who knows. We have to try it to find out.

[Charles195th]

People use opiates right under your noses for YEARS and you'd never know. You only know when they get sick...because they can't get it. IT cures arthritis without hurting your liver!!! {opium}

[Charles195th]

He's right...just keep illegal things like robbery and burglary and theft and murder and assault...those are things that are normally illegal for good reason...IF someone gets' too high and / or can't afford their habit and go do stupid things...then there have been laws covering this for many many years.

[Boostnitup]

Prop 19... end the lie. Reefer Madness the movie showed the lie.

[GreyAutumn]

9,000 people? It's 30,000 people killed since 2006! And all of them because of prohibition. Vote yes on prop 19!

[libralssuck]

@GreyAutumn VOTE YES ON 19 ... if i could vote yes from TN id have everyone in my family vote yes on it .... most the people i know are hoping for prop 19 to pass ..... and i cant understand why more states wont stand with California on whats OBVIOUSLY a 10th amendment issue ..... sad that more states wont stand up to the Feds. Hopefully more states will follow California's lead and grow some balls with there buds as well.

[GreyAutumn]

@libralssuck true, I believe this will trigger a domino effect.

[karencurley]

He is absolutely right. Too bad the government will never listen. Not too many of them could get into Harvard anyway.

[msinisa]

@karencurley drugs will never be legalized, because lots of politics, police are bribed by drug money, and if it becomes legal, they will loose

[mrmelo25]

Making quality cannabis available legally is the first step to reducing the abuse of alcohol, hard drugs, and pharmaceuticals. Millions of sensible, productive Americans know it is the safest choice.

[libralssuck]

DRUG prohibition is a states right issue and should be left to the state ...its not for the Federal government to regulate the use of anything not covered in the Constitution ....the whole fight that people fight is" we MUST legalize everything"...well no but we should have the RIGHT in OUR community to decide if thats what we want as a people...states rights is the answer to drug legalization/regulation ...free market would protect us as a group from substance abusers in positions of authority

[Charles195th]

@libralssuck Your an idiot.

[libralssuck]

@Charles195th Oh what about my statement would lead you to make such an ignorant declaration .... how would it being a states right and place to make laws concerning their community's drug use make me an idiot? The federal government has NO business making broad reaching drug laws that do not fall under the constitution .... Do you have any understanding of the statement ... or did you just see my name and decide to be retarded?

[goncalojferreira]

Pwnd.... ah ah... Would you like to go under surgery with that doctor? and then he lawls... " They'r doing it rigth now... You just don't know it " eh eh...

[themalina92]

All drugs need to be made legal, as well as all prescription drugs need to be available over the counter.

If you use them wrong, then you will suffer the consequences. Just read the label and understand the risks and side effects or do not use.

[innovativefunction]

Man this guy is so right, hit the reporter with good answer leaving her gabbling. It's my thought too, but all people or some people know why they don't want to make drugs legal. the government and the vatican will lose a LOT of money!!

[culturalmut]

He's right.

Unfortunately, the lobby for de-criminalization and legalization lack:

- financial resources

- Organizational sophistication

- cultural support

The status quo lobby has all these tools, for now.

[TAXavier]

@culturalmut This is happening and very well could happen this year with regards to legalization of cannabis in California. Don't just keep your fingers crossed people, INFORM others and get them to vote YES.

[CountArtha]

Wow - I never would have thought a Harvard economist could get something right.

[selymak]

@CountArtha what? he's a havard economist. cut him some slack yo! =D

[ALITL8]

technically, marijuana would hit the cartels and corrupted governments extremely hard. consider the cost to manufacture marijuana as opposed to cocaine, heroin, meth, etc. now consider what illegal drug is used "most"... trust me, it ain't cocaine, heroin or meth.

Legalize marijuana, decriminalize, tax and regulate the other illegal and actually "deadly" drugs. Marijuana deaths from overdose is ZERO, compare that to aspirin.

Wake up America... the "War" on Drugs in a "War" on YOU!

[sharperguy]

Wouldn't decriminalisation just lead to the same underground drugs market except with even fewer disincentives to not use the substances?

Seems like the worst of both worlds to me. Why not just legalise fully?

[ALITL8]

@sharperguy i agree, all drugs should be legal but you really cant argue that some drugs need to be regulated. at least set age limits, that would definitely curb the use among the youth. of course, i started smoking pot when i was 12, who am i to talk about age limits. hell, up until they started pre-employment/random drug screening, i had no complaints and was climbing the ladder of success.

[TAXavier]

@ALITL8 When most everyone talks about legalizing all drugs, cannabis, etc..we mean similar or even just like it is with alcohol and tobacco. Of course kids wouldn't be able to legally buy them.

[sickskata333]

LEGALIZE IT. THAT EASY..... FUCK!!

[ALITL8]

ratings disabled??

[dizolve13]

this is true - with legalization it would end immediately!

[NatureLegalized]

L E G A L I Z E NATURE P E R I O D.

[anthropomorphosizeme]

First does any one think that she or her media outlet is reliable?

Second this guy is completely right! What is the difference between alcohol and coc?

The most addictive AND deadly drug known to man is nicotine yet we dont even mention that? where is our common sense with these types of things?

Who should be allowed to tell you or I what we can and can not do?

If there is a demand and two people decide to make and than sell there product where is the law being broken?

[paulpalmbeach]

Wanna solve the prob in Afghanistan without all the soldiers? Just legalize the poppy crop and and watch the standard of living there go up up up.

Fixing Mexico and Columbia? No problem with a way for the populace to make money without violence.

Get smart people. Tax and regulate! Prohibition. Never worked, never will.

Email your congressman today!

[amindbody]

Wanna solve the prob in Afghanistan without all the soldiers? Just legalize the poppy crop and and watch the standard of living there go up up up.

Fixing Mexico and Columbia? No problem with a way for the populace to make money without violence.

Get smart people. Tax and regulate! Prohibition. Never worked, never will.

Email your congressman today!