Against those who at least advocate the legalization of so-called „soft drugs”, there are experts who say that it would be even more counterproductive to legalize some drugs and not others, because the mafia would focus on spreading illegal drugs. Reproduction – from the Internet – of the arguments in favor of the article „Ten reasons for the legalization of drugs”, by Juan Carlos Hidalgo, collaborator of the Project for Global Economic Freedom of the Cato Institute, who presents a counter-argument in response to each element. Drug prohibition had catastrophic consequences very similar to those of alcohol in the 20s in the United States. However, instead of acknowledging the failure of such policies, most governments around the world have insisted on spending more resources and violating the freedoms of their citizens to stop the illegal drug trade:1 „Legalization would end the lucrative part of drug trafficking. by bringing to the surface the existing black market. And with the disappearance of the clandestine nature of drug trafficking, the social problems associated with this activity diminish considerably. The current drug prohibition does not stop the market, it has simply overwhelmed it under the guise of illegality, and if a business is a crime, criminals will participate. Answer. Legalization does not reduce the profitability of an addictive product.

See the case of tobacco. According to the WHO, only five countries (the United States, China, India, Russia and Brazil) consume more than two billion cigarettes per year, resulting in a turnover of US$331.5 billion in each country, the equivalent of the best-selling brand in dollar terms.2 „Legalization would significantly reduce the price of medicines by ending very high production and brokerage costs. which implies prohibition. This means that many people addicted to these substances do not have to steal or prostitute themselves to pay the currently inflated price of these substances. Answer. The same WHO report notes that in many underdeveloped countries, tobacco use accounts for up to 10 percent of household spending for millions of poor families. But since it is an addiction, they cannot help but consume it, even if they sacrifice other consumer goods that would bring them more well-being. 3 „The legalization of drugs would bring the production of such substances within the rules of a legal market. Under the ban, there are no quality controls or sales of standardized doses. This has led to high mortality from overdose or drug poisoning. Maria Zakharova: The WHO report shows that smoking, the legalized trade, killed 100 million people in the twentieth century, which currently kills more than five million a year, and that at the rate of growth of consumption – legalized everywhere – projections are that tobacco will kill 1,000 million in the twenty-first century. 4 „Drug trafficking has spread its tentacles into the political life of countries.

Important political figures from all over Latin America have been linked to personalities and funds linked to drug trafficking. Perhaps that`s why the war on drugs is intensifying year after year. Major drug traffickers benefit most from current prohibition, and anti-drug operations in the region serve to eliminate competition from small and medium-sized traffickers. Answer. Look at the addictive tobacco industry, which shouldn`t have as much political influence: „Tobacco is already the leading cause of death. We have proven ways to reduce tobacco use, but policymakers are not yet implementing appropriate interventions. Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City. The WHO report is even more categorical: „The tobacco industry spends tens of billions of dollars each year worldwide on advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Partial bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship are not effective because the industry is simply redirecting its resources to other unregulated marketing channels. 5 „The legalization of drugs would put an end to a major hotbed of corruption, which is increasing at all levels of government because a significant number of police, customs officers, judges and all kinds of authorities have been bought, bribed or blackmailed by drug traffickers, creating a great atmosphere of popular mistrust of the public sector in general.” Answer: Corruption among anti-drug prohibition agencies is common and poses a major risk to senior officials in many countries. If trade were legalized, in exchange for the collection of very high taxes, and if control of DEA-type agencies – police – prosecutors – were transferred to other customs agencies – customs courts and regulators of industry and commerce – the same would happen as for tobacco and alcohol.6 „Governments would stop wasting billions of dollars on the war on drugs. Resources designed to fight the real criminals: those who violate the rights of others. Legalization would relieve prisons that are now flooded with people whose only crime was the use of substances prohibited by law. Answer. WHO estimates that in the case of a legalized addictive drug, tobacco, which kills five million people each year, accounts for barely one dollar allocated for every five thousand dollars in tobacco taxes in countries where it has been able to collect solid statistical information.