Would legalisation and regulation of drugs increase crime?
No. Legalisation and regulation of drugs will cause a dramatic reduction in crime at all levels. Dependant users of illegal drugs (but not legal ones) commit crimes to fund their drug habit because illegal drugs prices are hugely inflated by prohibition. Legally regulated supplies of opiates and cocaine – on prescription or at prices that do not necessitate fundraising-related offending – have the potential to immediately and dramatically reduce property crime, and street prostitution. Most street drug dealing would disappear and there would be significant reductions in turf wars, gang violence and gun crime. The largest single profit opportunity for organised crime be greatly diminished, and with it the largest single source of police corruption.
No. Legalisation and regulation of drugs will cause a dramatic reduction in crime at all levels. Dependant users of illegal drugs (but not legal ones) commit crimes to fund their drug habit because illegal drugs prices are hugely inflated by prohibition. Legally regulated supplies of opiates and cocaine – on prescription or at prices that do not necessitate fundraising-related offending – have the potential to immediately and dramatically reduce property crime, and street prostitution. Most street drug dealing would disappear and there would be significant reductions in turf wars, gang violence and gun crime. The largest single profit opportunity for organised crime would be greatly diminished, and with it the largest single source of police corruption.
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- Would legalisation and regulation of drugs increase anti-social behaviour?
- Would legalisation and regulation of drugs increase crime?
