In part of my show tonight, I’ll talk about how laws against prostitution, organ selling, and drug use hurt more people than prostitution, organ selling, and drug use do. The first argument against drug legalization is usually: “then more kids will abuse drugs!”   But there’s little evidence for that. The Netherlands has officially "tolerated" marijuana for 30 years. So is there violent marijuana crime? No. Fewer young people in Holland smoke marijuana than do Americans. Legalization took the mystique away. A Dutch minister of health said, "We've succeeded in making pot... continue reading »

On my Fox Business show this week (Thursday at 8pm & 11pm ET), we'll look at Prohibition. Not the disastrous alcohol prohibition of the 1920’s, but today's prohibitions against recreational drugs, prostitution, polygamy, and other consensual activities between competent adults. It's also the subject of my syndicated column this week. Our government loves to think it can solve "problems" by  banning something... continue reading »

In this week’s show “Hands Off My Meds” (re-airing tonight at 10pm ET, Saturday at 7pm ET, and Sunday at 11pm ET), I ask: Why does the DEA, in its zeal to prosecute the disastrous War on Drugs, frequently harass and prosecute doctors who prescribe pain medicine with opiates—legal medications like oxycontin, vicodin and percocet—to patients with chronic pain?... continue reading »

A Gallup poll in October found 44 percent of Americans favor full legalization of marijuana -- a rise of 13 points since 2000...The finding heartens advocates collecting signatures to put the question of legalization before California voters in a 2010 initiative... continue reading »

Vacation let me catch up on back issues of the National Review. The Sept 21 issue is filled with interesting articles, like Kyle Smith's review of Ryan Grim's book, This Is Your Country on Drugs. Grim points out early examples of early prohibition:

An engraving of George Washington making a toast with a glass and a bottle was reimagined for the less convivial moment of the centennial with the glass removed and the bottle replaced by a hat... continue reading »

It’s not often I find myself nodding in agreement with an op-ed in the New York Times, but Nicholas Kristof has declared an end to the War on Drugs…and in his words, “it now appears that drugs have won.” I’ve never really understood how a nation wages “War” against inanimate objects, still less how those objects would “win”, but at least Kristof is questioning the wisdom of the War on Drugs... continue reading »