Before I get started, let me say this: A LOT OF DRUGS OUT THERE (including legally prescribed pharmaceuticals) ARE A BAD, BAD, BAD IDEA AND YOU SHOULDN’T USE THEM, TRY THEM, OR OTHERWISE GET INVOLVED WITH THEM. (See: Heroin, Cocaine, Crack). Many drugs are bad, mmmmmkay, kids?
That aside, I’ll go on…
Yesterday I had lunch with one of my colleagues. He’s a younger, very logical, well reasoned guy. His father is a State Trooper. That is to say, he’s probably grown up with the idea that the state (that is, a general term for Government) and maybe even the drug war are good things. Along the way, we got talking about crimes and how I believe the only true crimes are crimes that involve a victim (crimes against person or property). This lead into a talk about the drug trade.
One argument he brought up in support of Federal and State prohibition policies was: well, the drug trade is inherently violent and that’s why we need to keep prohibition. Then I asked him: Why is the drug trade violent?
Let me ask you, the reader, the same question: Why is the drug trade violent?