NCJ Number
154363
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 25 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 11-26
Date Published
1992
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The partial legalization of heroin is examined, with emphasis whether the social benefits of such a policy would be greater than the social costs.
Abstract
The realization that current drug law enforcement methods may encourage the spread of AIDS has made many people question the value of a blanket prohibition against heroin use. The three main arguments for the partial legalization of the use of heroin are that, in principle, law enforcement cannot succeed in reducing the supply or use of heroin; that, in practice, law enforcement has not succeeded in reducing the supply or use of heroin; and that the social costs of prohibition are less than those of partial legalization. However, it is far from clear that a policy of partial legalization would result in lower social costs than one of prohibition. Just as supporters of prohibition have overstated their case in the past, supporters of partial legalization often seem both to overstate the benefits of the policy and understate its costs. Overall, the available data are insufficient to justify the claim that prohibition has failed and that the risk of partial legalization is therefore justified. 52 reference notes