For years, I've discussed decriminalization with friends and colleagues, debated it with the legendary Baltimore defense attorney Billy Murphy and LEAP leader Jack Cole, considered all the practical arguments and struggled with the prospect of another set of addictive, brain cell-burning substances in America's selection of legal poisons.
I've written numerous times about drug addiction and the need to treat it as a medical problem and not a criminal problem. I've spoken to hundreds of drug addicts and recovering drug addicts and seen the devastating effects of heroin and cocaine on their lives and the lives of their spouses and kids.
The money argument for repeal is interesting, and for some people Miron's estimates might close the deal. But I'm not there yet. Make heroin and coke legal and we'd have more drug addiction, more dysfunctional people in our midst, and we've got our hands full now.
