by James A. Inciardi and Christine A. Saum

About the authors: James A. Inciardi is the director of, and Christine A. Saum is a research associate at, the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Delaware in Newark.

Frustrated by the government’s apparent inability to reduce the supply of illegal drugs on the streets of America, and disquieted by media accounts of innocents victimized by drug-related violence, some policy makers are convinced that the “war on drugs” has failed. In an attempt to find a better solution to the “drug crisis” or, at the very least, to try an alternative strategy, they have proposed legalizing drugs.

Arguments from Both Sides

They argue that, if marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs were legalized, several positive things would probably occur: (1) drug...