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REVIEWS @ DRUG WAR CRIMES: The Consequences of Prohibition by Jeffrey A. Miron The Independent Institute, USA, 2004 ISBN 0-945999-90-9 (107pp tpb) Availability: The Independent Institute, http://www.independent.org ik this balanced analysis of the pros and cons of drug prohibition, author Jeffrey Miron, Professor of Economics at Boston University, concludes that legalisation of drugs comes out ahead of prohibition. First looking at the economics of prohibi- tion, Miron discovers that it reduces drug consumption only moderately but results in a significant increase in violence and corrup- tion. Drug prohibition is also expensive: the US government spent more than $33 bil- lion on it in recent years, and every year it arrests 1.5 million citizens on drug-related charges. These issues are important in eval- uating the costs/benefits of prohibition. Following on, Miron comes up with fig- ures from the alcohol prohibition era in the early 20th century that are instructive in determining the effect of prohibition on drug consumption. Though this area of study is problematic, he says existing evidence is scant that marijuana decriminalisation is accompanied by increased marijuana use. Next, Miron devotes a chapter to the issue of violence, concluding that high rates of pro- hibition enforcement are associated with high rates of violence—in stark contrast to the usual defence of prohibition that enforcement reduces violence. So, is prohibition good policy if at least it can reduce drug consumption, assuming this is a good thing for health? And if it can't, which he says it doesn't, what's the point if it causes more violence? Miron examines the normative argument, finding that prohibition is almost certainly the wrong approach. Considering alternatives to prohibition and other policies on drugs, including subsidised treatment centres and needle exchanges, Miron says the evidence favours legalisation for the sake of liberty and utility. Tecns of drug prohibition author Jeffrey INSIDE JOB: 11 involving hijacked planes being crashed Miron, Professor of Economics at Boston Unmasking the 9/11 Conspiracies into significant buildings—which would University, concludes that legalisation of by Jim Marrs pave added to ee confusion ih military teh drugs comes out ahead of prohibition. Origin Press, USA, 2004 cles t il thon “ft anon slain Mike cee y First looking at the economics of prohibi- ISBN 1-57983-013-7 (216pp tpb) eae wh aie ttike ant Tleddemoli tion, Miron discovers that it reduces drug Availability: Origin Press, tone af the Wo id Tr te Ce i T mole consumption only moderately but results in _http://www.I|nsideJob-911.com Tow, ° nd the sibilit “h i" dice ised a significant increase in violence and corrup- ith so much of our energy these days cruise naisaile torn 757 » eens ore hit tion. Drug prohibition is also expensive: focused on America's botched-up war the Penta: on make for ieeiomate "stion. the US government spent more than $33 bil- _ in Iraq, let's not forget the "trigger" for this ing and. i‘ efull debe. ques lion on it in recent years, and every year it mess: the events of September 11, 2001. In Watts touches oe a web of secret agendas arrests 1.5 million citizens on drug-related Inside Job, veteran investigative journalist/ in his alarmin OI anal sis. He a not charges. These issues are important in eval- —_ author Jim Marrs (Crossfire: The Plot That rovi de the wets but te certain! yal uating the costs/benefits of prohibition. Killed Kennedy; Rule by Secrecy, reviewed lenges the official story and makes ys Following on, Miron comes up with fig- in 8/01) analyses the events of 9/11 in terms . ; , af ures from the alcohol prohibition era in the of the anomalies that many of us noted at the reassess the propaganda we've been fed. early 20th century that are instructive in time but which the US government and —= = determining the effect of prohibition on drug —_ mainstream media have conveniently rT consumption. Though this area of study is glossed over or ignored. IN SIDE JOB problematic, he says existing evidence is Marrs has dedicated his book to those who i scant that marijuana decriminalisation is suffered the loss of loved ones during the Resehchane ee 1/0) Conshooee accompanied by increased marijuana use. horrors of 9/11, for they deserve to know the Next, Miron devotes a chapter to the issue of _ truth about what really happened that fateful violence, concluding that high rates of pro- day. The preface, by Ellen Mariani (whose hibition enforcement are associated with husband, a passenger on United Airlines high rates of violence—in stark contrast to Flight 175, was killed in the attacks), is a the usual defence of prohibition that determined call for answers from the US enforcement reduces violence. government; in fact, she's suing it under the So, is prohibition good policy if at least it RICO (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt can reduce drug consumption, assuming this Organizations) Act, alleging that the attacks is a good thing for health? And if it can't, were no surprise. which he says it doesn't, what's the point if it Anyone who's searched the Net these last causes more violence? Miron examines the __ few years for clues as to "who dunnit" will 66 = NEXUS find some concurrence with what Marrs has deduced: that the 9/11 attacks smack of being an "inside job", or at least of being carried out with high-level (read shadow government) complicity. It was all too convenient, in retrospect, for both the NRO and NORAD to be conduct- ing "exercises" on the morning of September 11 involving hijacked planes being crashed into significant buildings—which would have added to the confusion in military cir- cles that day. Scenarios involving remotely controlled aircraft, unexplained explosions during what looked like controlled demoli- tions of the World Trade Center Twin Towers, and the possibility that a disguised cruise missile—not a 757 passenger jet—hit the Pentagon make for passionate question- ing and, hopefully, debate. Marrs touches on a web of secret agendas in his alarming 9/11 analysis. He may not provide the answers, but he certainly chal- lenges the official story and makes us reassess the propaganda we've been fed. = www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2004