ABSTRACT
The criminological study of state crime typically focuses on the harmful consequences of state violations of domestic or international laws. Contrary to the view that state crimes are always harmful, however, this chapter suggests that in some cases states may cause less harm by violating international laws than by conforming to them. Specifically, we examine how several European nations, by violating United Nations resolutions governing the sale and use of drugs, have caused less harm than if they had conformed to the prohibitionist and highly punitive model of drug control promoted by UN anti-drug resolutions created in accordance with US interests.
