ABSTRACT
This chapter points out that existing drug policies are not the ones that would minimize crime. One would never guesses either from the chapter or from the broader public debate that alcohol is the drug most frequently involved in crime, and the drug that accounts for by far the largest number of user arrests. Unless one believes that there would be massive substitution away from more dangerous drugs, including alcohol—;;a plausible, but by no means well-established, proposition—;;then it is hard to foresee much of a crime-control contribution from any change in our cannabis and hallucinogen policies. The chapter goes on to assert that a different set of policies—;;"harm minimization"—;;less hostile to drug use and drug users, would result in less crime. It would be desirables for those who write and enforce the drug laws to adopt a less simplistic approach, one that made finer distinctions among drugs, among users, and among dealers.
