ABSTRACT
When, and why, can government restrict people’s liberty? The readings to follow examine this question in relation to debates about free speech and drug use. What is the value of free speech? Should the government be able to restrict hateful and offensive speech? Are there good reasons to protect the speech rights of corporations distinct from the speech rights of people? Regarding drug use, are legal restrictions legitimate or should drug use be decriminalized? The readings that follow address these questions and more, including the purposes of freedom of speech, notable Supreme Court cases bearing on free speech protections, the nature of harm, and debates about drug use and addiction.
