A distinguished law professor points out that many problems associated with drug use actually result from the prohibition of drugs. These include deaths, by violence and by overdose, theft, health risks, huge law enforcement expenditures. He notes that legalized drugs could still be highly regulated. Funds now spent on law enforcement could be diverted to treatment programs which are known to work.

Steven B. Duke, L.L.M., is Law of Science and Technology Prof. at Yale Law School. He is co-author of America's Longest War: Rethinking Our Tragic Crusade Against Drugs.