American Morning
Commentary: Legalize drugs
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/13/miron.jeffrey.art.jpg caption="Economist Jeffrey Miron says legalization of drugs makes more sense than prohibition."]
By Jeffrey A. Miron
Special to CNN
Editor's note: Jeffrey A. Miron is senior lecturer in economics at Harvard University.
The CNN story that provided the hook for my debate with former DEA official Robert Guttman might appear at first glance to make a convincing case against legalizing drugs like heroin or cocaine; the story recounts the tragic death of a teenager from heroin use. Read the story
In fact, the story illustrates perfectly why legalization makes more sense than prohibition, even for hard drugs.
The incident recounted in the story occurred under current policy: prohibition did not prevent this teenager from using heroin.
As the story emphasized, moreover, heroin prices have fallen dramatically over the past several decades to the point where heroin is available in a relatively pure form at prices most teenagers can afford. This shows that government anti-drug policies have been a dismal failure, since the express purpose of those policies is to raise drug prices and reduce use. Federal and state government have spent hundreds of billions of dollars attempting to enforce prohibition, yet availability and purity are higher than ever while price is at record lows.
Thus prohibition has failed to accomplish its stated goals, and it generates enormous negative side effects.
Counterpoint – Drug legalization: "A great idea whose time has not come!"
Drug legalization: "A great idea whose time has not come"
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/13/stutman.art.jpg caption="Robert Stutman is a former Special Agent with the DEA."]
By Robert M. Stutman
Special to CNN
Editor's note: Robert M. Stutman is a former Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Principal of The Stutman Group.
Gee, things aren't going great in the war on drugs: violence in Mexico; more and more kids using dangerous drugs at an early age; kids overdosing all over the country from drugs like heroin and OxyContin. If you like this and want a lot more, let's give any drug to any person at any age who wants to use it and see where that gets us.
Our present system is not perfect and needs a lot of fixing, but blowing up the system and giving up completely would be like a contractor who has to demolish a building and instead of using dynamite to take down the building, uses a nuclear device to take down the city. Granted the system is not perfect, but fortunately, even most religions don't demand perfection, they demand of you to try your best. Surrendering is not trying our best!
Counterpoint – Commentary: Legalize drugs
Chimp attack – who pays?
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/08/art_travis_child_news12.jpg caption="Police say Travis, seen here as a younger chimp, was like a child to his owner, Sandra Herold."]
From CNN's Vinita Singla
Remember the horrific chimp attack last February when the Connecticut owner called 911 as her friend was being brutally mauled? Hear the call.
Now the family of the victim Charla Nash, may be suing the state, claiming that state officials knew the wild animal was a ticking time bomb.
“We’re looking into all potential avenues of recovery,” said Matthew D. Newman, an attorney representing the Nash family.
The commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, an agency responsible for wild animals that are kept as so-called pets, admitted the DEP could have been “more aggressive” in handling the 200-pound primate.
Busted for sexting
A lot of teens think it's funny, a way to flirt or joke around with friends.
No big deal.
But sending and receiving naked images of children is illegal. And once that photo of your kid is out there it's virtually impossible to get it back.
What do you think? Should teenagers be prosecuted for "sexting?"
Inside a polygamist sect
Twelve months ago authorities raided a secretive polygamist sect in Texas.
The story captivated the nation, and one year later the members of the sect are talking to the queen of daytime talk, Oprah Winfrey.
Girl Scout Cookie Controversy
One girl scout turned to the internet to sell more Girl Scout cookies for her troop. With the help of her dad she linked a page to Facebook where people can order cookies online and even posted a cute you-tube video.
Seems innovative and innocent enough, right? But the Girl Scouts of America says she's breaking the rules that clearly state you cannot sell cookies online and they want her to stop. Bryan freeborn and his daughter, wild, joined us live.
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