Dr Collins, coordinator of the London School of Economics IDEAS International Drug Policy Project and coordinator of the Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy argues that decriminalisation will help because: criminalisation makes drug usage more dangerous. Addicts hide from social services instead of going to them for help, dirty syringes spread HIV/AIDS and citizens reject drug users as being lost, useless people. Criminalisation feeds vast money-laundering operations, and supplies dictatorial regimes with finance to buy weapons. Fortunes are spent on military operations to eradicate supply, Dr Collins argues, but such operations always seem to fail to eradicate the drugs. The real solution lies in reducing demand, and that can only be achieved through decriminalisation.
Many valid arguments are made during this programme, which might be worth 15 minutes of your life to listen to.
