Still More on Libertarianism: Drugs

[lhynard]

I might as well go on to the topic for which libertarians may well be most famous -- legalization of drugs. Most libertarians are for the legalization of drugs, whatever they are, as long as they do not harm anyone else. The view is that, if it does not harm anyone else, people in a free society should have the right to do whatever they want. This

Comments

[lhynard]

Can you think of a controlled substance that is _not_addictive?

certain steroids
certain hard drugs

(Although, any non-chemically-addictive drug could very easily become addictive for other reasons not directly associated with the drug, just like one can become addicted to video games or such.)

Or a controlled substance that does not affect the mind?

steroids

I would be interested in a scenario in which an addictive, mind-altering substance could be used in such a way that no one besides the user was harmed.

I am speaking of direct harm, here. And in that case, I can only think of cigarettes. The Libertarians and myself hold the view that people are responsible for their own actions and choices. Alcohol is not to blame for car accidents -- it is the idiots who drive when drunk who are responsible for car accidents. So they would propose stricter punishments and revoking of licenses to both drive and purchase alcohol to those who drive drunk. Alcohol is also different from, say, pot, in that pot does not make it more difficult to perform physical tasks or to more easily lose one's temper. So pot really isn't directly harmful to anyone. One can try to get a lesser penalty for manslaughter, perhaps, by claiming, "I was under the influence of alcohol and lost control." One cannot claim such a thing about pot. Addiction to pot can destroy relationships and careers and such, but such harm is caused by addiction, not the effects of the pot. Addictions to video games could also destroy friendships and careers.

The changes to the laws would be a lot if libertarians suddenly took over the US. A drinking minimum age would likely be abolished, yet far more sever punishments for drinking and driving would be set up, such that abuse would lead to the removable of alcohol purchasing and driving rights. Nowadays, it is quite easy to get off the hook for drunk driving. The guy who took my memory away is still driving, and I was not his first incident.