Can you believe that drugs in the US were initially banned partly because of fears of miscegenation (interracial relationships)? But that’s not the only reason. Other reasons included alarmist films like Reefer Madness (see program image!), fear of conspiracies, and the notion that government has a right to determine the productivity of its citizens. If these are the arguments on which the drug war was founded, can we be sure it’s a war worth fighting?
The War on Drugs has created a laundry list of perverse incentives for both sellers and buyers, leading to unintended and even dangerous consequences. This program attempts to analyze the history and net effects of drug prohibition. Press play, and GET SMART!