The legalization of drugs / Douglas Husak and Peter de Marneffe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Husak, Douglas N., 1948- author.

De Marneffe, Peter, 1957- author.

Series:

For and against (Cambridge, England)

For and against

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Drug legalization--United States.

Drug legalization.

Drugs of abuse--Law and legislation--United States--Criminal provisions.

Drugs of abuse.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 204 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In the United States today, the use or possession of many drugs is a criminal offense. Can these criminal laws be justified? What are the best reasons to punish or not to punish drug users? These are the fundamental issues debated in this book by two prominent philosophers of law. Douglas Husak argues in favor of drug decriminalization, by clarifying the meaning of crucial terms, such as legalize, decriminalize, and drugs; and by identifying the standards by which alternative drug policies should be assessed. He critically examines the reasons typically offered in favor of our current approach and explains why decriminalization is preferable. Peter de Marneffe argues against drug legalization, demonstrating why drug prohibition, especially the prohibition of heroin, is necessary to protect young people from self-destructive drug use. If the empirical assumptions of this argument are sound, he reasons, drug prohibition is perfectly compatible with our rights to liberty.

Contents:

The meaning of drug decriminalization

How should we evaluate alternative drug policies?

Reasons to criminalize drug use

Reasons to decriminalize

Drug legalization : production and sale

An argument for drug prohibition

Drug prohibition and liberalism

Alcohol and other drugs

Epistemic concerns.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-200) and index.

ISBN:

1-107-15050-7

1-281-10866-9

9786611108663

0-511-61484-5

0-511-34501-1

0-511-34465-1

0-511-34426-0

0-511-56707-3

0-511-34535-6

OCLC:

185082157