War on drugs a trillion-dollar failure

CNN:  Editor’s note: Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, with global branded revenues of $21 billion, and a member of the Global Drug Commission. Sir Richard was knighted in 1999 for his services to entrepreneurship. Watch today for Branson’s interview with CNN/US’ Erin Burnett Out Front at 7pm ET and tomorrow (12/7) with CNN International’s Connect the World program at 4pm ET 

 In 1925, H. L. Mencken wrote an impassioned plea: “Prohibition has not only failed in its promises but actually created additional serious and disturbing social problems throughout society. There is not less drunkenness in the Republic but more. There is not less crime, but more. … The cost of government is not smaller, but vastly greater. Respect for law has not increased, but diminished.”

This week marks the 79th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition in December 1933, but Mencken’s plea could easily apply to today’s global policy on drugs…  (more)

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