There’s an interesting docudrama up on Google Video at the moment called “If Drugs Were Legal” made by the BBC as part of thei “IF” current affair series.
It’s made up of a bunch of different interviews and dramatised scenes. Of course, that means it is going to have obvious biases but it also raises a lot of interesting points and is well worth a look when you have a spare hour.
One point that kind of interested me was the contention that in an environment in which drugs are legal, current pharmacutical companies are in the best position to take advantage of the recreational drug use market. That in turn would subject the overall drug industry (both therapeutic and recreational) to the normal demands of a market. In turn, the demand for recreational drugs and its massive profits would produce a situation in which commercial imperative would see such companies turn their primary interest to the more lucrative field of recreational drugs - including the driving of demand for the product.
Frankly I don’t think that argument is exactly air tight and many regulations could be placed to minimise the chances of that scenario. After all, a major pillar of the legalisation debate rests with regulation.
Anyway, it’s a good watch and the background ‘drama’ is quite entertaining. Check it out.