Also, It Makes Your Coke Cost More

Over at Alternet, the Drug Policy Alliance's Bill Piper offers some reasons to think the recent increase in cocaine prices is not the good news the Bush administration says it is:

Higher drug prices contribute to increased violence... 

Higher drug prices tend to lead to decreased purity, which can have devastating public health consequences. As cocaine purity falls, some people may switch from smoking or snorting cocaine to injecting it, increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases

Cocaine users who do quit will likely switch to other drugs, with unpredictable consequences...

Rising drug prices leads to greater trafficking, not less.

Piper also points out (as I did in a post on the subject a couple weeks ago) that supply reduction is a doomed strategy over the long term.

Comments

J sub D | October 24, 2007, 2:36pm | #

Piper also points out (as I did in a post on the subject a couple weeks ago) that supply reduction is a doomed strategy over the long term.

If you'd like more evidence that prohibition doesn't work, even in nations with less than acceptable civil rights, go here. It's a short trip.

Guy Montag | October 24, 2007, 2:49pm | #

Is this why Radley is so upset about HFCS?

Kwix | October 24, 2007, 2:53pm | #

Clearly the lack of Fulton County water is what will drive my Coke costs up more so than border interdiction. Of greater concern is the purity of my Coke, uncontaminated by aspartame or sucralose.

Guy Montag | October 24, 2007, 3:00pm | #

Clearly the lack of Fulton County water is what will drive my Coke costs up more so than border interdiction.

Because AGW has eliminated the hurricanes that bring you fresh water.

DRINK!

barry payne - economist | October 24, 2007, 3:05pm | #

A WIN-WIN DRUG WAR

If drug prices increase, they will say they it's because the drug war successfully cut off supply.

If drug prices decrease, they will say more resources are needed to stop drugs that are flooding the streets.

If drug prices stay the same, they will say the drug warriors are holding their own in a valiant battle against evil.

If drug quality increases, they will say it's more dangerous and will cause more death by overdose.

If drug quality decreases, they will say it's more dangerous and will cause more death by consuming it at all.

If drug quality remains the same, the will say ...

Taktix® | October 24, 2007, 3:08pm | #

Good job, jackasses. I guess this WOD is really paying off in spades [/sarcasm].

I can't really comment, however, as I don't really think the premise (namely, that coke is cheaper) has any truth to it.

I live in South Florida, and sorry to say, prices haven't fluctuated one bit.

Guy Montag | October 24, 2007, 3:12pm | #

This story and discussion are reminding me of a Clash song. Something about snakeskin boots and aligator suits, not needing a cleaners 'kuz you can take 'em to the vet, or something.

ACK! Now I am hearing the Clash song "Hateful" in my head! How long is this album?

Lamar | October 24, 2007, 3:14pm | #

As long as Porsches have dashboards, there will be coke to blow off of them.

Episiarch | October 24, 2007, 3:22pm | #

As long as supermodels have asses, there will be coke to blow off of them.

Pi Guy | October 24, 2007, 3:28pm | #

There are microbreweries and meth labs whose only purpose is to take advantage of markets that already exist. They exist because there are people who want brew and dust. The markets don't go away just because they're made illegal. People still want them.

It might be time to take production into our own hands, fellers. I've got the perfect space for it. Now, if I can just get my hands on some cheap labor with bad teeth and a couple of automatic weapons I'd be rakin' it in!

Episiarch | October 24, 2007, 3:28pm | #

Seriosly, though, the "justice" system, and all its employees and hangers-on, have to be one of the most significant obstacles to stopping this idiocy.

The lawyers make money defending people. The prosecutors make a name for themselves by prosecuting as much as they can. The cops can arrest people anytime they want (what's this, a bag of weed in your pocket?), can skim off of busts, can seize property, can bust down people's doors, and so on (the cop stuff is endless). The social workers, therapists, and psychologists have jobs as long as there are people court-ordered to see them for "drug counseling" or "substance abuse". The prisons and prison guards get tons of business.

They all feed off of the drug war. They don't want it to ever stop.

VM | October 24, 2007, 3:33pm | #

Guy - just put on Koka Kola. good call!

(oh - just changed to the Smiths "the Queen is Dead")

Tacos mmm... | October 24, 2007, 3:35pm | #

As long as supermodels have asses, there will be coke to blow off of them.

Given current trends, I expect supermodels to stop having asses some time in the next decade. Enjoy while you can...

Mr. Rogers ghost | October 24, 2007, 3:46pm | #

They all feed off of the drug war. They don't want it to ever stop.

Boys and girls, Can you say parasite?

Brandybuck | October 24, 2007, 3:48pm | #

They exist because there are people who want brew and dust.

When homebrew is outlawed, only outlaws will homebrew!

ed | October 24, 2007, 3:57pm | #

I miss the 80s.

Old Dude | October 24, 2007, 4:03pm | #

Ya should have seen the 70's

J sub D | October 24, 2007, 4:07pm | #

Ya should have seen the 70's

I did. Don't remember much about it. Did I have fun?

Pi Guy | October 24, 2007, 4:07pm | #

"They all feed off of the drug war. They don't want it to ever stop."

I think that that's it in a nutshell. It's all about the Benjamins.


"Ya should have seen the 70's"

Yeah. The 70's rocked.

Anthony Ray | October 24, 2007, 4:09pm | #

Given current trends, I expect supermodels to stop having asses some time in the next decade.
Back in 1992, I argued that they already had stopped.

ben bernanke's helicopter | October 24, 2007, 4:51pm | #

This has everything to do with the dollar going to shit and nothing to do with "drug interdiction."

Larry N. Martin | October 24, 2007, 4:55pm | #

As long as supermodels have asses, there will be coke to blow off of them.

But surely, not Conservative T-shirt girl?? She's way too...conservative...

Dr. Memory | October 24, 2007, 4:56pm | #

"Don't remember much about it. Did I have fun?"

Yes. The less you remember, the more fun you had.

Ogami Itto | October 24, 2007, 4:58pm | #

Good job, jackasses. I guess this WOD is really paying off in spades.

Now let's not get racial.

negatore | October 24, 2007, 5:52pm | #

"Yeah. The 70's rocked."

Fuckin' A!

sage | October 24, 2007, 6:01pm | #

Piper also points out (as I did in a post on the subject a couple weeks ago) that supply reduction is a doomed strategy over the long term.

Except that it's not the end strategy. The end strategy is the continued existence of the biggest make-work project in human history. Drug price fluctuations are merely revenue controls.

Paul | October 24, 2007, 6:20pm | #

Cocaine users who do quit will likely switch to other drugs, with unpredictable consequences...

For the love of god, they might start smoking and then we'll have a second-hand smoke epidemic on our hands...

SIV | October 24, 2007, 6:50pm | #

Second waht Fed-Copter said.
NPR did a piece this morning on cocaine flooding Europe.Their currency is worth more.
There is inlation across the board in agricultural commodities-Agflation.

If Bush really wants to drive the price of blow up just mandate that gasoline contain .01 percent of it.

SIV | October 24, 2007, 6:53pm | #

The Clash digression:

If they were "So Bored With the USA" on the first record why was the third record full of songs about American stuff like Stagger Lee, Brand New Cadillacs, and Montgomery Clift?

anonymous for obvious reasons.... | October 24, 2007, 8:35pm | #

Speaking of coke prices, what's a good price for a ball these days? I don't want to get taken and haven't been in the market for a while.

Al Capone | October 25, 2007, 12:13pm | #

If you'd like more evidence that prohibition doesn't work...

I dunno, it worked pretty well for me.

Shtetl G | October 25, 2007, 1:13pm | #

The answer to this problem is obvious (I can understand how all you libertarians missed it), government subsidized blow! It can't be me anymore of waste of money than most government programs.

ChrisO | October 25, 2007, 1:32pm | #

The answer to this problem is obvious (I can understand how all you libertarians missed it), government subsidized blow!

That works for me, so long as everyone gets into Studio 54. The Beautiful People have to make sacrifices, too.

bigbigslacker | October 25, 2007, 9:08pm | #

I haven't noticed any increase in the price of...oh, you're not going to trick me that easily.

bigbiganonymous guy | October 25, 2007, 9:13pm | #

anonymous for obvious - hundred for a teenager

Schmooo | October 26, 2007, 2:54am | #

anonymous,
I was just recently quoted $150 for a ball - cheaper then I could get it in the 80's!