Neuroscientist Carl Hart: Science Says We Should Decriminalize Drugs
"We haven't had an adult conversation about drugs in America," says acclaimed neuroscientist Carl Hart, who's trying to do just that with his new book, High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society.
Hart, who is an assistant professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University, has both a personal and professional perspective on drugs. A former user and dealer, he's a featured character in Eugene Jarecki's The House I Live In, which explores, among other things, Hart's relationship with his son, Tobias, a drug dealer facing criminal charges. Hart's new book, which makes a case for decriminalization, is both a memoir and an exploration of the latest research on the neuroscience of drug use.
Hart spoke at an event held on June 21, 2013 at Reason's L.A. headquarters.
For more drug policy coverage, check out Reason's new feature-length documentary, America's Longest War.
Reason's Matt Welch sat down with Eugene Jarecki to discuss The House I Live In back in October 2012.
About 22 minutes.
Filmed by Tracy Oppenheimer and Paul Feine. Edited by Sharif Matar.
Scroll below for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic notifications when new material goes live.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
You people keep on bringing up scientific and rational evidence for ending the war on drugs. This suggests that you think the people in the industrial complex behind this war are well intentioned but misguided and have an interest in the well being of society. Americans in general are dupes who can merely parrot back whatever idiocy they have been told, but the movers and shakers behind the drug war couldn't care less about rational arguments and the insanity and social damage wreaked on society. You can not reason with evil, self serving people or with very stupid people or with people with a purely self serving agenda. The war on drugs is working exactly like it is supposed to work and serving the interests of precisely those people whose interest it is designed to serve.
This material is aimed at the dupes. Without the dupes, the policy doesn't proceed.
Neuroscientists...I hate those guys.
Science should probably shut the hell up with the normative judgments.
ETHICS says we should decriminalize drugs.
Better view: simply legalize all drugs.
You mean "re-legalize" all drugs.
I generally agree with him, but I don't trust a guy with hair like that, he's probably some kind of black power weirdo, thinks he's fighting "the man" or whatever
LOL. No, it's probably some strange new drug, the like of which has never been seen before, that has given him superhuman hair. No doubt the hair also provides him with super strength, just like the biblical Samson. Cops will need a larger caliber weapons to stop his neurobiology work.
Hart was on Stossel before and he didn't come across that way.
i hope you're joking...
this comment seems entirely unnecessary either way.
Financial support is really required for students, every year there many students looking for a college education, but it is not possible for everyone. Scholarship helps like a boon for such students.
New scholarships from companies
absolutely written subject material i liked it thank you
i have read fully article recommended for many people
excellent blog post very energetic blog good articles
very nice post really great so much excellent
i have some ideas from this thanks thanks for sharing this thanks again
here is a superb weblog some wonderful entropy dead composed content
major thanks for the article post a cool post there mate this article just what i was looking for
very nice post perfectly quality content cool
regards for helping out keep it up great articles
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It is the old what goes around comes around routine. Survive In Bed Review
The information you have posted is very useful. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing.. buy instagram followers|buy instagram likes
Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. Language of Desire
This article was written by a real thinking writer. I agree many of the with the solid points made by the writer. I'll be back. buy views on youtube|get subscribers on youtube get subscribers on youtube
Great knowledge, do anyone mind merely reference back to it fast followers|best youtube buy views sites