The Drug Problem Part 10: the real world
There are two formidable problems facing legalising drugs. They are both points of realpolitik rather than principle. They are the United States and the EC.
If drugs were legalised in both the United States and the EC all of the beneficial consequences which have previously been referred to in earlier articles would follow. The difficulties come if neither legalise drugs.
The first obvious point is that enormous political pressure would be brought to bear on on this country if it started a procedure to legalise drugs. The United States could be expected to be particularly heavy-handed, but the EC would not be far behind. Every powerful country or association of countries will use those powers at its disposal to try and achieve its ends. Given these so-called "war on drugs" any country stepping out of line would be regarded as extremely serious. The political pressure could also include economic pressure.
If the EC permitted drug use then US unhappiness could probably be dealt with. However if it does not then a large number of undesirable consequences would follow. The first is that in one way or another, the government would have to deal with the impact for freedom of movement. Present ability to predict population movements does not seem to be strong suit of the Whitehall machine. Remember the officials who, in defiance of all common sense and logic, suggested that only a few thousand eastern Europeans would want to move to work in Britain once they were given freedom of movement? (they only managed to calculate less than 100th of the true total). If the United Kingdom was the only part of the EC permitting drug use, then it would be obvious that virtually every drug addict would attempt to move here (with health as well as population and overcrowding consequences). This would also be regarded as the perfect place for organised crime to operate from in terms of supplying the continent. Again that would run contrary to some of the principal aims of legalisation.
Whilst these are considerable practical difficulties, they are not insuperable. Moreover even if the laws were different there would be bound to be co-operation between the relevant police forces with a view to preventing continental drug gangs relocating to Britain as a sort of offshore enterprise. It is a which presents obvious potential problems, but not a plan which should be regarded as impossible to execute. Being an island also helps. Having a land border would present even more practical problems.
There is also the question of making a stand. If the western world is doomed to failure and adverse consequences as a result of pursuing an unwinnable war on drugs, then the sooner a country breaks ranks the better. It should be an example which hopefully others will follow. If the United Kingdom legalised drugs and made a success of it, then it is unlikely that there will be no pressure for other countries, if not all countries, in the EU to follow suit. If drugs were legalised in the EU it would be that much harder for the United States to justify continuing illegality, especially if beneficial effects were demonstrably present as a result of legalisation.
If it is right to legalise drugs then someone has to make a start. That start should commence here.