Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Investing

Harsh Fentanyl Laws: Doubling Down on the Wrong Approach

by June 22, 2023
June 22, 2023

Jeffrey Miron

This article appeared on Substack on June 22, 2023

The New York Times reports that multiple states are responding to the opioid overdose crisis by passing harsh new laws aimed at fentanyl:

In the 2023 legislative session alone, hundreds of fentanyl crime bills were introduced in at least 46 states, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Virginia lawmakers codified fentanyl as “a weapon of terrorism.” An Iowa law makes the sale or manufacture of less than five grams of fentanyl — roughly the weight of five paper clips — punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Arkansas and Texas recently joined some 30 states, including Pennsylvania, Colorado and Wyoming, that have a drug‐​induced homicide statute on the books, allowing murder prosecutions even of people who share drugs socially that contain lethal fentanyl doses.

This approach is deeply misguided. Rather than further criminalizing fentanyl, federal and state governments should legalize it, along with all other opioids (and all other illegal drugs).

Most overdoses from illicit drugs result from accidental consumption of excessively potent or adulterated versions, since quality control is difficult in an underground market. That reflects the Iron Law of Prohibition.

In a legal market, fentanyl would be widely available, but in clearly marked dosages, allowing users to consume without risk of overdose. That is what occurs now for other legal but potentially dangerous products, such as alcohol or over‐​the‐​counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Overdoes occur for legal “drugs,” but they are rare and reflect deliberate excessive consumption.

Governments almost always try to fix society’s problems with more government. When the original problem resulted from too much government, that approach is especially unfortunate.

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
The Consequences of Regulation: How GDPR Is Preventing AI
next post
Gold Chart Looks a Lot Different In Other Currencies

You may also like

On Nonexistent Crime “Emergencies”: Trump’s Politicization of the...

August 21, 2025

The Cognitive Shift: How the Terrorist Label May...

March 20, 2025

Five Rotten Reasons to Oppose Infant Formula Trade...

June 5, 2023

The New Deal and Recovery, Part 21: Postwar...

December 19, 2022

Unpacking the High Cost of Offshore Wind Policy

January 10, 2024

Latest Education Survey: Good News for Private Choice,...

August 19, 2025

Man’s 21st Century Best Friend: AI Tools Will...

July 16, 2024

Justice Thomas’s Individualist Concurrence

June 30, 2023

A New K-12 Productivity Chart

March 10, 2025

The FDA’s Biosimilar Burden—and How Congress Can Lift...

June 23, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • XRP price prediction hits new highs, GMO Miner helps you earn $6,800 a day

      August 28, 2025
    • West End retailers lose £310m from VAT-free shopping ban in first half of year

      August 28, 2025
    • Dollar slips as Trump moves to sack Fed governor Lisa Cook in unprecedented clash over central bank independence

      August 28, 2025
    • CDC Director Susan Monarez refuses to be fired as other officials call it quits

      August 28, 2025
    • Bill Gates met with Trump to talk ‘importance of US global health programs and health research’: spox

      August 28, 2025
    • Trump asks SCOTUS to uphold freeze on billions in USAID payments

      August 27, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,900)
    • Investing (2,246)
    • Politics (16,503)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved