LAW 847: Drug Law and Policy Short Course
This course examines government regulation of illicit drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. The course starts by briefly surveying select state, federal, and foreign laws governing the use of drugs. The course then addresses some of the most important and controversial legal, moral, and policy questions surrounding such laws, including: What is the normative basis for banning drug use? What are the costs (physical, social, financial, etc.) associated with drug use? What are the costs of the war on drugs? How effective is our current federal drug policy? What are the alternatives? What are the promises and pitfalls of drug legalization? The class concludes by discussing drug reform proposals currently being considered by Congress and various state legislatures. Readings will be drawn from law, economics, sociology, and political science. Enrollment limited. [1]