at least poppy seed muffins will be cheaper

According to an AP article in Sunday's C-J, Afghanistan is about to set another record for poppy production-- up 15% from last year and now accounting for 95% of the world's output. The author also notes that intelligence officials see "growing links between drugs and the Taliban".

The latter is not surprising. As in America, it's organized crime that dominates illicit activity. And illegality-- by bidding up prices and profits-- acts as a subsidy toward illegal activity. Not surprisingly, producers are attracted to profitable opportunities. And not surprisingly, those who are willing to engage in illegal activity are attracted to profitable and illegal opportunities.

So, another cost of our "war on drugs" is subsidizing the Taliban-- with all of the implications that follow. The author says there is a "furious debate over how to reverse the trend". We know how to reverse it-- for sure-- through legalization. Absent that, we can try to reduce demand (good luck) or reduce supply (good luck with that too-- ironically, reducing supply increases prices and profits, further encouraging entry into the "field").

Proponents of the war on drugs should own up to the many ethical and practical costs of their policy preference.