Books on Drug Policy

David Boaz, ed., The Crisis in Drug Prohibition.

The Cato Institute commissioned this excellent collection of essays from a wide range of commentators. The essays explore the relationships between drug policy and crime, health, economics and morality. Opposing views and alternatives are offered.

Thomas Szasz's Ceremonial Chemistry.

Szasz is always good.

Edward Brecher, ed., Licit and Illicit Drugs.

The Consumer's Union issued this still-classic 1972 description of the effects of drugs and to some extent the effects of drug prohibition.

Jack Herer's The Emperor Wears No Clothes.

Herer is a hemp (marijuana) advocate, encouraging hemp's recreational, medicinal and industrial use. Herer goes into detail about hemp's past, present and potential uses. Herer's book has an extensive bibliography of other books and publications containing references to hemp.