Wrong deed : wrong reason

The worst reason to enact new laws is in response to grief.In the inevitable vacuum that follows a tragic death, predictable emotions include the need to create some beneficial change as a result of the loss. The wave of sympathy that was aroused by one ecstasy death resulted in an expensive campaign against the drug in 1992. There was no beneficial effect. Nothing was ‘sorted’. The drug became more fashionable and its use increased. A family’s response to a death associated with one of the legal highs persuaded the Government et al to impose new prohibition.  The reasoning is based on the myth that prohibiting drugs reduces harm.  The UK’s major 1971 act of prohibition was followed by a continuing increase in addicts from 1,000 to 300,000. There is very little evidence of harm from the newly banned life style drugs.  If there are bad consequences, they are now likely to multiplied....