Addiction, Health and Autonomy: A Normative Defense of the Legalization of some Recreational Drugs
Keywords:
autonomy, health, drugs, legalization, marihuana, cocaine, heroinAbstract
Liberalism recognizes autonomy as one of its fundamental principles. Based on this principle I analyze which features should disqualify a recreational drug for legal consumption in a liberal state. A narcotic should be banned if it affects in a serious and a permanent way the autonomy of its consumers or if it leads, due to its pharmacological effects, to behaviors that damage the autonomy of third parties. I argue that marihuana, cocaine or heroin do not seriously or permanently undermine the autonomy of individuals, and hence their prohibition is unjustified. Recreational use of these three drugs should be legal.
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