Louis Sarkozy publishes an opinion piece in favor of legalizing all drugs

In an article for the Washington Examiner, Louis Sarkozy, Nicolas Sarkozy's youngest son, advocates the legalization of all drugs, believing that the criminalization of drugs is detrimental to society.

Louis Sarkozy reminds us that the American government's attempts to solve the drug problem go back over 100 years. The first public policy to tackle alcohol consumption was Prohibition in 1920. It lasted only 13 years, due to the rise in alcohol-related crime and violence.

«Today, no one in their right mind would think that the government should waste time, money and resources trying to reintroduce alcohol prohibition. Why shouldn't drugs be treated the same way?» he writes.

Louis Sarkozy then draws an obvious parallel with the futile results of the war on drugs. He estimates that the US government spent over $50 billion in 2016 on this war, arrested over 1.5 million of its citizens for drug-related offenses, including 84% for possession alone. 200,000 students lost their federal scholarships, and the number of overdoses reached the sad record of 64070 in the year.

The son of the former French President sets an example Portugal, which decriminalized possession of all drugs in 2001, has seen a marked reduction in HIV transmission, overdoses and heroin use.

After pointing out that drug prohibition feeds the criminal circuit, but also the State with its prison system, Louis Sarkozy concludes his article with the need to adopt a contemporary approach to the subject of drugs, and to move away from the old policies pursued by a «government that has once again failed to provide an appropriate solution».

Louis Sarkozy's article was welcomed by Laurence Parisot, former president of the MEDEF.

Yes, very interesting and quite convincing paper by @sarko_junior on drug legalization. https://t.co/euBeXfudFK

- Laurence Parisot (@LaurenceParisot) February 10, 2018

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And while we're on the subject of heritage, it's worth remembering that in 2003 his father proposed that cannabis should be subject to a fine, with the same consequences as cannabis. language that La République en Marche today: «I'm against tougher sanctions, I'm in favor of making them more efficient».» he explained. «We are faced with a phenomenon of trivialization».