Abstract

VALLEJO-RESTREPO, Luis Esteban. Moral argument for and against drug prohibition. discus.filos [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.41, pp.123-140.  Epub Aug 15, 2023. ISSN 0124-6127.  https://doi.org/10.17151/difil.2022.23.41.7.

The main argument in favor of the prohibition of drugs is presented in the first part of this article: the State has the duty to prohibit immoral conduct. Consumption is immoral behavior. Therefore, the State must prohibit it. Then, it is sown that, although there are reasons to think that consumption is immoral behavior, this does not imply that the State should prohibit it. In the second part of the article, the main argument against prohibition is presented: the State should only penalize seriously immoral actions that cause harm to others. Consumption is not one of these actions and, consequently, the State should not penalize it. Then, the premises that make up this argument are analyzed, and it is shown that they are reliable and that, therefore, the argument is sound. From this it follows that consumption should not be prohibited and that, on the contrary, it should be protected by law.

Keywords : Drugs; morals; political power; freedom.

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