Abstract

The war on drugs is not going well, but calls to legalize drugs are premature. Consequences for public health would be grim, and public order will hardly improve, because current criminal organizations will diversify their business, and just carry on.

An addition to current repression of the drug business is worth trying: to break up the drug economy by confiscating its profits. Reverse the burden of proof in administrative and tax law that suspicious property has legitimate origins and financing, with all taxes being fully paid and on time. That procedural remedy can be used in addition to current ways of repression, which hopefully can be scaled back eventually. The Treasury will benefit.

Reversing the burden of proof is the practical thing to do, because it is efficacious, simple, civilized, and non-violent, but confiscatory justice will draw opposition from vested interests and guardians of the rule of law, who presently shield a drug economy that unleashes horrors beyond measure.

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