The drug war judged by a smuggler, an FBI agent and a narcotics officer
A man who flew cocaine for the Medellin cartel, the agent who took down Silk Road and a former Mexican counter-narcotics officer each reflect on what prohibition achieved, while Michael Shellenberger and Joe Rogan argue over legalization. Hearing people from opposite sides of the law weigh the same policy shows where its costs fall and why the legalization question remains unsettled.
How do the smuggler, the FBI agent and the narcotics officer judge the drug war? Show answer
Each reaches a different verdict, and none of them calls it a success.
Why does the policy question stay open? Show answer
Each speaker counts a different cost: prison years, cartel power, overdose deaths, or a parent's fear.
What does Roger Reaves say drove the drug trade? Show answer
Money. One eight-hour cocaine flight could earn him $2.5 million, and harsh punishment did not stop it.
What is Reaves's verdict on his own choices? Show answer
The money did not make him happy, and it was not worth 33 years in prison.
What policy does Reaves favor? Show answer
Treating drugs as a health issue, giving addicts a clean supply instead of jail, and teaching inmates trades.
What does Chris Tarbell concede about taking down Silk Road? Show answer
It probably increased online drug trading, because front-page coverage told millions such markets existed.
Why does Tarbell still oppose legalizing hard drugs? Show answer
As a father, he is satisfied if he made drugs harder for his children to get.
What is Ed Calderon's first lesson from counter-narcotics work? Show answer
Anybody can be corrupted, sometimes through money and sometimes through threats to their life.
How does Calderon explain the rise of fentanyl? Show answer
As a chain of substitutions after other markets changed, ending with fentanyl added to weak heroin and pressed into fake pills.
What is Joe Rogan's case for legalization? Show answer
Adults should be free to make choices harming only themselves, and prohibition feeds cartels and contaminates the supply.
Where does Michael Shellenberger draw the line? Show answer
He accepts decriminalized marijuana but would keep meth, heroin and fentanyl illegal, since availability means more addiction.
What do Rogan and Shellenberger agree on? Show answer
Enforcing basic laws, ending open-air drug dealing, age limits and education.