Should cocaine be legalised?

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in front of the Covid Inquiry today, speaking about the effect of the pandemic and his own policy decisions on young people. How did the lockdowns affect you or the young people in your life?

And, The Economist has argued that legalising cocaine would have myriad societal benefits, eliminating the price premium that incentivises dangerous gang activity, freeing up space and resources within the criminal justice system and ensuring the product itself was safe for users. Two questions: Would legalisation of cocaine decrease or increase the amount of peril that we’re exposed to? And, why are drugs illegal?

This episode was recorded on the 21st of October. Catch James O'Brien weekdays from 10am on LBC.