Cato Institute: on Drugs

Cato Institute: Evidence that opioids are not that dangerous, despite hype

But there is no statistically significant effect [of must access PDMP's] on a key medical outcome: opioid poisoning incidents. How is this possible?

The simplest explanation is that, despite all the hype, prescription opioids are not that dangerous, even in heavy doses, when used under medical supervision. Instead, most poisonings reflect use of diverted prescription opioids, or black market opioids like heroin, that users obtain when doctors cut them off from prescription opioids. These alternate sources may be adulterated. Under this interpretation, restrictions on opioid prescribing might even increase opioid poisonings.

Cato Institute: Legalize marijuana banking until we legalize marijuana

• Two years after Colorado fully legalized the sale of marijuana, most banks here still don't offer services to the businesses involved.
• Financial institutions are caught between state law that has legalized marijuana and federal law that bans it. Banks' federal regulators don't fully recognize such businesses and impose onerous reporting requirements on banks that deal with them.
• Without bank accounts, the burgeoning pot sector can't accept credit or debit cards from customers.