If the Dutch were successful in deterring people from hard drugs, then they should have a lower percentage change in crime because, as it appears from the studies that hard drug users commit more crime. Primarily because the problem of not being able to pin point the exact extent of drug- related crime is raised by the overlap between that and crime- related drug use. In the Netherlands drug use is increasingly preceded by recorded criminality. Thus a trend is occurring whereby Dutch people commit crimes, then turn to drugs. Whilst both countries take quite different stances on criminal justice, drugs, sentencing and policing. The differing drug policies appear to be welfare v. criminalisation. However, all the figures mentioned in this essay have to be looked at in the context of having many factors that influence them. Pressuring other countries will not work in curbing the amount of drugs consumed in the world is the fact that transporting drugs from another country only represent about one percent of the total street cost. So even if we succeeded in doubling the cost of coca ... given experience with elasticity with the supply of other crops, the increase in the price of cocaine would only rise about one percent. Obviously, that just is not enough to curb much drug use. The war on drugs is not working. …
