Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?
By Maia Szalavitz

The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.Read more


Something is Rotten in Montgomery
by David T. Beito

The witnesses accused the city of Montgomery is using eminent domain through the back door to systematically seize hundreds of parcels of property. While the state tightened up its blight law after the Kelo decision, the news doesn't seem to have reached city politicians and bureaucrats. Through local and state blight, tax, zoning, and public nuisance ordinances, they are finding creative ways around any restrictions. In contrast to the standard eminent domain process, under this back door approach, property owners do not have a right to compensation, even in theory. Read more