The only regulation on cocaine is it is 100% illegal. That one reg pushed the business into the underground. Innovations in manufacturing, transportation and distribution followed with no help from the government.

The government countered with harsher policies and cocaine addiction treatment options, but the cocaine business remains as robust as ever.

Today, you can get some blow 74 percent cheaper than when President Obama was buying it:

If there is one number that embodies the seemingly intractable challenge imposed by the illegal drug trade on the relationship between the United States and Mexico, it is $177.26. That is the retail price, according to Drug Enforcement Administration data, of one gram of pure cocaine from your typical local pusher. That is 74 percent cheaper than it was 30 years ago.

This number contains pretty much all you need to evaluate the Mexican and American governments’ “war” to eradicate illegal drugs from the streets of the United States.

It’s also all you need to evaluate the success in the free market to drive down the cost of anything with competition.

I suggest we legalize coke and make health care illegal.

Who’s with me?!

Cross posted at Liberty News.