Opium for the Masses
Dan Morrison, The New York Times | April 19, 2012
The annual opium harvest in Afghanistan is coming. ++ In 2011, opium farmers earned $1.4 billion, around 9% of Afghanistan's GDP. ++ The Taliban use the opium trade to fund their attacks. ++ Opium is a a major source of corruption in the country. ++ Instead of poppy eradication, the US government should simply buy the opium crop. ++ This opium could be then used to cover the worldwide shortfalls in morphine. ++ Afghanistan could also duplicate India's licensing system for farming and selling opium.
