Eric Crampton • Jun 15, 2021 •
The Government’s proposed approach for achieving SmokeFree 2025 is a bit over-the-top. The proposals would restrict tobacco sales to a smaller number of to-be-licenced R18 outlets, which could then be subject to a sinking lid; impose an annual one-year increase in the purchase age for tobacco until full prohibition were achieved; restrict nicotine content in cigarettes to very low levels; … Read More
Eric Crampton • Mar 23, 2018 •
Legal markets for marijuana and ecstasy and the safer party pills, where products were subject to the Consumer Guarantees Act and where producers adulterating products would be punished, would stop Fentanyl-laced drugs at concerts and would be far more effective than ramping up punishments for producers of synthetic drugs. National pushing for increased penalties on this one is … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Oct 02, 2016 •
One can always tell when the parties to the CITES convention are meeting, or just about to meet. Numerous NGOs start promoting their views and solutions to the problem to the media. It came as no great surprise to read this in today’s Stuff webpage “A first-ever comprehensive investigation into the sale of ivory and rhino horn in Australian … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Nov 13, 2013 •
It’s interesting holding an elephant tusk for the first time. You’re not quite sure what to expect. But the first thing you notice is that they’re heavy, heavier than I expected. This aspect distinguishes elephant ivory from other wildlife products. It’s heavy, and it’s going to take up space. This has to affect the smuggling techniques. Last month … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Nov 08, 2013 •
The decision by the US to destroy its stockpile of (6 tons) of ivory is being held up by many as a bold conservation measure for elephants. This is a puzzle. Destroying ivory is hardly new. Kenya did it publicly in 1989 [1]. This was after their elephant population had plunged from 65,000 elephants to 17,000. Southern African countries who … Read More