If we really wanted to reduce the incarceration of drug dealers without endangering public safety -- and reduce the massive harm caused by drug abuse at the same time -- the best way to do it would be to convince people, especially young people, not to use drugs.

Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign was widely reviled and ridiculed by the "cool kids" of America's media and academia.  But it worked.  Drug use among America's youngsters took a major plunge.  The abandonment of that effort was one of the worst mistakes of modern history.

Nancy Reagan did far more good for the country than the First Ladies more widely admired in popular culture.  May she rest in peace.