This document summarizes the online drug marketplace Silk Road, including its purpose of facilitating anonymous and virtual drug deals, trends showing $1.2 billion in annual sales, and its eventual shutdown by the FBI in 2013. The document argues for decriminalizing or legalizing drugs in order to eliminate the black market, reduce crime, and generate tax revenue, citing Portugal's success with decriminalization and potential savings and jobs in the US.

1. ONLINE DRUG DEALING
Jim Pooler | Thuy Le | Shaq Bridges
17 OCT 2013 | SC 101| Professor Dukes

2. Overview| Characteristics
Purpose
“a service for people who were interested in buying
and selling illegal drugs without the drug culture’s
traditional gang and violence issues.”
Efficiency
Anonymity
Virtual
Currency
?
Anonynizing
Software

3. SILK ROAD | Trend
2013 Global Drug Survey

4. SILK ROAD | Operation
1.2
SALE
billions
COMMISSION
80
millions

5. SILK ROAD | Operation
Product
Ross William Ulbricht

6. SOLUTION| Decriminalize All Drugs

7. Decriminalization # Legalization

8. Benefits
Eliminating the black market
Reducing drug-related crimes
Works in Portugal

9. Money Talks!
Drug
War
Tax
Revenues
billions
Philadelphia: Save 2
million/year
after legalizing marijuana
8.7
Create jobs instead of
illegal trading
40
billions

10. The Case for Marijuana
2013 Global Drug Survey