Draft:Andres Laszlo Jr.

Andres Laszlo Jr.(1955-) is a Swedish/French author, researcher, and adventurer known for his unconventional life as well as his contributions to Swedish art glass and (narcotic) drug policy. His experiences range from encounters with various celebrities in his infancy to academic challenges. Throughout his life, Laszlo—who was Andres Cid 1969 to 1984—has explored a wide range of interests, from philosophical studies at Oxford to adventurous pursuits across the globe.

Laszlo was introduced to a unique life from an early age—The Golden Age of Torremolinos and Paris’ Saint German de Pres—with anecdotes like being placed in Marilyn Monroe’s lap as a toddler .^[1] As a student he went from 3rd worst in his class at 15, to ‘Highschool & BA in 18 months’ at 22, whereupon he ventured into life as a research student. He later lodged at Oxford (1993-95) and he claims he would have made ‘the Blue Boat’ hadn’t the selectors gone for lightweight crews all three years, where he studied philosophy and in his own words ‘Studied all those things a man should have studied’. However, his stay at New College was cut short due to an incident involving Richard Dawkins, leading to his eviction.^[2]

Laszlo’s career is marked by the three stages of his controversial views on drug policy; first that the illegal status of narcotics creates greater harm than it prevents; secondly that this can be concisely illustrated by ‘conduction’ (how illegality causes bad people that corrupt) and ‘convection’ (how illegality causes bad capital that corrupt); thirdly that illegality causes lowered marginal costs for ‘all’ crime and increased drug-lord profits. This, he argues, causes more crime as it ‘forced’ untaxed money to get reinvested in illegal low-marginal-cost enterprises, something that causes more crime and misery for us all.^[3] His outspoken opposition to Sweden's drug policies has led to estrangement from his home country, possibly affecting his citizenship status.^[4]

In response to the failure to be listened to, Laszlo pursued an extensive “bucket list” designed to enhance his life experiences and make it harder not to listen to him. This list included three years at Oxford, mastering English, becoming an athlete, a ‘proper education’, and traveling to 200 countries.

Laszlo has authored several books that delve into a wide range of subjects, from art glass to drug policy and personal adventures. Some of his notable works include:

• Svenskt Konstglas (1991): A coffee table book celebrating Swedish art glass, which sold widely and brought attention to Swedish cultural heritage.^[5]
• The Challenge: A children’s book inspired by My Uncle Jacinto by Andres Laszlo Sr. It follows a story set in Cape Town and focuses on boxing, available in multiple languages and as a screenplay.^[6]
• The Drug Problem: A book that examines the societal consequences of drug illegalization, arguing that prohibitive drug policies create more harm than potential benefits.^[7]
• Illegality is a Scam: A continuation of his work on drug policy, this book critiques the assumption that drug illegalization reduces usage and argues that it instead increases criminal activity and corruption.^[8]
• The Tale of Two Knaves: A collection of short stories co-authored with his father, Andres Laszlo Sr., that serves as both an adventure series and a family chronicle.^[9]

Laszlo’s life is filled with extraordinary adventures as he pursued the items on his bucket list goals. From surviving life-threatening situations to crossing the Sahara and surfing at Pipeline, his experiences are both dangerous and inspiring. These adventures are chronicled in The Tales of Two Knaves, often written as cinematic treatments, in works like The Caspian Connection, where he imagines himself as a mythic hero (Odin’s son) on a journey to redeem himself.

Andres Laszlo Jr.’s writings and adventures contribute to an ongoing legacy, much of which is intertwined with the work of his father and ‘Project Laszlo & Laszlo’{{^[10] }}</ref>. His commitment to drug policy reform and his advocacy against illegalization continue to shape his life. With books published in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and Swedish, his work reaches a diverse international audience.^[11]