10 Ridiculously Illegal Things You Can Make With A 3-D Printer

4. Drugs

According to Prof. Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry in the Cronin Laboratory at its School of Chemistry, the day is fast approaching when we can all print our own designer medicines. Pioneering scientists at Glasgow University are already developing the process to replicate everyday pharmaceuticals. Naturally, this leads to all the issues shown at number 10 in our list (the humble bicycle helmet) if public safety is not very carefully considered. It's probably best if I let the boffin himself explain the basic concept using this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOplWvrjnS4 But, as they say, one man's meat is another man's poison. Whatever you can do with good intent, you could do equally as well with bad. Some people's answer to the illegal drug problem is to simply make them all legal, and a 3-D printer might actually render all arguments for and against irrelevant. We have seen time and again in this list that the secret to 3-D printing success lies in the passing of information. That's the STL file, or CAD-generated blueprint directing the printer to manufacture an item. No longer would it be necessary to smuggle drugs past customs officers the world over. By owning the file you could feasibly print your own at home. I can only guess at how operators of large, drug-running cartels might feel about that prospect.