[Originally Published November 29th, 2017 on Wordpress]
DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG ENTRY DOES NOT CONDONE DRUG USE NOR PROMOTES INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. THIS POST IS MERELY A REFLECTION OF THE ABJECT FAILURE OF CONTEMPORARY DRUG POLICY. IF YOU CHOSE TO USE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES THAT IS YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE AS AN ADULT AND IT SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE. HOWEVER, I WOULD ADVISE EVERYONE TO TRY TO RESPECT THE LAWS OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE JURISDICTION AS VIOLATING THE LAW IS THE MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO RELINQUISH YOUR RIGHTS AS A FREE CITIZEN.
INTRODUCTION:
In regards to policy, sometimes we need to admit that we were short-sighted in its overall impact. One of the most notable examples in the history of U.S. policy and global policy has been the War on Drugs. Please note I am not advocating drug use and nor am I a drug user, my stance on drug use is that is a personal choice for adults and you are solely responsible for any adverse repercussions engendered by such behavior. It is the same stance I have for legal vices such as gambling, tobacco, alcohol, research chemicals, pornography, strip clubs, etc. Now that we have cleared the air here, let’s get down to business. We have spent an inordinate amount of money on the War on Drugs since it’s genesis during the Nixon administration and it has been a dismal failure. It is currently estimated that the U.S. spends $51 billion dollars a year on “anti-drug efforts” and that number peaked at $1 trillion in 2012. [3]
The real awe-inspiring fact is that all of this money spent, organizations, and government agencies focused on the prevention, Inspection, and diversion of illicit narcotics we have seen little to no effect on the prevalence. While the government may curtail the use of the most problematic illegal substance it merely falls out of fashion in drug circles and is replaced by another substance. The drug of choice for a generation tends to be cohort-specific and slips under the radar as the official are fixated on the current drug trends while another is emerging. In the wake of the ravages of the Opioid Epidemic, the prevalence of heroin, fentanyl, and the molecular restructured carfentanil, is of an unseen prevalence in rural and suburban communities Contrary to the funds allocated to curtail the sale and use of illicit and illegally obtained opioids it has done little to curtail the prevalence of such drugs. At the end of the day, this futile endeavor has been more punitive towards the user and low-level street dealers versus cartel leaders and the wholesalers. Even with the acknowledgment of the Opioid Crisis being a public health emergency little has been done to reform the mandatory minimum sentencing for possession of Class A and Class B narcotics (in the United States). While the prison guard unions across the United States fight against loosening restrictions on controlled substances such as Marijuana [4].
Which I understand from the standpoint of job security because the more people we have incarcerated greater the likelihood they are able to keep their oppositions. A big issue with our drug policy is that not only is it ineffective but it also has created jobs that are contingent upon irrational drug policies. They don’t refer to the United States prison system as the Prison Industrial Complex for any frivolous reason. However, our drug policy dovetails quite nicely with the Prison Industrial Complex when you consider 1 in 5 inmates in prison are incarcerated for a non-violent drug offense [5]. Especially, when you consider 22 % of the world’s prison population is jailed in the United States, which is highly disproportionate to our population. Can we really call ourselves a free society when we are imprisoned a copious number of people for victim-less or petty crimes? [6]
NEWS STORY:
The article that I am paraphrasing below was written by Jacob G. Hornberger of The Future of Freedom Foundation and gives some really sublime insight into the failure of the War on Drugs.
Our Drug policies have brought forth the thriving black market that is in existence today, analogous to the follies of alcohol prohibition. The legality of the intoxicant means very little to the drug user which keeps the illegal drug market active. Drug addicts are in dire need of the drugs, therefore, sanctions and regulations will do little to curtail their use. Recreational users perceive the odds of getting apprehended as being a minuscule risk. The individuals who sell these banned substances do so for money. Due to an imposed prohibition of such substance, they command a higher value on the black market and therefore make the profit margins tantalizing. The very fact that the commodity being sold is illicit, the individuals can employee whatever methods necessary to protect their margins of profit. Hence, the pervasive nature of violence in the drug trade. When governments decide to curtail the drug trade it only exacerbates the matter by increasing the potential margin for profit. Remember while one organization was apprehended, there are always more to take its place. [7]
To quote the article :
“ There is one — and only one — way to get rid of drug gangs, drug lords, and drug cartels and the violence that comes with them: Acknowledge that drug prohibition was a mistake (just like alcohol prohibition was), repeal all drug laws, and restore the free market to drugs.”
[7]
DISCUSSION:
Needless to say globally the War on Drugs has been a complete and utter failure, yet we still a choice to support policies that only keep this fruitless war going. The biggest reason why we continue to perpetuate this fallacy is money. We have a lot of jobs and industries ranging from the prison systems, pharmaceuticals, liquor companies, government jobs (DEA), etc. are contingent on drug prohibition. Trust me, the drug laws in the United States have a very little emphasis on safety. I am a fan of quality single malt whisky, however, alcohol kills a myriad of Americans a year and causes a plethora of other societal issues. Well really don’t even need to go down the avenue of tobacco and what about all the chemicals and additives that are present in our “food”. What about all of the carcinogenic compounds found in commercially sold weed killer brands? The government is not trying to prohibit these substances for our safety and I can assure you that!
While the private sector has made quite a bit of money from the War on Drugs (many prisons in the United States are privatized) it has not been so lucrative for the country as a whole. The conservative estimate on how much the government spends a year on this failed crusade is approximately $51 billion a year. Should a country that is trillions of dollars in debt continue to spend billions a year to support ineffective policies? I would say no and ardently state that it is pure fiscal irresponsibility That is a lot of money to squander, it is a lot of taxpayer money to squander. That’s right folks, we are paying for this insanity. Literally! Personally, I would not want my money to be allocated to support such asinine measures that are not only diminishing liberty. If an adult wants to use drugs that is there decision not the government. If an adult happens to lose control of their drug habit it is their responsibility to seek treatment. The government should not have the authority to tell us what intoxicants we can consume.
I find it funny how conservatives claim limited government, yet continue to expose anti-drug rhetoric and policies. If you don’t like drugs, then stay away from them. It’s really a linear concept. However, remember drinking vodka until you are sick that’s okay. We will all laugh about it later. I suppose that such incontinence and hypocrisy really rankles me because it is disingenuous and dishonest. Drugs can be dangerous just in the same manner that alcohol can be dangerous. If you misuse anything it can be a hazard to yourself and to others. If we are to ban things that have the potential to be dangerous, we should ban alcohol, cars, power tools, junk food, etc. See how absurd this is?
However, instead of prohibition how about, we take the money hands of the criminals? What we should do is have legal sales of all the current Schedule I drugs, maybe it might have a positive impact on the economy versus squandering money on a deflated and defeated war. If you want to dispose of the criminal element you need to take away their source of revenue and take away the incentives to sell these substances. The legal retail market of drugs would not only decrease criminal activity associated with drugs but could benefit the economy of the country as a whole. I look at the momentary successes of Colorado after legalizing recreational cannabis and I do see the potential. However, I do disagree with how Colorado and Washington's state is taxing their recreational marijuana then again I am a Libertarian versus a Liberal.
FOOT NOTES:
1. (Video) https://youtu.be/uWfLwKH_Eko
2.https://invertedlogicblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/political-opinions35-the-failure-of-the-war-on-drugs