Pubdate: Wed, 9 Mar 2011
Source: Daily Sundial, The (CA Edu)
Copyright: Daily Sundial 2011
Contact:  http://sundial.csun.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2731
Author: William Sandifer, Contributor
Cited: Common Sense for Drug Policy http://www.csdp.org/
Cited: Drug Sense http://www.DrugSense.org/

U.S. SHOULD LEGALIZE ILLICIT DRUGS

In June of 1971, President Richard Nixon officially declared the war 
on drugs, calling drug abuse "public enemy No. 1" in the United 
States." What followed during the Reagan administration was the 
institution of drug policies that would shape the development of a 
generation, change the way the prison system functions and the start 
of what many are calling a civil war in Mexico.

In looking back at the 40 years that have transpired since the 
enactment of more aggressive drug laws, it is easy to see failed 
policies and it is time we decriminalized illicit drugs.

Legislators only need to reflect on the era of alcohol prohibition to 
learn from the past. During that time, violent crimes increased 13 
percent, drunk and disorderly conduct went up 41 percent and the 
federal prison population increased a staggering 366 percent.

Based on this data, one would assume if we had not banned alcohol we 
could have reduced government spending and lowered crime rates.

The non-profit organization Common Sense for Drug Policy reported in 
2009 more than 50 percent of the federal prison population was made 
up of drug crime offenders. By releasing non-violent offenders we 
could alleviate prison overcrowding and save taxpayer money.

Drug Sense, a non-profit group that advocates ending drug 
prohibition, reported the federal government has already spent more 
than $2.5 billion since the beginning of this year. The Office of 
National Drug Policy said in 2010, $15 billion of federal spending 
went to the war on drugs.

Much of this money goes to the Drug Enforcement Agency, which is 
currently helping to fight drug cartel violence in Mexico. It is 
because of America's demand for cocaine, marijuana and opiates that 
Mexico's numerous drug cartels have been able to establish billion 
dollar drug networks.

To supply their neighbors to the north, they take control of their 
territories through violent acts, such as kidnapping, torture and 
murder. There have been more than 30,000 drug-related deaths on 
Mexican soil since 2006.

In a recent study published by "The Lancet," a British medical 
journal, drugs were rated on a scale of one to 100 based on overall 
detriment to a person's health. Heroin, crack and marijuana scored 
55, 54, and 24, respectively and alcohol, which is legal, readily 
available and even celebrated in the U.S. scored a frightening 72.

This begs the question, why is the most harmful substance legal and 
yet possession of other drugs can lead to jail time?

Perhaps it is time for Americans to step back and consider the cost 
of our actions. We will continue to consume illicit substances, as 
the past 40 years show, whether or not the drugs are legal.

With our current policies, it will not only continue to cost every 
U.S. taxpayer to fight a losing drug war and fill already overcrowded 
prisons, but it will also perpetuate the horrific violence in Mexico.

America has enough blood on it's hands, and now is the time to change 
the policy before more money is wasted and lives are lost.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake