Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 Source: New Age, The (South Africa) Copyright: 2016 TNA Media (Pty.) Contact: http://thenewage.co.za/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5339 Author: Chelsea Lotz THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS CLEARLY FAILED Decriminalising Drugs Is Straightforward; People Are Empowered With Choice ONE of the key traits of humanity is the ability to implement laws and change them as new evidence, facts and data become available, thus creating greater awareness. Such is the evolution of society, to build and refine knowledge due to new findings and information. In 1971, the Misuse of Drugs Act was implemented in the UK, causing a wave of punitive legislation throughout the world. Suddenly, the recreational drug culture of the 1960s had come to an end, bringing with it a darker era of obscured drug use run by crime syndicates holding a monopoly over the masses. Not only did this legislation create criminals, it empowered criminals by enabling them to become wealthy from illegal drug trade. Drug use shifted away from popular reality enhancing recreational drugs such as LSD and mushrooms, to Class A drugs which cause destruction and death; cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and methylphenethylamine. While the world wages a war on drugs, drug use has only increased; money spent on law enforcement has quadrupled internationally. Richard Branson said the war on drugs has been the most "epic, costly failure" of our time. Clearly the war on drugs has failed, after 50 years drug use is higher than ever before. So why are governments still spending billions on measures that have yielded no long-term results? Decriminalising drugs not only allows the government to monitor and evaluate drug use but to focus on control and rehabilitation. Drug use thrives when illegal, with corporations and syndicates using the drug trade for profit. Prisons are overfull of people who have committed minor drugrelated offences. The imprisonment of mostly innocent people for recreational drug use not only exhausts tax funds but reduces prison spaces for real criminals, such as murderers. Those who are arrested for minor drug offences become demoralised after years in prison, making it more likely for drug victims to turn to a life of crime once out of prison. Many people are also unfairly arrested, such as those using cannabis for pain relief or cancer treatment. The logic behind decriminalising drugs is straightforward. People feel empowered when given a choice over their own health and supported when they are able to seek rehabilitation for addiction, without punishment or condemnation. The case for ending the war on drugs and decriminalising drugs has many merits. In 2001 Portugal became the first nation to decriminalise every drug. While many contested the new legislation, in 2009 the Cato institute published its findings, proving that the initiative was a resounding success. Portugal experienced a 50% reduction in drug-related deaths, and the rate of drug use dramatically declined. In 2011 the New Yorker mentioned how the government has vans patrolling the streets of Portugal, offering chemical alternatives to addicts trying to wean themselves off hard drugs. Decriminalising drugs also dramatically reduced the rate of HIV-Aids cases, and HIV infection rates fell by 17%. Statistics have shown a massive surge over the course of 10 years in victims visiting health services to end addiction. By educating society on drugs, people are more enabled to make informed decisions and therefore are less likely to engage in drug abuse. Psychologists say a peaceful society starts with a stable family, yet drugs and alcohol are the primary cause of broken families. Drugs cannot be counted as the number one killer in society. There are far more deaths from alcohol alone and cigarettes, than drugs. A survey in the US reported that cigarettes are the cause of 400 000 deaths a year, alcohol caused 100 000 deaths, Class A drugs caused 600 deaths, while cannabis caused no deaths. Therefore it has to be questioned as to why alcohol and tobacco are legal, the main contributors to death and destruction of society, while billions spent on the war on drugs cause very little deaths in comparison. The drugs industry generates $300bn (R4.6 trillion) a year money that criminals profit from. The war on drugs is essentially funding crime. Corporate companies have also had a part in this, only a few years ago HSBC was found guilty of laundering $881m of drug cartel money. By reforming drug sentencing and policies, the government is able to save lives and the breakdown families, eliminate criminal monopoly on the drug trade, reduce crime, redirect tax funds, monitor and control supply and production, reduce HIV-Aids, and rehabilitate criminals. The pros far outweigh the cons. As proven in many case studies, decriminalising drugs is categorically more effective than the war on drugs. Not only does it allow the government to rehabilitate society, but it allows society to thrive as the money spent on prisons, sentencing and criminals can be spent on more worthy causes. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom