Originally posted at http://centristconspiracy.blogspot.com. Monday, June 28, 2004 America’s War on Drugs: Is an End in Sight? It’s an unfortunate fact that in today’s society, to advocate drug legalization carries a certain taboo. People believe that the only advocates of drug legalization are druggies themselves, and too quickly dismiss drug legalization as a preposterous alternative to our current system. Legalization, they claim, would result in countless addicts, meth-houses, crack-babies, drug-lords, and social chaos - but that’s what we have now too. But that’s not all we have. United States drug policy forces drugs onto the black market, by eliminating supply, but not demand. The high demand, coupled with the relative ease in production and transport of drugs, and a government granted monopoly, creates a gold mine of opportunity for those willing to operate outside of the law. By forcing drugs onto the black market, the war on drugs dramatically inflates prices and profits - profits that go directly to the pockets of criminals and terrorists. Everyone has seen the TV ad’s that explain the relationship between Drugs and Terror, charging that America is funding a war against itself. It’s true, our addictions do fund actions such as 9/11 and the Madrid Bombings, but only because of our refusal to allow drugs to be sold by legitimate and trustworthy sources. The whole question really comes back to that of supply and demand. The misguided notion that we can hope to eliminate drug use by eliminating it’s supply but not it’s demand is foolish and impractical. Where ever a demand exists, a supply will find a way. Whether terrorists and drug lords import heroin and crack cocaine from Afghanistan, or a local derelict cooks up a batch of meth from ingredients bought at his local Wallgreens, a supply will emerge to fill the demand. A CATO institute study put it this way, “The tragic irony is that… the War on Drugs has failed completely to halt the influx of cocaine and heroin, both of which are cheaper, purer, and more abundant than ever.” Like it or not, we are simply incapable of completely eliminating drugs within our borders. Not only is the drug prohibition impractical, it is an affront to the beliefs and traditions this country was founded upon. Non-violent, non-aggressive recreational drug users are being locked up everyday, and drug users who have managed their usage in a manner that harms no one but themselves, deserve the privilege and the right to make their own life decisions. The government should stay out of the business of protecting us from ourselves, because in the end it only tramples on the ordinary people of America. The War on Drugs is not a war on mar1juana, heroin, speed, or crack, it’s a war on drug users and a war on American citizens, being fought in our own back yard. The real victims in this war are you and me, citizens who have had our rights infringed upon, as big brother tries to do what is “right” for all of us. Imagine the alternative, a society in which drugs are legally available for recreational users, and drug-lords, gangs and terrorists are out of the picture. It would be a society in which we once again are safe from the hand of overbearing government, and also safe from the threat of terror. Admittedly, there would be problems. Drugs are not safe, they are not good. Now, however they would be under the supervision of government regulators, being sold by shopkeepers, and not terrorists. Now we would be free to address the root of the problem, the demand. Addicts would feel safer coming for help, and doctors would be able to treat drug addiction. We would educate our kids, and hope they make the right decision, but in the end, they would be free to make their own decisions. That’s what great about our country. Freedom. Let’s make sure that freedom isn’t the biggest casualty in the War on Drugs.
Although I'm not a huge fan of legalization, we need to try something else. The war on drugs has been a MISERABLE failure. Oh, and bring back open containers, damnit!
I was in a state of shock, disbelief, and denial for about 2 years when that became state law. Was that a Federal "do this or we'll withhold your highway funds that you paid into the Treasury. Oh, and up with states rights!," or was it just common sense. I can't remember.
