I am sure it is not a bold statement to say that almost everyone one who lives in North America has some how been exposed to the "War on Drugs". Whether it be a "just say no" poster or a cheesy after school special about peer pressure, we have all seen them. My question is, after all these years of ad campaigns and police crackdowns, and the billions of dollars the government is spending, is the war on drugs worth it?
The answer is no. Drugs are rampant in our society and I do not see how the government can stop them. Now let me make it clear that I am not a drug user, nor do I advocate that people use them. All I am saying is that if people want drugs they will get them regardless of how many laws are passed. Drugs are big business and in my opinion the government should take it's cut.
When someone is arrested it is because they have committed a crime. When a crime is committed there is usually a victim. Someone's wallet was stolen or their property was damaged. Who is the victim of a drug transaction? Not the seller as they are making a nice profit (up to 500% in some cases). Not the buyer as they are choosing to get these drugs as they enjoy the effects. Granted this may be the result of an addiction but if someone wishes to put their own body at risk for certain gratifications who are we to stop them? As long as they are not hurting anyone else let these people screw themselves up. As the saying goes you can wave your fists around all you want as long as they do not hit my face.
The major problem with the drug war is not the drugs themselves but the ramifications of drug production and sales. Starting with their production, there is such a demand for drugs (of all kinds) that the countries they are produced in have become havens of corruption. Everyone is on the take as there is more money to be made in that industry than any legal one. Mexico faces this problem as we speak.
The next step is getting the product to the market, namely the United States. As drug trafficking is illegal the only way to get the drugs into the country is to smuggle them. Drug Lords go to great lengths to get drugs into the US. Whether it is as simple as loading up a car and driving through the Tijuana border into the USA or making some poor guy swallows a condom full of cocaine (if it burst would lead to immediate death).
The government tries to make it harder for smugglers by doing random spot checks on cars at the border crossings, but for every car that is stopped there are probably ten if not more that get through. This just cements my point that drugs are going to get into the country no matter what we do. Watch the movie Traffic; everything they depict is absolutely true about the drug war.
The problems come from warring drug cartels. Innocent people get caught in the crossfire. Look at the Rock Machine and the Hell's Angel's battle over the drug trade in Quebec. In Mexico and Columbia we find similar battles. Not to mention individuals committing crimes for drug money. The government can't battle this as the financial resources of the drug dealers far outweigh the budget of the US government.
The answer is to take the power out of the criminal's hands. Legalize it. Control the drug trade. Stop the corruption. Instead of government spending on stopping the war on drugs, use the money to help those who wish to break the hold the needle has over them. If the government controlled the guns it would make it harder for children to get them. Not that they wouldn't be able to but it would make it harder if the only place they could get pot was over the counter where they would have to show identification right? Hell legalize, sell it and let he government tax the sh*t out of it. What choice is there left? Prohibition was a good idea at the time too.
By Jeremy Jacobson
