Is it time for a serious debate about the War on Drugs?
Some info:
• $45.5 Billion spent this year and $30.1 billion of that was incarceration alone.
• The total cost of drug abuse in the US is estimated at $143.4 billion… that includes indirect costs.
• Drug use has increased in every way measurable since prohibition.
• 20% of all drug traffic is interrupted. 75% interruption would be needed to begin effectiveness.
• The average markup for legal drugs, both pharm and recreational (tobacco, alcohol, etc) is 10-15%. The average markup for illegal drugs is 1000% reflecting the so-called “risk premium”.
• The illegal drug trade, by any standard, is a hugely profitable and successful business venture. Impossible to estimate, profits are believed to be in the hundreds of billions, annually.
• Illegal drugs and drug use are theorized to be responsible for a permanent underclass.
• Prohibition, in theory, creates a premium as reflected in price, creating a market for cheaper and usually more dangerous and destructive drugs like Meth, and Crack.
My question is simple. Isn’t there a better way?
Everyone can agree that drug abuse is a questionable practice on a personal level. But responsible drug use is entirely possible too. Isn’t it time we stopped kidding ourselves into thinking we’re eradicating drugs, solving more problems than we create?
And a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Drugs
sharia_vigilant- Don’t you see how racist that sentiment is. Why not ask yourself why drugs and gangs go together. Is there a better way besides ‘muscle’ to stop it? Perhaps if the drug trade wasn’t so profitable, gangs and the poverty stricken wouldn’t be interested in it.
Ken- you’re right. but that’s why we have second terms.
sharia_vigilant- I’m not buying it. You say gangs, you imply inner city black kids. You may be able to cover your tracks by listing other gangs, but when you say, “Execute gang members” it’s going to be an inherently racial issue.
sharia_vigilant- please. not covering your tracks is also part of being a man. YOU KNOW that when YOU say gangs, you think black kids, and I say that on YOUR track record of answers.