The War on Drugs Has Been a Failure

I again digress from being your DUI lawyer of Palm Beach to that of a simple citizen. In 1971 former president Richard Nixon declared a War on drugs, referring to drugs as public enemy No. 1. In 1973 Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). In 1971 there were 140 individuals for every 100,00 who were incarcerated. By the time Nixon resigned three years later there were 150 individuals for every 100,000 who were incarcerated. One can conclude that Nixon’s declaration of a war on drugs resulted in this increase in the rate of incarceration.

In 1978, the United States had a prison and jail incarceration population of 452,790 with the overall U.S. population of approximately 223,000,000.  In 1980 Ronald Reagan was elected to the presidency. In 1981 the inmate population was 555,114. The overall U.S. population was 230,000,000. In 1984 Nancy Regan launched her “just say no” campaign. Between 1981 and 1984 the inmate population soared from 555, 114 to 681, 122. The rate of incarceration continues to rise year after year, decade after decade. In February, 2008 the New York Times reported that 1 out of every 100 adult Americans are incarcerated. The prison population was reported as 1.6 million with another 723,000 in local jails. Blacks have the highest rate of incarceration with 1 out of every 9 black men between the ages of 20 and 34. Hispanics also have a high rate of incarceration. Many of the incarcerated have been convicted of drug offenses. Approximately 60% of all Federal inmates are drug offenders! A mere 3% are classfied as violent offenders.

According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, 6 million individuals were arrested for marijuana charges. Consider for the moment the cost both in terms of dollars and the individual costs of these arrests. Everytime a cop makes an arrest for marijuana, it takes him off the street for a period of time. This is time that could be spent in pursuit of violent crime. Consider the waste of human kind? That is, the individuals who are imprisoned for a non-violent drug offense! Wouldn’t it make more sense to put the tax money into education and employment opportunities? So why do we continue this so-called “war on drugs”? I would suggest that you follow the money. You see it is a big business. This country spends billions upon billions of dollars each and every year on this “war”. Law enforcement agencies are the recipients of this tax payor funded largess as well as rehab facilities and programs, doctors, social workers,  probation and parole officers etc. Of course, don’t forget the politicians who rail against the evils of drugs as they run for office. Often this “railing” is nothing more than an attempt to scare their consituents by demonizing a particular group.

You see all the foregoing I listed in the previous paragraph have a vested economic interest in seeing that the “war on drugs” continue. Not to mention the liquor lobby with it’s billions. Can you imagine for a moment if marijuana were to be legalized? A plant that can be grown in one’s backyard,that delivers a feeling of euphoria,just might hurt the liquor industry.

I am of the opinion that it is time to legalize marijuana and to give serious thought to the legalizization of other drugs. This would result in a immediate decrease in the number of individuals who are arrested and therefore an immediate decrease in the amount of funding needed to maintain the “war on drugs”.

As usual if you wish to discuss life, the universe, and everything please feel free to contact me at Tim@duilawyerofpalmbeach or call me at 561-616-8700. Please visit my websites at www.duilawyerofpalmbeach and www.expungemyfloridaarrest.com.