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| Let's End Failed & Dogmatic Drug War |
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Posted by CN Staff on October 13, 2007 at 21:51:15 PT By Bill Steigerwald, Tribune Review Source: Tribune Review 
USA -- Let's hear it for America's drug police. Last year our drug warriors made 829,627 marijuana arrests. That's the most ever, according to the FBI. Arrests for marijuana -- arguably the least dangerous drug ever declared illegal in America -- are up nearly threefold since 1990. Total arrests for all illegal drugs in 2006 hit 1.89 million, up from 1.08 million in 1990. If you think those 829,627 Americans were all out selling weed to 10-year-olds at the local strip mall until they were heroically brought to justice, you've had way too many Bush administration cocktails. Nearly 90 percent of marijuana arrests last year were for possession only. About 90,000 citizens were busted for selling or manufacturing pot, which includes anyone nabbed for growing it for personal use or for medical use. Since about a third of all marijuana arrestees were under 19, there's a good chance a kid you know or love is among the victims of our immoral, irrational and expensive two-front war on (some) drugs and personal freedom. But even if the drug war's body count doesn't touch you personally, its economic costs do. The prohibition of marijuana alone costs about $10.7 billion a year, according to a new study by Jon Gettman of the Marijuana Policy Project, a reform group that believes the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate it like alcohol. Gettman's report, "Lost Taxes and Other Costs of Marijuana Laws," pegs the total cost of marijuana enforcement and lost tax revenues to U.S. taxpayers at $41.8 billion. The U.S. marijuana supply (14,349 metric tons) is worth an estimated $113 billion in retail sales. He estimates the marijuana trade would generate $31.1 billion in taxes if it were made legal and taxed. Legalizing marijuana would certainly please Ethan Nadelmann, the director of the Drug Policy Alliance and author of "Legalize It," the September/October cover story of Foreign Policy magazine. No libertarian, he is not sure that legalizing all drugs is prudent. But Nadelmann knows the current "regime of prohibition" has failed miserably and obviously here and around the world, just as similar prohibitions have failed since time began. As he wrote in a recent Drug Policy Alliance newsletter, though it is increasingly clear to world leaders that global drug prohibition "is responsible for stunning levels of violence, crime, corruption, disease and suffering," few dare to acknowledge this reality. Why not? Because, says Nadelmann, "the drug war, and the prohibitionist ideology which fuels it, is not about rational policy." It's not "about science, compassion, health or human rights," it's "a sort of dogma -- a secular fundamentalism that sees itself immune from critical examination." Nowhere is that more true than in politically potheaded America. Getting our so-called leaders to assess the real-world costs, failures and harm done to society by our prohibitionist drug policies is never going to happen. The drug war is the 36-year-old, $40 billion-a-year rogue elephant in the game room everyone running for president pretends not to see. Republicans, except for Ron Paul, get their drug policy ideas from the Taliban. And Democrats -- who don't have the courage to end the war in Iraq -- surrendered their spines in the war on drugs long ago. Bill Steigerwald is the Trib's associate editor. Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA) CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #8 posted by observer on October 15, 2007 at 17:40:34 PT |
| The drug war is the 36-year-old, $40 billion-a-year rogue elephant in the game room everyone running for president pretends not to see. Republicans, except for Ron Paul, get their drug policy ideas from the Taliban. And Democrats -- who don't have the courage to end the war in Iraq -- surrendered their spines in the war on drugs long ago. That would be around 1988 give or take. During the "crack baby epidemic", when Len Bias died after taking cocaine. I well remember then- Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill (D, Mass.) in 1988... http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2006/06/18/lenBiasTheDeathThatUshered.html Immediately upon returning from the July 4 recess, Tip O'Neill called an emergency meeting of the crime-related committee chairmen. Write me some goddamn legislation, he thundered. All anybody up in Boston is talking about is Len Bias. The papers are screaming for blood. We need to get out front on this now. This week. Today. The Republicans beat us to it in 1984 and I don't want that to happen again. I want dramatic new initiatives for dealing with crack and other drugs. If we can do this fast enough, he said to the Democratic leadership arrayed around him, we can take the issue away from the White House.[ http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2006/06/18/lenBiasTheDeathThatUshered.html quotin "Smoke and Mirrors", by Dan Baum, p.225. ] I don't think the author of "Let's End the Failed and Dogmatic drug War" article unfairly singled out anyone for criticism, there. His criticism is completely bipartisan. Hopefully people won't cover their ears with their hands over what he says. If we do not learn from history, we'll end up repeating it. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on October 15, 2007 at 17:25:34 PT |
| Oh shucks, I see your point. Sorry neanderthal guys! How far back would I have to go to not insult someone? The Big Bang? lol. Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Storm Crow on October 15, 2007 at 16:58:52 PT |
| You insult the Neanderthals! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by afterburner on October 15, 2007 at 06:30:12 PT |
| Canada: Canada Chooses Cannabis, Not So High On Steroids, Toronto Sun, (12 Oct 2007)
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1182/a04.html?176 CN QU: Edu: Column: Pot Holes In Harper's Drug Policy, The Concordian, (09 Oct 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1180/a08.html?176 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 06:52:47 PT |
| I just did a google search and this writer is a libertarian. I understand now. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 06:34:22 PT |
| When I read about someone whining about Democrats I tune them out. I guess I won't read this writers columns anymore. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Toker00 on October 14, 2007 at 05:33:01 PT |
| Drug War Victims: Destroyed Drug War Taxes: Wasted Drug War Mentality: Neanderthal Drug War Participants: Losers Drug War Winner: Drugs It never was a War on Drugs. It was a war on Drug Culture. It was as successful as a War on Water would have been. I suppose, when we have a Water War, it will be illegal to catch rain and possess it. Warning: This link takes you to a Black Man talking about the coming war in Iran. He's warning us. Do you hear what he says we must do, or are you still asleep like the rest? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ7tse3scE0&NR=1 Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by tintala on October 13, 2007 at 22:19:32 PT:
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| It is a fact: they are a secular fundmentalist group that are immune to scrutiny and critical examination. Hope they all get cancer and live a terrible agonizing life. Legalize cannabis. [ Post Comment ] |
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