Great article that covers some great points on a topic that nobody will ever agree on :) Personally, I think that no matter what the opinion on addiction vs personal responsibility, that no one government entity can, nor has the right to stop someone from doing drugs. It's absolutely impossible to regulate. People will do drugs for one reason or another. We treat this like a crime. In many ways drugs can be a wonderful thing. But for most, it can turn into a nightmare that ruins their life, and the lives of their families. I've always been fascinated with the topic of drugs. On a basic level, I believe that a person has the right to put anything they wish into their bodies. The problem, however, comes with the responsibility of doing this safely and wisely. Not everyone has the ability or the desire to do these things safely. I understand that. But I cannot support the government overreach that attempts to control the masses. They cannot. And even though they cannot, they do try. Not only is it impossible, but the process also has a degree of profit to it. Whether it's funding massive drug departments and agencies, military grade equipment to fight the drug war, political profit, impact on law-related fields such as lawyers and judges, raw numbers of law enforcement and prison related careers. Fighting drugs is big money. It always has been and it always will be. When we look at the recent strides in legalizing cannabis around the US, I honestly sit back and wait to see how far can it go. If the entire US were to legalize cannabis, it will impact the entire drug war. Many think that if you lose cannabis, you will lose the drug war, that it will be the first step into decriminalizing all drugs. This may or may not be true, but it's a very strong argument. In police departments who require stats for funding and job retainment, it's much easier and safer to target cannabis growers, users, dealers, than it is to go after much more dangerous criminals who deal harder drugs. Many countries have chosen to view drug usage and addiction as an education issue and not a law enforcement issue. I'm not sure if the US will ever get there. I also think that it may take years of more studies and stats to see how those countries do long term. I don't think there is a magic answer to the drug problem. I typically say that you shouldn't arrest someone for drug possession because drug possession and use alone is not a real crime. Now, if you commit a crime while under the influence of drugs, you have plenty of reason to arrest someone for hurting someone else or their property. But critics of that view will always cry it's preventable, and you should prevent future crimes from happening while under the influence of drugs. Yet, in the US, we still cherry pick. Alcohol is legal, and causes many crimes and deaths, yet because prohibition did not work, we allow it to be consumed. So, if prohibition did not work for alcohol, why do we think it can work for other drugs? It cannot ever work. I think the money would be better spent on education, rehabilitation for addicts, etc, assuming you agree with government spending tax dollars to do so. I am not very pro-government, but if that is the system and society we live in, I think the money's better spent and will produce better results than the drug war has. I think the biggest hang up in this line of thinking is: it's very easy to preach personal responsibility, education and rehabilitation, and that if the person does not harm someone else or their property, then drug use is a victimless crime, but... what about the families of addicts? That's where I have some reservation. I have had this conversation with many friends, family and strangers throughout the years and that does seem to be one hang up. I believe that people should be allowed to consume what they want, but if that consumption or addiction harms someone else, even indirectly, then sometimes that's just as bad as committing a crime. The problem is you will never be able to stop it, and trying to regulate it with law enforcement, generally speaking, turns many, otherwise, non-violent, productive members of society into criminals.
Great article and topic. I'll definitely be checking out other's comments on this one.
It's a big joke. I remember all the things that the TV (and others) try to brainwash me with back then. I even wrote anti-drug essays when I was a kid. Until I started questioning things knowing that it's such a big industry, how's the government go against something that is with such substantial demand? Selling Mary J in my country = capital punishment. Boy did I feel betrayed when I tried it when I was a uni student.
Thanks for the comprehensive response, friend!
Thanks. I agree it is a big joke also, fueled by greed and money. Nevertheless, I do have sympathy for those with drug problems, and for the other side where many law enforcement are caught up in the dangers of the drug war. I think my reply may have been a bit of a run on paragraph but I was in a hurry when I was responding. Happy posting!