Legalization Now!
Posted in by David Goree
As I listened to the President’s speech on the War on Drugs, I was astonished at his unbelievable lack of understanding of the problem and any realistic solution. It would seem with his own history of drug use, he openly admits to a past drinking problem, and with that of his daughters and niece, Mr. Bush might actually understand.
He, in one sentence proposes spending 19 Billion dollars on the failed War on Drugs, including over 9 Billion for interdiction, then a scant minute later states: “As long as there is a demand for drugs in this country, some crook is gonna figure out how to get ‘em here.”
President George W. Bush 02/12/2002: This is the crux of the issue, the War on Drugs is an un-winnable war. There are drugs in prison after all…so, even if we made our society like a prison, where none of us wants to live, there will still be drugs.
So, what do we do about it? The Libertarian Party and I believe that the best option, no the ONLY option, is to legalize drug use and production to end this incredible affront to Freedom that is the War on Drugs. President Bush says he believes that buying drugs supports terrorism. The most commonly bought illicit drug in the USA is marijuana. A person in Asheville, North Carolina, buying marijuana is not supporting terrorists in Afghanistan - they are supporting a farmer in Madison County.
Some horrifying figures:
· The average U.S. prison sentence for a MURDER charge: 6.3 years
· The average U.S. prison sentence for a MARIJUANA charge: 10years
· Change in Americans imprisoned for non-violent drug offenses since 1980: +800%
Why legalization? What will happen when drugs are made legal? First and foremost, the War on Drugs is an abject failure. We must try something else. As for what happens after legalization, consider these figures:
· Percentage of U.S. 10th graders that have tried marijuana: 41%
· Percentage of Netherlands 10th graders that have tried marijuana: 28%
(Marijuana has been decriminalized in The Netherlands for over 30 years)
The per capita consumption of marijuana in The Netherlands is less than half of that in the U.S even in the face of the War on Drugs.
President Bush has stated his goals are to reduce drug use in America by 10% over 2 years and 25% over 5 years. This is a pipe dream (pardon the pun) it will NEVER happen. Humans have used mind-altering substances as long as we have been humans, and will as long as we are. The best option for society is to work to make drug use safer and not to destroy lives in a foolish attempt to end the un-endable.
Look at the financial impact of the War on Drugs. In addition to the nearly 20 Billion dollars directly wasted on the War on Drugs, look at the financial losses to our people and states from the prohibition of marijuana.
Rank of marijuana among all U.S. cash crops: 1st
Estimated value of U.S. marijuana crop: 32 Billion dollars!
Number of Americans that should be imprisoned under current laws: 100 Million
Estimated losses to U.S. Gross Domestic Product if those 100 Million were arrested: 14 Trillion dollars/year
Does this make sense? I think not. Legalization NOW.
Originally published in Liberty For All February 13, 2002.
