The drug war is getting worse and the solutions are few and far between.
The Obama administration has added a new layer of bureaucracy by creating a border czar, but that won’t accomplish anything. Other groups are suggesting that we limit gun sales to Mexico, but no one has seriously proposed the plan that will both end the drug war and help our economy: legalize marijuana.
The idea of legislating morality by limiting products that society finds distasteful is a popular policy, but not an effective one. No product can ever be removed from the public consciousness through legislation. This was proven during the days of prohibition where many a man became rich by bootlegging. The reason why prohibiting drugs hasn’t worked is because of economics.
The demand for pot has remained relatively stable over the last few decades, but our drug policies have created an artificial shortage. This shortage has in turn driven up prices to completely unrealistic levels.
As the price of pot rises, and the demand remains stable, unscrupulous people see easy money. Pot is easy to grow and the security along the border is minimal. These factors have fueled the ever-expanding drug trade between Mexico and the United States, and with it comes more violence.
Since 2006, more than 45,000 drug suspects in Mexico have been arrested, along with dozens of drug kingpins. President Felipe Calderon has sent 50,000 troops throughout the country in order to locate drugs, and crack down on corrupt local police. The problem is that the situation is getting worse.
The drug situation has escalated to the point where violence is spilling into American cities. Kidnappings, murder, rape and other violent crime have escalated in Phoenix and Houston among others.
Spring break locations in Mexico, once known for drunken debauchery every March through April, are becoming too dangerous to visit. This is all happening while some of the toughest anti-drug laws in both United States and Mexico are in effect.
Rather than continue these foolish and failing policies, it would be better to simply legalize marijuana. Once legalized, the market for these drugs will vanish in an instant. Who would pay hundreds of dollars for something they could grow in their own homes?
There are numerous economic benefits to this as well. California lawmakers are attempting to legalize pot in order to bring new industry to their state, and improve tax revenues. The marketability of something anyone can grow is questionable, but if bottled water can sell, pot can as well.
There are health risks to pot of course, but they pale in comparison to alcohol and tobacco.
Pot, if used too much, can be addictive, hurt short-term memory and impede motor skills. Alcohol has the exact same effects, only more intense, while contributing to 75,000 deaths per year in America. Smoking meanwhile contributes to half a million deaths per year, while being more addictive than pot or alcohol. If these more harmful products are legal, why isn’t marijuana?
The costs to the criminal justice system are daunting. In 2003 there were 755,186 marijuana related arrests, more than the entire population of South Dakota. Of those arrests 88 percent were for possession, and pot constituted 45 percent of all drug-related arrests.
For every arrest that makes its way through the criminal justice system numerous officials are involved.
Police officers, judges, public defenders, prosecutors and countless others are involved in putting potheads behind bars. These resources could be put toward arresting rapists, murders and corporate criminals. More resources are diverted from violent crimes to arrest and prosecute crimes committed by people to buy drugs at inflated prices, all on the taxpayers’ dime.
Our policies toward drug use have been in place for decades and are failing us fast.
The artificial markets these laws have created are causing the horrific violence in Mexico, the United States arrests more people than any other country. Billions of dollars are being wasted.
These policies may make us feel better about stopping drug use, but all they do is escalate violence, create more crime and stop potential industries.
Marijuana legalization is logical
Published: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 00:04
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30 comments
Marijuana prohibition has been an indisputable failure. Legalize it and take the money out of the black market. Marijuana is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco yet both of those substances are legal (and should be). Every year our prison system releases violent offenders to make room for non-violent pot smokers. That is just plain insanity. Think of how better society would be served if our law enforcement efforts were directed more towards dealing with violent individuals. We would also save millions of dollars on prosecution costs and jail expenses.
There is also substantial evidence indicating marijuana has numerous medical uses as well.
This is a plant, legalize it and regulate it. We need to look at this issue using nothing more than basic common sense. Isn't it time to drop the "Reefer Madness" stupidity?
1) The chance of overdosing on marijuana for first time users is recorded at 8.94% according to DEA.
-and yet there still has never bee a single overdose.
2) Marijuana addicts walk the streets like zombies looking for a nice Christian family to rob in order to get their next fix.
-if that were true i am sure that they would not single out only christian families.
3) Marijuana users will rape, murder, and pillage in order to get their next fix. Anyone who smokes marijuana is forever changed into a terrible person. You can't argue with this.
-I am a great person and have tried marijuana way more than once. I hold a professional job, am married, pay my taxes and do the speed limit. ergo your hypothesis is false. and i am just one test case.
4) Marijuana is used by Muslims.
-and Americans. Actually most Muslims really frown on drug use, i mean really really frown on it. they don't even drink.
5) Marijuana kills brain cells so fast that after five days of smoking half of the subjects brain cells are destroyed or turned evil.
-evil is not a medical condition, and your point is not factually correct, however alcohol is proven to kill brain cells. I guess nobody told you you can cook with it also? goes well with chocolate.
6) Marijuana is the cause of all our financial problems. It has been proven that the people who caused this problem have all smoked pot.
-most of our current economic problems are caused by collaterialized mortgage obligations and credit default swaps, as well as a high default rate on short term debt. not pot. not at all.
7) Marijuana is a sin. Why smoke marijuana and sin when you can drink alcohol and be closer to Jesus?
-only religious people sin, part of the whole being religious thing. alcohol was also once a sin about 70 years ago but that worked out in your favor. Jesus probably didn't smoke pot, it as probably hash.
Now that you potheads are educated, please go outside your house and start being a productive member of society. you're funny man. I can't believe people like you still exist, seriously, the world has moved on past your closed church door views man. i don't know where you came up with this stuff but all the morals aside, there are plenty of great reasons to legalize the plant. you think pot killed the economy and you might be right, but only in the unrealized profits. have a great life!
Do some research before you go and sling out reefer madness techniques, ie., all the things you listed as "facts" have been proven wrong! and guess what mr college man, there has never been one report of a so called overdose. If only you had done a little research. People like you are the reason this country is hated by others. Yes you may have a few junior college courses under your belt, but guess what I have a few University degrees under mine and I have done the research for the past 10 years. Next time DO THE RESEARCH!!!!!
1) The chance of overdosing on marijuana for first time users is recorded at 8.94% according to DEA.
2) Marijuana addicts walk the streets like zombies looking for a nice Christian family to rob in order to get their next fix.
3) Marijuana users will rape, murder, and pillage in order to get their next fix. Anyone who smokes marijuana is forever changed into a terrible person. You can't argue with this.
4) Marijuana is used by Muslims.
5) Marijuana kills brain cells so fast that after five days of smoking half of the subjects brain cells are destroyed or turned evil.
6) Marijuana is the cause of all our financial problems. It has been proven that the people who caused this problem have all smoked pot.
7) Marijuana is a sin. Why smoke marijuana and sin when you can drink alcohol and be closer to Jesus?Now that you potheads are educated, please go outside your house and start being a productive member of society.
it is a great source for all the facts and or myths people need to know about
legalize a plant that has been here long before man and will still be here long before us, we have no right to destroy a natural plant. especially one with such a wide array of medicinal properties. Not to mention it does no harm what so ever to the user. Unlike the widely accepted and legal tobacco and alcohol, both of which kill thousands every year. Whereas marijuana has never killed anyone. OK lol Thank you for reading my ranting. I apologize if this makes little sense. At times my mind seams like it short circuits and thought is very difficult. I was once a young promising lad with an iq of 165 and the world was my playground. But recently I feel as if I am the worlds playground. ;P. Thank you once again for being a voice of reason in a hailstorm of misinformation.