CNN: The War on Drugs is Insane

nuke

nuke

Bluelighter
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By Jack Cafferty
Special to CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Here's something to think about:

How many police officers and sheriff's deputies are involved in investigating and solving crimes involving illegal drugs? And arresting and transporting and interrogating and jailing the suspects?

How many prosecutors and their staffs spend time prosecuting drug cases? How many defense lawyers spend their time defending drug suspects?

How many hours of courtroom time are devoted to drug trials? How many judges, bailiffs, courtroom security officers, stenographers, etc., spend their time on drug trials?

How many prison cells are filled with drug offenders? And how many corrections officers does it take to guard them? How much food do these convicts consume?

And when they get out, how many parole and probation officers does it take to supervise their release? And how many ex-offenders turn right around and do it again?

So how's this war on drugs going?

Someone described insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. That's a perfect description of the war on drugs.

The drug suppliers are only too happy to oblige. The Mexican drug cartels now have operations in 230 American cities. That's 230 American cities!

And we're not just talking about border towns, but places such as Anchorage, Alaska; Boston, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; and Billings, Montana. They're everywhere. And they don't just bring drugs, but violence and crime as well -- lots of it at no extra charge.

They have been able to infiltrate those 230 cities because we have not bothered to secure our borders. In addition to illegal aliens who come here to work and avail themselves of our social programs, we have criminals from Mexico bringing drugs in, taking money and guns back, and recruiting American kids into their criminal enterprises while they're here.

What do you suppose the total price tag is for this failed war on drugs? One senior Harvard economist estimates we spend $44 billion a year fighting the war on drugs. He says if they were legal, governments would realize about $33 billion a year in tax revenue. Net swing of $77 billion. Could we use that money today for something else? You bet your ass we could. Plus the cartels would be out of business. Instantly. Goodbye crime and violence.

If drugs were legalized, we could empty out a lot of our prison cells. People will use this stuff whether it's legal or not. Just like they do booze. And you could make the argument that in some cases alcohol is just as dangerous as some drugs. I know.

Like I said ... something to think about. It's time.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jack Cafferty.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/31/cafferty.legal.drugs/index.html
 
Thank god for cnn! Its taken far too long for any mainstream entity to realize or accept how completely ignorant and ludicrous the war on drugs is. How long must we be persecuted for non-violent, ethical, and completely personal decisions?
How have the world governments continued their failed war and prohibition, even with the example of alcohol prohibition? Legislation is the impetus for crime, where is the logic?
 
There have been stories like this regularly in the last few weeks. Its sad to think about, but I feel the cartel wars in mexico may be the reason some things become uncontrolled; just to cut off a large amount of their money. Its the right ends with the wrong means...
 
I wonder how the cartels would react to a major source of their money supply being cut off during a recession.
 
egor said:
There have been stories like this regularly in the last few weeks. Its sad to think about, but I feel the cartel wars in mexico may be the reason some things become uncontrolled; just to cut off a large amount of their money. Its the right ends with the wrong means...
Click to expand...


Would most certainly be a sad case, assuming the coverage amounts to much. Devastating if it continues to amount to nothing.
 
There's also a poll on CNN's webpage with the following:

"Should drugs be legalized so they can be taxed?"

Currently 60% say yes.
 
cartels will go to other criminal avenues to make money(I.e. Kidnapping, arms trafficking etc ), but unlike the end of prohibition there won't be hard drugs to turn to to make easy money. All other avenues won't be as profitable, so eventually organized crime will be a niche thing with diminishing membership. Opponants of legalization harp on the fact that they will make money other wAys, of course they will..... They are hardcore criminals, but now the fact is we are just making it to easy for them to be rich. Also how much money would the Taliban have once they are undercut???? Big pharma would cut them out quick like if drugs were legalized hampering their efforts against us drastically.

Edit: just saw you post nuke, that's a great stat, I'm glad to see CNN is posting shit like this on their site as it shows mainstream America does care about this issue, thanks for posting that.
 
Alcohol and tobacco are more harmful and addictive than illegal drugs. Marijuana is the least harmful of all, it's even beneficial to your health. I believe all drugs should be legal for adults and that only the sale of drugs should be taxed. If you grow it or make it for personal consumption it should not be taxed.
 
it's nice to see how much attention this is starting to get in the media at all levels.
 
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