The U.S. spends appx. $50 billion per YEAR to fight the U.S. War on Drugs. It has been estimated that the cost to completely secure the southern U.S. border and deport ALL illegal immigrants would be appx. $285 billion over 5 years. (so about $57 billion per year) If marijuana was legal (marijuana arrests comprise 44% of all drug arrests), the states would cease having to worry about locking up non-violent marijuana offenders completely and could even generate some revenue by taxing the drug. (similar to the way state's tax alcohol). In addition, hard drugs (crack, cocaine, meth, heroine, etc.) could be decriminalized similar to the program tried in Portugal. (focus on addiction treatment instead of prison time). This decriminalization of hard drugs would accomplish two things: A) hard drug rates would decrease (similar to how they did in Portugal), B) the profitability of hard drugs would plummet (similar to the way medical marijuana ie legal marijuana has caused the price of black market marijuana in California to plummet). If drugs aren’t profitable, cartels can’t make TONS of profits selling them. (That wouldn’t be a bad thing….) What do you think?? AP IMPACT: After 40 years, $1 trillion, U.S. War on Drugs has failed to meet any of its goals http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=10642775 Plummeting Marijuana Prices Create A Panic In Calif. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126806429&ft=1&f=2&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+NprProgramsATC+%28NPR+Programs:+All+Things+Considered%29 Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work? (hint: YES!!) http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100708/ap_on_re_us/us_immigration_enforcement_lawsuit_27 The federal government is worried that other states will follow Arizona's lead, overwhelming federal agencies with non-criminal illegal immigrants who will cost the government millions to deport. A March study by the liberal Center for American Progress estimated that deporting the entire illegal immigration population and securing the borders would cost $285 billion over five years. Ed..........."What happened to the "just say no" program?" It didn't work. otis........"If there wasn't a demand for drugs -- there would be no supply." But there IS a demand. To deny this fact is to deny reality. otis........"Edit: There's also a demand for child porn -- should that be legalized too?" You act like people can't get it. I'm not saying legalize the exploitation of children. I'm saying legalize marijuana because it's less harmful than alcohol. And DECRIMINALIZE hard drugs and offer treatment programs instead (in an effort to decrease DEMAND). See??
Politics - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Yes I agree, the war on drugs should be ended. Though I would try to put more of that money into our failing education system. What is the point of border security if you're raising a generation of retards?
2 :
Yeah I'm all for ending the war on drugs & scoring some rock star weed with the money I pocket all right.
3 :
Yes, that may also cut down on immigration in the first place.
4 :
What happened to the "just say no" program?
5 :
Yes, but it won't happen. It makes too much sense and it is too simple for our nonsensical, complicated Government to execute.
6 :
Not exactly sure, while some people argue that the war on drugs is wasting government money and a complete waste of energy, I think it is in the best interest. While I have nothing against people who do drugs, I do know that drugs can be extremely addicting. Where would America be if all of the residents were Druggies? Not very well, I think. And, you thin kthe problem with kids doing drugs in highschool is bad enough, think about how bad it'll be when drugs are completely mainstream and within a fingers reach? Even worse. Already lagging behind other countried in outr education, I think legalising drugs is the last thing we want to be doing to improve our economy. But that's just my opinion.
7 :
If there wasn't a demand for drugs -- there would be no supply. Edit: There's also a demand for child porn -- should that be legalized too? Edit: The thought that those in prison on drug charges are addicts, is overstated. You're missing the fact that those involved in the selling and traficking of drugs are the real criminals. I'm not for locking up a kid caught with 2 joints in his pocket, but the guy who buys large quantities and recruits street kids into selling it -- is dangerous.
8 :
Hard to say. If you could stop more of the stuff we could be less proactive.
9 :
Yes. The war on drugs is stupid. I say legalize pot and decriminalize the rest. But if you fry your brain, we shouldn't have to pay for it.
