Time For Change?

I read an article the other day about the war on drugs and the problems and opposite effect that has been created as a result. The prohibition of drugs in the last number of decades has failed miserably at achieving what was intended and at a great cost to society.

Almost daily the news has reports of another drug related shooting somewhere.  Some of these shootings involve mistaken identity or innocent bystanders.  About 25,000 people have been murdered in Mexico in the last three years and bodies are being found piled up hundreds deep in old abandoned mine shafts or in remote areas. Some people are being tortured and beheaded or hanged to send a message to other gangs or police.

Now we have authorities on both sides of the border involved with the drug trade or aiding gangs for cash kickbacks. The prison population is up 45 per cent in the last ten years. In the US, ninety per cent of prisoners incarcerated is for drug related offences. Many young lives are ruined over drugs and with jail time training to become better criminals, destined to a life of crime.

Billions of dollars are being spent each year to combat the problem, but with no impact as the drug trade numbers are increasing.  The police admit they stop only a small amount of drugs hitting the market and the ones they do get are small fish with the top people too clever to be directly linked to the drug trade.

All that money and all those years and what have we achieved?  Where the police are tough on drugs, it pushes the price up, making it more attractive for organized crime, who now make bigger profits.We have managed to make a product that is worth a dollar, sell for $10 because it is illegal, then we have items worth $100 being stolen and sold for $10 to cover the cost of the drug. Wouldn't it be cheaper and better for all to treat the disease?

Maybe it is time we considered other options.  Anyone of us could go out into their small towns or cities at any time and find almost any recreational drug they cared to. Decriminalizing drugs might mean more people try them or it might make them less attractive as they would then be freely available.

It would allow addicts to get the treatment they need.  Petty crime would be greatly reduced and organized crime would have to look for other sources because the river of green would soon dry up.  Sending drug offenders to jail has not worked.  Drugs in jails are readily available and a huge problem.  It has been reported that each prisoner costs the taxpayer about $100,000 per year.  It would be cheaper to give them welfare and benefits.

Prohibition of alcohol did not work, the anti smoking campaign has had little effect and the anti drug educational ads directed at our youth don't seem to be getting through either. Our tax dollars are being wasted on this lost cause when we have a huge problem funding our other social systems, like health care and education for example. 

Time for change??  Maybe so.