Drugs: The Problem and The Solution

Legalization is indeed the only reasonable course of action to stop the dangerous situation in which America finds itself today. It is telling that the very same people who are against legalization ( the law enforcement industry) have the most to lose in the way of funding. The war on drugs justifies their continued place at the pig trough, feasting upon our tax money while providing no real benefits to society.

The argument against legalization has been framed in the same way by the law enforcement industry and their knee jerk supporters since it became subject to reasoned debate. If we legalize drugs, in a short time, our children will become axe murderers - killing us in our beds. Drug use will become rampant. The sun will refuse to shine and the birds will no longer sing.

Suggest that we outlaw alcohol as was done in the early 20th century and they will exclaim that "Prohibition doesn't work." Well sure. The war on drugs has been a FANTASTIC success!

"Prohibition built up organized crime and led to violence as rival mobsters began gang wars which destroyed the lives of innocent people." So what are we seeing in response to the governments "War on Drugs?" Gangs have taken over our larger cities as violence skyrockets as they seek to control the drug trade which fuels such violence. Even small cities are seeing the menace of Meth, destroy the lives of not only the users but their families.

One need not be a genius to understand that the same dynamics which brought power to the thugs of the 1920's and 1930's, are in place today in this wrong headed "War on Drugs." Why is it not obvious to most that, contrary to their protestations, our law enforcement "industry" and our politicians, DO NOT WANT TO CURE AMERICA FROM THE SCOURGE OF DRUG ABUSE! Their job security lies not in their making America a safer place but in perpetuating a climate of fear amongst the citizenry to the end that we will do anything they suggest.

Plainly stated, crime is an angry pit bull on a chain, which they hold. Do what they suggest or they may let go of the chain. Are Americans so stupid that they cannot see this? I see nothing to prove otherwise.

The present dynamic of drug addiction works thiswise:

1. The present well being of a drug addict is dependent upon the regular use of a substance which is declared to be unlawful to use. His tolerance to the drug (built up resistance to it's effects) grows with each use. This requires him to ingest a larger dose to prevent suffering (we will all break the law if by such means exclusive to all others, we are able to get enough oxygen to sustain our comfort, right?) called withdrawal, as well as to receive the same "euphoric" effect.

2. To continue to "support" that habit, he must find some way to secure the funds to purchase enough of that drug to fend off withdrawal symptoms. Inasmuch as holding down a job is made difficult by regular drug use, this addict has few choices: Steal or sell. If he steals, he may be forced to physically injure the innocent victim at worst and economically injure them as their possessions are stolen for the sake of supporting that expensive habit. It should be noted at this juncture that drugs are not inherently expensive. It is their unlawful status which makes them so as it creates a lack of availability (supply and demand).

3. If the addict chooses to commit the crime of theft, robbery and the like to support the habit, society must shoulder that burden, as the honest citizens must pay more money to replace such items as were stolen, pay all the different individuals in the law enforcement industry (cops, clerks, jailers etc.) to track them down, book them and hold them for trial. Even more money is then spent in the courts, processing the addict through the system in a series of expensive proceedings involving some of the costliest professionals in America (lawyers), during which the cost to society to remedy the situation through the courts, far exceeds the amount of property taken. Once convicted, the addict must be incarcerated for a long period of time. Prisons must be built. Prison guards must be hired (along with the appurtenant clerical staff) to see to it that these addicts are properly criminalized and housed. Add to that the cost of human suffering of the victims of violence which goes along with such crimes as robbery etc. and you have a situation where society is injured out of proportion to what would have occurred had the addict not needed to steal, rob, etc. to feed his habit.

4. Should the addict choose to sell drugs as a means of support, he is required to sell ever larger quantities of that drug to support that habit. To do this, he must recruit new users/addicts (our children) who in turn, must make the same choices to steal, sell drugs etc.

The drug addict does not personally care one way or another if your son or daughter become hooked. The drug addict does not personally care one way or another whether your TV, stereo or guns are stolen. All they want is to relieve the discomfort. If they could satisfy their cravings without injuring a soul besides themselves, they would. They will do whatever the believe they need to do to accomplish that task.

Now imagine that instead of this culture of crime, violence and fear, that they could use ALL the drugs they wanted…in a controlled environment. Rather than spending all the money to locate them, process them through the legal system and imprison them, why not have them VOLUNTEER to be incarcerated. If our tax money was used to build facilities in remote areas (just like minimum security prisons) in which they would be given their drugs in exchange for some sort of unskilled labor, society would again be safe, the sun would shine, the birds would sing, our children would be safe from drug dealers and in the (relatively) short space of 20-30 years, America’s drug problem would be eradicated.

Marijuana, which is neither a narcotic nor a drug, far from creating an economic drain upon society as it does presently, could be sold in your local 7-11 store, depriving the producers of their unrealistic profits and enriching the state coffers with tax revenue, which they could then use to pay for anti drug education programs, apply to fill gaps in state budgets or simply fritter away on more expensive police gear, if they are inclined to be nostalgic.

Of course, reason never moves the dumb masses. They are treated like dumb cattle, to be swayed by emotionally charged arguments, simplistic slogans and sophistry. Perhaps they fear that, if the American people were to smoke marijuana, they might begin to see through the bovine excrement which passes for logic and actually learn to think for themselves.

Our politicians have not shown themselves to be adept at thinking or reason but are only skilled at creating pubic opinion, to which they then pander to suit their personal agendas, sucking the people dry economically like leeches as we cower under our beds. Law enforcement officers on the other hand, are generally well respected thugs. In essence they are gangs of armed men who roam the streets of our cities, looking for trouble.

They know that prohibition of drugs, like alcohol, only strengthens the criminal enterprise. They don’t care what effect it has upon us as long as they can continue to swell their pork barrel anti-drug projects

Until Americans begin to think for themselves and demand that their leaders act responsibly, we will continue to be held hostage by those who bully us in the name of law and order.

BTW, For those who would like to learn techniques by which they can avoid law enforcement scrutiny in this American police state, I suggest you get a copy of Police 101.

Hear the one hour broadcast on this subject

Other links:

LEAP

Common Sense for Drug Policy