Take a Hit of This
The war on drugs is over. Drugs win.
If heroin and cocaine were legalized, would this counrty realize a new wave of addicts? If the United States government sponsored the sale of methamphetamine would rehabilitation centers and county jails experience an impossible demand? Would crack pipe sales bitch-slap the tobacco industry? No.
Endemic to the debate is the concern that an entire generation of addicts is patiently awaiting legalization. How many potential heroin addicts refuse the syringe simply because it is illegal? This concern is without merit considering that an addict, heroin or otherwise, will go to any lengths to acquire his drug of choice, including robbery and prostitution. This concern is further flawed because it assumes there is nothing unique about an addicted person. addiction is realized organically, not by legality. There is no such thing as a recreational crack user, tempted by the occasional family reunion. That is ludicrous.
Legalization will decimate the illegal drug trade (yes, I realize decimate means one in ten, I’m writing figuratively dammit). This in turn will establish an indefinite cash flow for rehabilitation, education and community outreach. This country has been reacting to the drug problem in a cowboy fashion for too long. Solutions exist not from top to bottom, but rather within local communities nationwide.
I realize this is a sweeping condemnation of our country’s failed efforts to maintain even a sliver of sanity during a tireless crusade. Much debate is needed.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I actually agree with you, for the most part.
The government is not really keeping addicts from getting their fix, it’s merely ensuring that his money goes to support organized crime, a point you already made.
Perhaps the redeeming value in the government’s “war on drugs” is that the commercial unavailability of “hard drugs” does in fact prevent the merely curious middle schooler from getting hold of it. However, as is evident from the post below this, I do not believe it is the government’s job to educate children.
So yes, lets stop wasting millions of tax dollars every year on a “war” that is unwinnable.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:08 am
greg! still stuck on sex and drugs, i see (and r&r?) - not to destroy your credibility or anything. just thought i’d drop you a line. hope your life’s going well and that you’re finding success at school. stay in touch.
-michael
March 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Well Greg, it looks like your reputation precedes you!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
My father always taught me that a good plan today is better than a great plan tomorrow. He is a wise man.
Perhaps the good plan today is to legalize certain controlled substances so that we can tax the industry and add it to the list of things that this country sacrifices for the worship of the almighty dollar.
So, what is this battle worth? Is it worth the billions of dollars we are spending in Iraq?
Maybe.
Who is the enemy? We know from the media that the sale of poppies that infiltrate their way in to the United States are partially funding the terrorist efforts in Afghanistan. Are we talking about terrorists who stand to gain from this ecomic venture? Maybe.
Or, is the enemy someone we aren’t expecting? Maybe the enemy is in our midst. Maybe the enemy is one of us. Is he even an enemy at all?
Allow me to explain. I went home to small town nowhere for the Fourth of July this summer. I went to a party that was hosted by some people that I knew from my youth. Inadvertantly, I encountered many members of the legal community at this function. Some already lawyers, some would-be lawyers from various schools.
Several minutes later, I realized these pillars of society were high as a kite. Since my stance on life in general can best be summed as “Hugs not Drugs,” I quickly left the function.
Saddened and disgusted with state of things, I began to ponder… well, if this is what is really going on, what do we stand to lose by legalizing the illegal?
Then the tiny little angel on my left shoulder said loudly and clearly, “no!”
Under no circumstances will you compromise your ideals for the sake of convenience.
This may be the most valuable battle that is fought. I won’t be content knowing that illegal drugs will be legally and readily available to the masses - educators, drivers, doctors, fireman, and the like - you get the drift.
The effects of illegal drugs on the body is taboo for the most part. I know of no studies to name where patients are given low to high doses of crack cocaine or heroine in an attempt to nail down the effects on the body.
What are the long-term effects on the individual? What are the effects on the individuals offspring? Who knows? I’m not willing to find out.
Some say…If you can’t beat them, join them - or in this case joint them.
But not me.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
drugs hurt people.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Drugs don’t hurt people; people hurt themselves.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I agree with both of you. But who hurts crack-babies?
March 9th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Their parents. But children are hurt by parents foolish decisions on a daily basis. It isn’t the role of the State to play parent. It has a lousy track record in doing so.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Good point.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:11 am
drugs sill hurt people.