Are We Winning the War on (Some) Drugs?

[Galaxy]

Saturday, June 06, 2009
Are We Winning the War on (Some) Drugs?

A trillion dollars in 39 years. Has it been worth it?Drugs like marijuana: the no-brainer!

In 2008 the criminal justice system processed some 845,000 criminal cases for marijuana, about 90% for possession with intent to smoke. How many hours does that represent and what other crimes received less attention?

It isn't like all violent crime is under control, or that we have all the money in the world to incarcerate non-violent folks.

Consider the other costs.

â??Wait! We are not done. These 845,000 MJ cases go to the lab that must show that the green stuff really is pot. Labs around the country are over-loaded with drug cases. Since drugs are the most important, guess what cases are not being processed? Rape kits & their DNA. According to National Public Radio and unrefuted, 400,000 rape kits some years old have never been opened. Rapists are running loose as labs process Willieâ??s last possession with intent to smoke bust. Reduction in Public Safety!

So tell me again why it is so important to keep waging this losing war?

So what is this all about, really?

[dejayou30]

The war on drugs comes down to money. The government wastes a lot fighting it, but the money that corporations would lose if they stopped fighting it would be even greater than what we spend, so its all basically just corporate/personal interest. Drug offenders fuel the prison industrial complex, I can't remember the percentage but its a lot. That, and the fact that if cannabis was legalized, Big Pharma would take a huge hit as it treats many symptoms much better and its 100% naturally occuring, meaning you won't have to shell out $300 a week for cancer meds any more when you can grow them in your back yard.

Basically, too many corporations (Pharma, Alcohol, textiles and oil from hemp, etc.) that have their hands in everything our government does stand to lose far too much money to have a rational fact based approach to marijuana. Until then we just have to keep educating the common man and encouraging them to vote pro-legalization, as well as setting a good example for cannabis users as hard working, tax paying, every day citizens like everyone else rather than the criminals we are portrayed as by the powers that be. We just need to keep reminding people that ultimately, the power is in our hands, not the corporations. Too many people have forgotten this, and I believe if we don't start acting now, we will end up at the point of no return where we really have no power.

Just my .02