Daily Doses: American Drug War

                        The American Drug War was an initiative to combat the “illegal” drug market and use in America. The war on drugs listed natural and unnatural drugs as being illegal (natural being weeds and mushrooms and unnatural being cocaine and meth). Addiction is something that is taken out of moderation and abused. It is also defined as “continued involvement with a substance or activity despite its ongoing negative consequences”. Many people use drugs as a way to “get away” from their natural world and its conditions, which are usually harsh and unappealing. Addictive drugs are usually mind altering and produce some type of temporary euphoria.

            The people caught for such drug use are usually impoverished minorities, although wealthy and influential people do use drugs too. Drug use is rampant in impoverished communities, especially African American ones. This is probably on part of the negative social conditions in such communities as well as them being major targets of investigation. A part of the agenda on the “War on Drugs” is to remove drug users and sellers off the streets by imprisonment. I feel this is not a productive way to combat the problem. It seems the people behind this initiative cannot come up with better ideas other than to imprison people, which really does not address the addictions or the social problems that cause the addictions.

            I do believe that America does allow or does not thoroughly investigate the shipment of illegal drugs into the country. The standing conspiracy theory is that the American government has made pacts with foreign drug lords (who happen to be in foreign governmental power) and has and continues to profit. Instead of helping the weak and oppressed drug addicted people, the government better profits off of seizing drug money from lower dealers and prison labor. The people who are “higher up” still make their profits regardless, even if dealers are caught (who are obviously expendable).

            If drugs were legalized, there would be noticeable changes. First off, the money makers would have a cut on revenue. If natural drugs were controlled by government and dispensed and taxed, the government would still make money, but private dealers would cease to exist (unless they dramatically cut the cost of drugs down). This might cut drug related crime down a bit. The big bosses who cultivate and grow the drugs would see a price cut in their makings. People’s attitudes on drugs may even change, with more rehab programs available to wean off addicts on their particular addiction at clinics, much similar to how they do it in Amsterdam. Most likely, natural drugs (that are in plant form like weed and mushrooms) would be used more frequently than chemicals and narcotics. Weed most likely would replace hardcore prescription pain killers and hallucinogens, with better treatment affects. The prescription drug companies might even go bankrupt or contribute in the dispensing of weed.  In all, I think the best way to combat the drug problem is to make it a low profitable market, or even non profitable, like some subsidized prescription drugs.  

            For this reason I believe that natural drugs should be legalized and monitored, because they do have positive health effects and are not as detrimental as chemical drugs. I also think that instead of imprisoning people for drug use, the government should invest in clinics to help people get off, making it mandatory participation. The American government should promote to the public that any and all drugs should be used primarily for medicinal purposes, and that addiction can lead to unproductivity. Of course using them in moderation, like alcohol moderation, is not necessarily a negative thing but can help ease the mind and body.