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.
