U.S. government wastes money on ineffective drug policies
The “War on Drugs,” initiated by Richard Nixon in the 1970s and supported by Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush in the 1980s, has failed to achieve any of the lofty and idealized goals it strived toward. As time passes, it becomes more apparent to the public that the drug war has failed. Many politicians, however, still support policies that have failed to reach the goals they had set for themselves. Our nation’s government has cost American taxpayers, criminalized people who recreationally use drugs, filled up prisons for senseless “crimes” and increased violence and the number of gangs with its prohibition-style drug policies. It is time to end the War on Drugs. While the War on Drugs strives to eliminate and deter the use of all drugs, the primary focus of this campaign with the aid of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has focused on marijuana to a greater degree than more harmful drugs. As of 2009, total marijuana arrests account for 52.6 percent of total drug arrests. This is an astonishing number seeing that marijuana is considered by many to be a relatively safe drug.
The U.S. government has long led the charge to curtail the use of drugs by demonizing many drugs through propaganda campaigns. Decreasing or eliminating funding for these campaigns could reduce the overall budget and could lower the use of drugs nationwide.
The War on Drugs has not reduced or deterred people from getting or using drugs. Some may even say drug use has increased as a result of the U.S. government’s continued support of a failed campaign that has subjected citizens and taxpayers alike to many negative consequences. We must take a strong look at this failed war, soberly show humility, accept our failure and end the drug war that costs our society too much.
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