The War on Drugs is Really the War on Marijuana

"WAR ON THE REPUBLICANS"

The Republican Administration for many years has instilled fear in many Americans on various issues. By instilling fear, the Republicans can capitalize on local and federal elections by expecting low voter turn out for liberals, high voter turnout for conservatives. Healthcare, the Economy, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Law and Order, the War on Crime and of course, the War on Drugs are some of the issues Republican candidates focus on to divert attention away from the source of the problem. Propaganda flows freely out of the mouths of Republicans. Rarely does the truth. But is the "War on Drugs" really what it says it is? Or is it really a "War on Marijuana"? Is the Prohibition of Marijuana helping or hurting us? The "War On Drugs" is a big corporate business that drains and swallows taxpayer money at alarming rates in the hopes of combating the "War On Crime". Now is the time to turn the tide and declare "War on the Republicans". This Position paper is the first in a series of issues to be addressed.

Position Paper #1

The Legalization and Regulation of Marijuana

The current administration, expands the federal role in crime policy by adding the drug problem to the list of crimes to be addressed. "If the administration wanted to deploy a "strong federal law enforcement capacity" in a "highly popular" manner, recommended Attorney General William French Smith, "a federal war on drugs would fit the bill." (Race to Incarcerate) With a federal War On Drugs mindset, Elected Officials are able to intimidate the public by sending conservative moral messages despite the lack of documented research that might prove otherwise.

Over 40% of adults in the United States of America report having used marijuana. In 2005, over 60% have consumed alcohol.

In 1920, policy makers experimented and drafted a policy to reduce crime, corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, by prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcohol. The results of that experiment clearly indicate that it was a miserable failure on all counts. During Prohibition, alcohol became more dangerous to consume; crime increased and became "organized"; the court and prison systems were stretched, politicians became more corrupt. Prohibition reduced tax revenue and increased government spending. It led many drinkers to switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances that they would have been unlikely to encounter in the absence of Prohibition. Prohibition for alcohol only lasted 13 years.

Prohibiting the sale of marijuana runs the same risks as alcohol prohibition. It too reduces revenue and increases expenses. Research studies have analyzed and indicated that the primary focus on the "War on Drugs" has shifted to the "War on Marijuana". Since 1990, 82% of the increase in drug arrests nationally was for marijuana offenses. 88% were for possession. In research conducted by Ryan S. King and Marc Mauer, they conclude that law enforcement resources are "not being effectively allocated to offenses which are mostly costly to society. The financial and personnel investment in marijuana offenses, at all points in the criminal justice system, diverts funds away from other crime types, thereby representing a questionable policy choice." (Harm Reduction Journal) This explains why there is a lack funding for programs such as rehabilitation or prevention.

Prison expansion takes a large portion of tax money. As prisons swell with non-violent offenders, or persons who have been charged with possession of marijuana, more tax money is diverted to build new prisons. Building new prisons, boosts the economy, so say the Republican Scare Tactic messengers. But what they do not tell you is how the Prison economy contributes to political campaigns. In Tennessee, a private prison company, The US Corrections Corporation was one of the biggest contributors to a political campaign. "From 1987 to 1993, U.S. Corrections executives and their families gave more than $77,000 to various political campaigns in the state, Most of it to candidates for governor. (Going Up the River)

As much as Prohibition was a failure for alcohol, so is prohibition for marijuana and it appears it will continue to be a problem for some time to come. . Marijuana arrests now constitute nearly half of the 1.5 million drug arrests annually. Very few are for serious offending. Our police departments concentrate arresting individuals for marijuana possession and use. "Law enforcement has focused disproportionately on -low-level possession charges as a result of the nation's lack of a thoughtful strategy about how best to address the consequences of marijuana use." (Harm Reduction Journal)

To combat the scare tactics deployed by the Republican Party, it is now time for the American People to declare a War on Republicans by not feeding into the intimidation factors, and come together, develop a strategy how to lift the Prohibition of marijuana so we can start redirecting funding to programs in need, instead of draining our resources.

Sources: Harm Reduction Journal - Ryan S. King and Marc Mauer

Race To Incarcerate - Marc Mauer - The Sentencing Project

Prison Nation - Joseph T. Hallinan