The war on drugs is a war on you. It's also a war on minorities, on education, on everything. Whether or not you are an illegal drug user or not, your life is affected by the campaign of drug prohibition started in the early part of the 1900's but really ramped up under Nixon, Reagan, and Bush.
Yesterday, an international panel including Kofi Annan, Paul Volcker, and Richard Branson, came to the sharp conclusion that all too many of us have been saying for a long time: the war on drugs is a complete and utter failure and waste.
They advocated, among other things, for the following:
• End the criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs but who do no harm to others.
• Encourage experimentation by governments with models of legal regulation of drugs (especially cannabis) to undermine the power of organized crime and safeguard the health and security of their citizens.
• Ensure that a variety of treatment modalities are available – including not just methadone and buprenorphine treatment but also the heroin-assisted treatment programs that have proven successful in many European countries and Canada.
• Apply human rights and harm reduction principles and policies both to people who use drugs as well as those involved in the lower ends of illegal drug markets such as farmers, couriers and petty sellers.
While obviously this report focused on the international aspects of ending the war on drugs to a certain extent, I think it's important to note the hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens arrested yearly for non-violent drug offenses. It's important to note the over 200,000 students that have been denied financial aid in the country because of a past non-violent drug conviction (something not done to murderers or rapists...)
In response to this damning report, the people who have been spending most their lives perpetuating this drug war- including Obama's appointees-, continued their lies and defense of a policy that is not working. Despite the fact that our harsh policies have not decreased drug use to levels lower than countries in which policies are more health-oriented, the U.S. drug czar's office continued their rhetoric, calling the report "misguided".
The war on drugs cannot be won. Help reach the 750,000 signature mark and keep the momentum to establish a sane drug policy going!
This issue is one, if framed correctly, that is not a liberal or conservative issue. This is an issue of human rights- that true conservatives as well as true liberals can get behind.
End the war on drugs!
P.S. If anyone wants to really contribute to ending the war on drugs, check out a group I am involved in at the University of Maryland, Students for Sensible Drug Policy. A group run by students that really has made a difference on school campuses around the country. When you are a group with a board of directors that is 3/4 cash-strapped students, donations really go a long way. If anyone could pitch in a few dollars to help their powerful and effective organization, it would be incredibly appreciated!