I believe that non-violent drug offenders in this country should be decriminalized and released from jails and prisons immediately. Along with my mentor, the late William F. Buckley, Jr., I believe that the so-called 'war on drugs' has been a failure and has actually fueled the crime associated with drug war lords in countries to our south.
The decriminalization of non-violent drug offenders would open up approximately 60% of prison space, which would save tax dollars and negate the need for building more prisons. All of that extra space would be more than enough to house the truly dangerous criminals on our streets.
If a person is an addict and wants help, then that help should come in the form of rehab programs and half-way houses, not prison. If one is an addict and does not want help, then who are we to force it upon them?
The 'patients' bill of rights' states that any citizen has the right to refuse care. This should extend to addicts.
Does this mean that I support the use of what are currently termed 'illegal drugs'? Not at all. Most of these drugs are dangerous in the hands of anyone except trained professionals. I don't use them and never have--not even pot.
And I fully understand the mindset of those who originally implemented the 'war on drugs' back in the late 70s and early 80s. President Ronald Reagan was one of its biggest proponents. We had all seen the devastating effects of these substances on the human body and mind. We thought we could curb it by passing strict laws and throwing users and pushers in jail.
We were wrong.
The war on drugs did not work and it appears to be a major waste of tax dollars and manpower. Surely we can use this money more wisely.
By decriminalizing non-violent drug offenders and making simple possession a non-issue, we can immediately put the crunch on the vast drug underground, defanging the pushers, the drug cartels, and the drug war lords.
No, this would not solve all of the problems involving drugs, just as repealing Prohibition did not solve all of the problems associated with alcohol. But it would be a start.
And it would be a big step toward teaching society a big lesson about various government prohibitions--if government oppresses the citizens by outlawing activity a large portion of the population is going to do anyway, regardless of laws, then the citizens will merely take their activity underground.
This is what happened with alcohol under Prohibition. This is what is happening with drugs. And this is what will happen if government ever makes the fateful error of outlawing guns.
For more commentary on a variety of issues, please visit my blog, updated daily, at The Liberty Sphere.
Comments
Great topic. I have to reply with I agree... BUT.
The libertarian ideal of independent, responsible citizens is the goal, but in our modern socialist state, people are protected from the consequences of their actions. Those who engage in potentially self destructive behavior have their 'treatment' and medical care paid for at the expense of those who have been more careful with their choices. Until such time as that changes, there is actually a financial interest in preventing and regulating such behavior. I don't like it, but changes must happen on both sides of the equation before I think it would be just to permit unfettered legal access to drugs.
Just my two cents worth.
The Rev
Well, the way that I read it was the very same way that I did when I wrote a term paper for a Political Economics course. Take away the incentive, the cash, and the associated crime will all but go away.
As for the personal destruction that we have heard about from "Refer Madness" to anecdotal commentary nearly every day? I spent more than twenty years on an Ambulance, and I saw precisely two overdose deaths. However, I just stopped counting the deaths, maimings etc. that were a direct result of the Drug War.
It has never worked and we need to dump it. (The Drug War.) Treat them like alcohol in a legal sense. If someone is to stupid enough to use that stuff then let them go the way that they wish too so long as they do no harm to anyone else.
Do not forget another element of "By decriminalizing non-violent drug offenders and making simple possession a non-issue, we can immediately put the crunch on the vast drug underground, defanging the pushers, the drug cartels, and the drug war lords."
This list would also contain - the CIA, DEA, DHS, FDA, AMA, and about a billion other government agencies and programs. This i what boils me most about the battles we face for liberty, it all comes down to money and their impose "legalized" theft. I agree with Rev. that many changes would need to be implimented. The war on drugs, like the war on guns, and the war on poverty may not be overtly fought as a class and race war, but that it is. Until "we" learn to stop restricting others, we will continue to be constricted until death.
Jason
III
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