Non-violent drug offenders should be decriminalized

May 12, 12:55 AMColumbia Conservative ExaminerAnthony G. Martin

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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.