This is a plea to stop the madness. The "Drug War" so beloved of politicians and cops and all of those who wish to exert control over the behavior of others is in reality a war against ourselves, perpetrated by ourselves and the only casualties are ourselves.
We have taken a public health issue and turned it into a moral crusade. We pack our courts and jails with people whose only crime is looking for a little escape from reality while we set violent criminals free. We deny substances with medicinal value to sick people because we have attached a moral value to their use. We watch in horror as children and old people and other innocent bystanders are killed in drug shootouts. We complain bitterly about the Escobars and Gachas and Noriegas who make billions in the drug trade, yet "we" created them. We weep and wail and ask how to end the slaughter while ignoring the most practical solution.
The only way to stop the drug violence is to end the "drug war", to admit once and for all that it's totally illogical and counterproductive. Consider if you will just what the drug war really is.
Someone decides that a group of chemicals, some natural, some refined natural substances, some synthetic, are offensive to their moral sense because they can be used to escape reality and may have addictive properties. This person enlists the aid of political power and has a law passed prohibiting the use and possession of these substances.
Laws need penalties for breaking them so a punishment system is added.
Consumers still want the substances so they seek ways of obtaining or producing them outside the law.
Some folks, perhaps more unscrupulous than others, go into the business of providing a supply to fit the demand.
The original moralist is outraged and demands that law enforcement halt the trade.
Law enforcement pleads that they have insufficient resources to stop the traffic.
The moralist goes to his friendly politician who happily appropriates some money.
The cops increase enforcement.
The dealers, seeing their business jeopardized, raise prices to cover the increased risk and to obtain increased protection.
The consumer has to pay more for his high and starts to divert money from the necessities of life.
The moralist, livid at the thought that his pet project might fail presents petitions or makes phone calls or threatens more direct action.
The police complain that they have run out of money.
The politicians appropriate more cash for law enforcement.
The police escalate their efforts.
The price goes up as the dealers have to purchase more protection.
Abusers become more desperate and begin to commit crimes to obtain money to purchase the desired substance.
The immense profits lead to violence as dealers seek to protect their turf and intimidate their competition.
Dealers see higher profit in increasing the demand so they "push" drugs to those who wouldn't otherwise use them.
The judicial system becomes overloaded with drug cases.
Ordinary people start winding up in jail.
The moralist and his band of zealots scream about the increasing problem.
The politicians supply more money to the cops.
The violence increases as dealers spend huge sums to match or exceed police firepower.
Politicians take over the role of the moralist and formulate grandiose, expensive and mostly unrealistic plans.
More money flows to law enforcement.
More citizens are jailed.
More and better weapons are purchased by the dealers.
More violent deaths occur.
Citizens demand action.
And on and on and on.
This is the drug war. It's a war we can't win because we're chasing our tails in an ever increasing spiral of profit and violence and moralizing.
Who benefits from the current drug situation?
1. Politicians who find drugs a wonderful campaign issue as well as a vehicle for the pork they love so much.
2. Religious groups