Is There A War On Drugs?

The drug war is an all out war between drug cartels, and the governments of the usa and mexico. It has been going for more than 40 year, but it has been a things since the nineteenth century since drug was trafficked from one place to another. In the 1960s drug was a common thing in usa whether legal or not it was a for form symbol for many from rebellion toward the government, social upheaval and even political dissent until the 1971s when it became a bit harder to obtain the drug because of the many laws that came when nixon became president.

The American “War on Drugs” war created to keep an exorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has increased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. While being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are having a difficult time trying to be productive members of society.

In the past forty years, the United States has spent over $2.5 trillion dollars funding enforcement and prevention in the fight against drug use in America (Suddath). Despite the efforts made towards cracking down on drug smugglers, growers, and suppliers, statistics show that addiction rates have remained unchanged and the number of people using illegal drugs is increasing daily (Sledge). Regardless of attempts to stem the supply of drugs, the measure and quality of drugs goes up while the price goes down (Koebler). Now with the world’s highest incarceration rates and greatest illegal drug consumption (Sledge), the United States proves that the “war on drugs” is a war that is not being won.

The drug war is an all out war between drug cartels the usa and mexico it has been going for more than 40 year, but it has been a things since the nineteenth century since drug was trafficked from one place to another. In the 1960s drug was a common thing in usa whether legal or not it was a for form symbol for many from rebellion toward the government, social upheaval and even political dissent until the 1971s when it became a bit harder to obtain the drug because of the many laws that came when nixon became president.

Harsh, cruel, and unusual is an understatement to the punishments given to drug dealers for their drug related offenses. Mandatory minimum drug sentencing was arguably established to target higher level drug dealers but recently the majority of cases have been low level drug dealers. Distributing narcotics is a serious offense, but do these people who are trying to support themselves, a family, or an addiction deserve to spend close to a lifetime incarcerated?

As many African-Americans were rejoicing their long and strenuous journey, a new plan was afoot for them: the war on drugs. The war on drugs is unequivocally the biggest and most durable war this country has ever fought against its own citizens. Like any other wars the United-States has engaged in, the war on drugs is remarkably different; it was fought internally, and intended to target a specific group, people of color. Their communities, houses and churches were flooded with law enforcements, constantly checking for illegal possession of drugs. They were branded criminals and were continuously being thrown in jails or prisons, with harsh and lengthy sentences imposed on them. And once they were released, many are saddled with huge debts

The United States government has been wasting millions of dollars each year on a worthless war that cannot be won. This war is explained in detail by author Art Caden in their essay “Let’s Be Blunt” about the United State war on drugs. The war on drugs began in 1971 under the order of President Richard Nixon, and it was one of the worst decisions he ever made. It has been nothing but a waste of government funding, time, and manpower that can only be described as a dismal failure and should be repealed or at the very least medical marijuana should be made legal.

Beginning in the nineteenth century, spanning to the present day, US history has witnessed a plethora of changes both socially as well as racially. These racial and social changes were the results of moral panics centered around marijuana as well as eugenics.

The war on drugs was and is racist for several reasons. It was used to jail African Americans and hippies in the early 1970’s, keep more people of color in jail for, and to deport immigrants. In June 1971 President Nixon declared the war on drugs to jail those who would vote against him. Two small but loud groups, hippies and African Americans and hippies were against Nixon. At the time these two groups were stereotyped as heavy marijuana users. After Nixon, jail sentences were then lengthened for possession of marijuana to unreasonable and illogical lengths. Then during the 1990’s, when Bill Clinton was president, the number of policemen was dramatically raised. The number was raised so much that there was not enough money for sufficient training

On June 17th, 1971, President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse to be “America’s Public Enemy #1” in a press conference in which he called for an “all out offensive” against this enemy, an initiative that would later be known as America’s War on Drugs. By giving this speech, thus starting “The War on Drugs,” President Nixon created what would eventually become one of the most catastrophic failures in United States political history. Analysis of the historical events surrounding Nixon’s declaration reveal ulterior motives behind the initiative, providing context to the reasons for its failure, which were based short term in its moral failure, and long term in its failure of efficiency and results. The War on Drugs has lasted for generations and continues to be responsible for policies that criminalize non-violent drug offenders at the expense of taxpayers, contributing to a devastating mass incarceration dilemma in the United States that perpetuates a disproportionate marginalization of low-class, particularly African American citizens.

The drug war in America has shaped our society into what we know it as today, the war has so far been a failure where hundreds of millions of dollars, workforce, and policies have only served to maintain the same rates of usage as those in the 1970’s. When the drugs hit America, they hit hard. Overwhelmed by drugs showing up in almost every town, America decided to declare war.

The war on drugs was started by President Nixon back in the 1970’s is still ongoing this day. The drug war the United States is fighting is against the The Zetas, Sinaloa Cartel, Juarez Cartel and many others. The drug war is primarily focused on the people and not the actual drug itself. The drug war will never end at the rate it is currently going because the ones that are being targeted are the poor and not the main money makers. (White, 2007)This war on drugs is very involved and does not only focus on the drug lords but focuses on the supporters. It also focuses on the users and the American prison system to include corrupt law enforcement and correctional facility employees and money.

The War on Drugs had its official start during the Nixon administration when the president declared that drug abuse was now “public enemy number one.” Since then, over one trillion dollars have been spent on various programs to combat drug abuse. Ultimately, however, the War on Drugs did not limit national daily drug use. Instead, the War on Drugs had a greater impact on the United States’ justice, education, and healthcare systems than it did to limit citizen drug use.

Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, because marijuana is the most widely used drug and it is usually the first drug that is encountered by people. Most drug users though, start usually before the legal age with alcohol and nicotine before they use marijuana. In the National Survey of Drug Abuse in 1997, the average age of people who first started to use marijuana was 17.2 years old, average age of people who first started to use alcohol was 16.1 years old, and the average age for people who first started to use cigarettes was 15.4 years old. I have talked to many people who have smoked marijuana for awhile now, and none of them have had the urge to try harder drugs. “While marijuana use-rates have increased in the Netherlands, cocaine use-rates have not - indicating that separation of the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ drug markets has prevented a ‘gateway effect’ from developing. In 1992, about 1.5% of 12 to 18 year-olds had ever tried cocaine and only .3% had used it in the past month” (Key Data: Smoking, Drinking, Drug Use and Gambling Among Pupils Aged 10 Years and Older). Netherlands is where marijuana is legal and can be purchased and smoked in government regulated coffee shops.

Marijuana is also considered a ‘gateway drug’. This title given to the substance means it is only the beginning of an addiction to many other ‘hard’ drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin. Teens that smoke marijuana are 85 times more likely to continue their abuse to cocaine . The addiction marijuana entails is very difficult to overcome. Addicts cannot seem to stop abusing the drug, even if they wish . The potency of marijuana is continuously increasing, causing the addictions to be more and more severe. This increase has brought many new rehabilitation programs to hospitals and clinics. The body takes physical tolls as the abuser becomes more and more accustomed to its effects. Wanting and craving additional ‘hits’, the amount smoked becomes essential as their bodies act as if it were an essential part of life. Breaking away from that perceived necessity is the most difficult part of recovery abusers need. Legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of people going through withdrawals and consuming their lives with this substance. Rehabilitation centers will be overflowing from the addictions it will cause.