Does the “war on drugs” create more problems than it solves?

Question

Do you think the War on Drugs and the prohibition & criminalization of safer recreational drugs create a market for cheap and extremely dangerous drugs like Meth, Crack, Ketamine and Ecstasy?

Hil E - I hardly see how the Opium Wars are relevant.

I mean that by criminilizing drugs like cocaine and heroin we make them more expensive and more profitable. That creates a market for drugs that are easier and more cost effective to produce and sell, like Crack, and Meth.

John k- You're right that they lead to addiction, but that doesn't mean they have to lead to crime too. By safer/recreational I mean Marijana, alcohol, tobacco, perhaps even cocaine and heroin under strict pharmeceutical controls (to eliminate over dosage which is a minimal problem with these drugs anyway- similar to the over dosage rate of alcohol). The tax on these sales alone would pay for the addiction treatment, similar to the way the tax on tobacco is working to decrease smoking. At least it is in my state NY. I guess what I'm saying is, a cocaine addict is better than a Crack or meth addict any day.

Answer 1

Yes, I think it does, but most people find it counter-intuitive.

It is not drugs themselves that cause so much crime, it's the illegality of drugs. If people that would take drugs, can't obtain drugs through legal means, they will just get them elsewhere, more than likely from violent gangs.

Everyone that paid attention in school knows the same thing happened when alcohol was prohibited and gangs took over the market, but obviously most of our politicians are slow learners. The price of these drugs is kept artificially high, making it a lucrative product to sell, and you can't imagine who really sells this junk.

Mike Gravel and Ron Paul are two presidential candidates that "get it".

Answer 2

Yes. The War has created many horrible problems. More than 2 million people in this country are in jail--many for drug offenses. We should follow the lead of Holland and de-criminalize soft drugs, while offering more treatment and harsher penalties for hard drugs. Jimmy Carter wanted to do this, but was nearly lynched by the drug companies, police and FBI.

Answer 3

Yes.

Of course all the country needs is cheap (free maybe) drugs to weed out all the weak links.

What you did not mean that? Well what exactly did you mean. Just some drugs legal? Just your drugs?

Try reading about China and the Opium trade in the 18th and 19th century and tell me you want to end the "war" on drugs.

H. Evers

Answer 4

If ones love is authentic , it solves many issues. One gets a objective to stay for , some physique to share the emotions and to preserve. in assessment to the useful factors , the subject concerns created by utilising love are negligible and can be tackled relatively.

Answer 5

What is a "recreational" drug. Is that like "experimenting" with sex. A drug is a drug. All lead down the same path.

Answer 6

It turns otherwise law abiding people into crimminals.
It should be handled as a medical problem instead of being crimminalized.

Answer 7

Of course ...

Chemical addiction and drug dependency are social issues ... we criminalize them

Answer 8

Make it legal and release drug criminals?....I don't know for sure, but I bet the tax revenue/tax savings could be enormous.

Answer 9

Well, we now have a President who's a (recovering?) cocaine addict, so you tell me.

Answer 10

Certainly - since it creates many problems, while solving none...