Spring Break
Why the War on Drugs Has Failed Us
Paul Yacoubian and Kevin Kifer
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Opinion
In the Drug War, addiction should be enemy number one. Yes, some drugs are addictive and can really mess you up, i.e. heroin, meth, cocaine, etc. However, the most popularly addictive drugs are food, prescription medications, alcohol and these illegal substances to a lesser extent. Surprisingly, marijuana is not addictive and the jury is not still out on that one.
The only thing harmful about marijuana is the stigma associated with its persecution. While thirty million Americans enjoy the benefits of using marijuana per year, roughly 700,000 of these people do not enjoy being arrested for it annually. In a land of freedom and opportunity, regulating marijuana use is like regulating taco eating. In fact obesity is the second highest cause of death behind tobacco smoking. Let's keep in mind that tobacco smoking is addictive and harmful like alcohol and cocaine, but unlike marijuana, which is not. In fact, last year in the United States, zero people overdosed on marijuana.
My contention is that without the continued opposition by those who profit from its illegality, i.e. police officers, prison guards, judges, lawyers, bail bondsmen, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, the CIA (who needs the smuggling revenues to support known terrorist organizations), etc, the cannabis plant would be legal and people could enjoy its usage without the fears of imposing government intervention.
Positive benefits of marijuana include the ability to treat chronic pain associated with deadly diseases, such as cancer, as well as depression. Many depressed people are forced to resort to prescription drugs such as, Effexor, which becomes addictive as the people eventually only receive the benefits of not having withdrawal once they stop taking the drug. While the case to legalize marijuana usage is obviously valid and will ultimately prevail, many people still have reservations about legalizing harder drugs.
Without question, most Americans want to see chemical dependency rates fall, whether this includes tobacco use, binge-eating, alcoholism, prescription drug addiction or illegal drug addiction. Solving this problem should be the focus and goal of any intervention efforts by our government. When Rush Limbaugh's prescription drug addiction was exposed, there was no outcry to send him to prison for his violating the law, instead people flocked to him in support and offered to send him to get the necessary rehabilitation. Rehabilitation should be the focus of governmental efforts as well as drug education that exposes Americans to the real effects of drug use.
The only thing harmful about marijuana is the stigma associated with its persecution. While thirty million Americans enjoy the benefits of using marijuana per year, roughly 700,000 of these people do not enjoy being arrested for it annually. In a land of freedom and opportunity, regulating marijuana use is like regulating taco eating. In fact obesity is the second highest cause of death behind tobacco smoking. Let's keep in mind that tobacco smoking is addictive and harmful like alcohol and cocaine, but unlike marijuana, which is not. In fact, last year in the United States, zero people overdosed on marijuana.
My contention is that without the continued opposition by those who profit from its illegality, i.e. police officers, prison guards, judges, lawyers, bail bondsmen, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, the CIA (who needs the smuggling revenues to support known terrorist organizations), etc, the cannabis plant would be legal and people could enjoy its usage without the fears of imposing government intervention.
Positive benefits of marijuana include the ability to treat chronic pain associated with deadly diseases, such as cancer, as well as depression. Many depressed people are forced to resort to prescription drugs such as, Effexor, which becomes addictive as the people eventually only receive the benefits of not having withdrawal once they stop taking the drug. While the case to legalize marijuana usage is obviously valid and will ultimately prevail, many people still have reservations about legalizing harder drugs.
Without question, most Americans want to see chemical dependency rates fall, whether this includes tobacco use, binge-eating, alcoholism, prescription drug addiction or illegal drug addiction. Solving this problem should be the focus and goal of any intervention efforts by our government. When Rush Limbaugh's prescription drug addiction was exposed, there was no outcry to send him to prison for his violating the law, instead people flocked to him in support and offered to send him to get the necessary rehabilitation. Rehabilitation should be the focus of governmental efforts as well as drug education that exposes Americans to the real effects of drug use.
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