In one of my classes at college I had to write a research paper and choose the drug war, I don’t use drugs I have asthma and ADD, which is enough. However I found the fact that own current system allows a persons entire life to entire be completely turn upside-down or ruined by our current system bothered me.
Abstract
This research paper explains and presents the positive benefits of ending the current war of drugs in the United states via medical, social and judicial data. The medical material consists of information on the physical and psychological effects of the medical marijuana on patients and mentions the current opioid crisis. The societal material consists of information on the public drug war opinion among American citizens, the job creating plus economic benefits and ways parents and schools can properly educate minors on the difficult subject. The judicial material consists of information on the current punishments for drug possession, the police activity known as civil asset forfeiture, and the effects of the arrests on the lives of citizens once paroled. There is a paragraph explaining the war on drugs origin back in the 1970’s. The informative and quotes sources consist of articles from large news outlets such as CNN and PBS articles as well as information from science and drug-use blogs.
Benefits of ending the war on drugs
Who’s ever been stressed? Who’s ever had persistent pain? Who has ever been bored and just needed to kill a few hours? Well, the solution to all of those problems is the legalization of certain drugs, via ending the drug war. Drugs, it is not just a prop used by musicians to look edgy or television/movies to imply risky or wild behavior. Drugs, especially marijuana, are plant-based substances with multiple properties for recovery and recreation that should be made legal in this country by ending the war on drugs. From medical research, societal opinions, to the justice systems actions, the war on drugs is something that needs to be stopped and left in the pages of history
Literature Review
One drug outlawed in many places due to the drug war is marijuana, despite the multiple medical uses. Medications made from cannabis extract have demonstrated the ability to relieve and suppress pain. Medical marijuana alone has been proven effective against neuropathic pain, appetite loss in HIV/Aids patients and nausea/vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Medical marijuana can be used when conventional treatment does not affect the patient symptoms. (Deutsches Aerzteblatt International, 2012) “Over 100 controlled trials of the effects of cannabinoids in various indications have been carried out since 1975. The positive results have led to official licensing of cannabis-based medications in many countries. In Germany, a cannabis extract was approved in 2011 for treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis” (1). Despite rumors that medical marijuana is a gateway to harder drugs, it has been proven better at solving muscle spasms than the physically and psychologically addictive pharmaceuticals and opioids which have been proven to lead to more dangerous drug use.
Cannabis is a depressant, usually, and can be used by soldiers and people with mental disabilities to treat insomnia, anxiety, migraines, depression and bipolar disorder (Jay Smoker, 2011) “When paired with a good psychiatrist, with an accredited psychology degree, medical marijuana is a very effective and natural remedy” (2). Insomnia; a pot brownie with a glass of warm milk can be a desirable alternative to habit-forming drugs such as Xanax. Many users report sleeping through the night with pleasant dreams and feeling clear-minded and relaxed when they woke. Migraines; these horrible headaches are caused by an overload of neural stimulation. Medical marijuana has also relieved other migraine symptoms such as nausea and light-sensitivity. Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorder; While weed has been known to cause mild anxiety, most people experience a slowing down of thought processes which helps break up some of the troubling cyclical thought patterns. These feelings along with the mood-elevating effects are the return to sanity that sufferers of these metal disorders desire.
People say that all drugs are dangerous, people will get hooked just from being in the same room as them and overdose on the first use. Now with some drugs, this is true, Second-Hand cigarette smoke is toxic, and bath salts wreck people. Although, not all drugs are created equally. Researchers with knowledge on the subject have stated (DEA brief Judge Francis Young, 1988) “It is estimated that marijuana’s [median lethal dose] is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In layman terms, this means that in order to induce death a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette” (3). For a better visual aid, someone would have to smoke around two mattresses of cannabis in 15 minutes to overdose from Marijuana. So, unless a bunch of YouTubers try to make that the next stupid challenge everything should be fine. Cocaine has been said by users to increase concentration, confidence, and creativity. These are just some of the effects of some currently illegal drugs. Fortunately, this information has become pretty well known to the public.
The American People over the years have been becoming more and more aware of the effects and realities of drugs and want them legalized. (Tony Newman, 2014) “Two Out of Three (around 67%) Americans Think People Shouldn’t Be Prosecuted for Possession of Drugs Such as Cocaine and Heroin; 63% Support Moving Away from Mandatory Minimums; 54% Support Marijuana Legalization” (4). The economic benefits of legalizing, taxing and regulating drugs have been shown in the economy of states where drugs are legal. Most drugs originate from plants, if drugs laws were altered so they could be sold in stores, it would create multiple jobs. Farmers have to grow and maintain it, truckers and delivery services will have to transport it, stores both big and small will have to sell it, which in turn would create a lot of decent jobs.
In the 20’s and 30’s, prohibition was enforced throughout the country, though it did not work as many individuals naturally found alternative ways of obtaining alcohol and drugs. (Norm Stamper, 2011) “Prohibition did little to curb liquor consumption, particularly among young people. Moreover, as otherwise law-abiding citizens were suddenly deemed criminals, the resulting hypocrisy significantly undermined respect for authority” (5). These laws allowed the mobs and gangs of Al Capone and Charles (“Lucky”) Luciano to gain power since they were mainly the monopoly, and people would be arrested if they reported they are crimes to the authorities. Compared to the modern drug-gangs that ravage inner cities and various borders, it seems like history is repeating itself. The damage the cartels have done to Mexico alone speaks for itself ending the drug war would be a lot more useful than increasing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the stupid Border Wall.
Parents, teachers and people, in general, have always said how dangerous drugs are. And to a degree, they are right as drugs are not for children and can be addictive. However, if children are a primary source of concern then why don’t we teach them about moderation the same way we teach about alcohol, cigarettes or sex. Teachings such as “you should not have or use it until you are of a mature age and are a safe stable enviorment.” apply to drugs. Even our former president Barack Obama has said: (Christoper Ingraham, 2016) “…marijuana use should be treated as a public-health issue similar to tobacco or alcohol and called the current patchwork of state and federal laws regarding the drug untenable” (6). While drugs such as marijuana can alter, and slow brain development alcohol and cigarettes are literally made of poison, they have merely been given age restrictions. It is true most drugs such as crack and opioids are addictive especially for people with addictive personalities, but nicotine patches and alcoholism exist so why are not the substances related to them illegal? People say that drugs can make people go crazy or lose control, but the internet is filled with videos of drunk people doing crazy things. There is not much that can be said about most illegal drugs that can’t be said about legal alcohol and cigarettes.
Methodology
Even people who do not use drugs, would rather it be legal than see people they know and admire be arrested, locked up and labeled as drug offenders. The justice system’s current approach towards drugs is causing more harm than good. As previously mentioned, the parents who do not want their kids to do drugs, would rather instead discipline them at home then let the courts and police do it. According norml.org page on federal laws and Penalties “Possession of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a minimum fine of one thousand dollars for a first conviction” (7). Any good parent would agree that having their child spend six to twelve days grounded is better than six to twelve months in prison with an one thousand dollar fine. This is especially true for addicts who for some need to be helped as victims not locked away like convicts.
Many citizens, especially minors have their lives ruined when they are caught with drugs because they are often charged as low-level drug offenders, the same as actually drug dealers. A man who merely brings pot-brownies to a small get together with his friends can be charged the same as a dangerous gang leader. The former President Barack Obama was aware of the injustice and while in office did, what he could. (Jacob Sullum, 2017) “The list of Obama’s 1,715 commutations includes many other examples of nonviolent offenders who received lengthy sentences but could not reasonably be described as major dealers, let alone kingpins. National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA) wants us to pretend those people do not exist.” (8) Once released from prison many people have a terrible time finding work because despite doing their time in prison people do not wish to hire ex-criminals.
Police officers, often with minorities, use the suspicion of them being under the influence of drugs such as marijuana or cocaine to arrest people, a charge that can be made with little to no physical evidence. Moreover, if they are not arrested then they might get robbed, thanks to a particular power given to Police officers, called civil asset forfeiture. Most dictionaries define forfeiture as “loss of some right or property as a penalty for some illegal act,” and its suppose just to be used to take money from drug dealers, but it does not stop there. Current forfeiture laws allow individual officers to seize property from people suspected to be involved in drug-related activity. Once collected, that revenue is supposed to be used to strengthen law enforcement. In other words, vehicles used to transport drugs or cash can be confiscated.
However, there are two types of Forfeitures, civil and criminal, and civil asset forfeiture is often used for high-profile abuses by authorities. Criminal law, the government seizes an accused person’s property as punishment if its owner has been convicted of a crime, so that person is considered innocent until proven guilty according to the justice system. Civil law changes things up as it is not the owner being charged but the property itself which is considered “guilty” until proven innocent. The owner can only do this in a courtroom which takes time and money that not everyone has. So, if a police officer thinks a random person’s car or paycheck is somehow drug-related, they can take it, and said random person would have to go to court to get it back. Many officers are aware of this, as the PBS special report on civil asset forfeiture stated (Kyla Dunn, 2018) “Last year, almost a billion dollars’ worth of cash, cars, boats, real estate, and other property was forfeited to the federal government–most of it labeled as drug-related. Moreover, while much of this property was taken from bona fide criminals, critics of the nation’s forfeiture laws say that too many innocent people have fallen through the cracks in a system that, until recently, has been far too heavily slanted in the government’s favor.” (9) If drugs were made legal, this power would be removed or at least be weakened.
The final reason for ending the war on drugs is that the original politicians the Nixon administration that started the whole thing did not do it for health or safety reasons. The original ban on drugs was implemented by the Regan administration to target voters of the opposing political party. According to former workers in a CNN report (LoBianco, T. 2016) “ You understand what I am saying? We knew we could not make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin. Moreover, then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities,” Ehrlichman said. “We could arrest their leaders. Raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course, we did.” (10) This entire war which has cost numerous lives, tax dollars, reputations and time was all because a few politicians in the 1980s wanted to assure their election victory again democrats better. This action is the political equivalent of banning guns and alcohol to reduce voter turn out of the Republican party and unfortunately it worked.
Conclusions and Future Study
Health and Societal Scientific evidence strongly suggests the benefits of drug legalization outweigh the cons or side effects. While there are many reports about drugs that warrant legal action, many are either false or exaggerated. As more and more data is coming out on the benefits as well as the change in public opinion which while lead to political figure acting in accordance to what the people want. People must keep voting for pro-weed and anti-drug war candidates until there are enough to achieve the final goal of Drug Legalization at the Federal level. Medically, socially and political the drug war is a significant inhibitor of the American people and change in some way, or another is what the citizens of this great nation wants.
References:
APA format
1. Cannabis As Painkiller — ScienceDaily. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120807101232.htm
2. Smoker, J. (2011, August 12). Top 5 Mental Conditions Treated With Marijuana. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://www.theweedblog.com/theweedblog/culture/top-5-mental-conditions-treated-with-marijuana-lBm0srAXq0SdofZzMUskcw
3. Lamar, C. (2012, March 08). How many joints would you have to smoke to die of a marijuana overdose? Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://io9.gizmodo.com/5891425/how-many-joints-would-you-have-to-smoke-to-die-of-a-marijuana-overdose
4. Drug Policy Alliance. (2018). New Pew Poll Confirms Americans Ready to End War on Drugs. [online] Available at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/press-release/2014/04/new-pew-poll-confirms-americans-ready-end-war-drugshttp://www.drugpolicy.org/press-release/2014/04/new-pew-poll-confirms-americans-ready-end-war-drugs [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018].
5. Stamper, N. (2011, 09). Prohibition: A parallel to modern war on drugs. Seattle Times. Retrieved 03, 2018, from https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/prohibition-a-parallel-to-modern-war-on-drugs/
6. Ingraham, C. (2016, November 30). Obama says marijuana should be treated like ‘cigarettes or alcohol.’ Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/30/obama-says-marijuana-should-be-treated-like-cigarettes-or-alcohol/?utm_term=.726205df4259
7. FEDERAL Laws & Penalties – NORML.org – Working to Reform Marijuana Laws, Norml.org, http://norml.org/laws/item/federal-penalties-2
8. Sullum, J. (2017). Federal Prosecutors Say They Never See Low-Level Drug Offenders. [online] Reason.com. Available at: https://reason.com/blog/2017/05/30/federal-prosecutors-say-they-never-see-l [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018].
9. Pbs.org. (n.d.). Special Reports – Reining In Forfeiture | Drug Wars | FRONTLINE | PBS. [online] Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/special/forfeiture.html [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018].
10. LoBianco, T. (2016). Report: Nixon’s war on drugs targeted black people. [online] CNN. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/john-ehrlichman-richard-nixon-drug-war-blacks-hippie/index.html [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018].
The Wannabe Writer 