The War on Drugs has failed.
Not because of a lack of effort, or loss of treasure, or worst of all, life.
Want to fix the war on drugs and decrease spending by billions that can be put towards fixing our infrastructure and making sure everyone can go to college?
Fully legalize marijuana. Tax the hell out of it.
Fully legalize the bad stuff. You need a “buyer’s card” to purchase it. You can’t drive or work for the federal government if you have a “buyer’s card”. If you don’t have kids you get the option of reversible birth control (clips or IUD) or a more permanent option.
If you have kids you get offered counseling as well as the option to give them up. If you have kids you have to submit to a monthly visit from a social worker. If you can’t safely take care of them they get taken from you.
If you can’t hold down a job you can live in government housing. Clean, safe, well regulated housing. You get your drugs and food. It is still cheaper than the drug war. And it is still cheaper than putting someone in jail for decades.
Crime will go down.
Violence will go down.
The money from illegal drugs will be taken out of the system.
I’d rather pay taxes to keep a junkie high in his well regulated and structured building than worrying about being robbed in the parking garage.
Other countries have done it and shown that it is cheaper than prison and fighting the war on drugs. Put violent offenders in jail – not drug addicts. It only costs us more money and hardens them into worse criminals.
There is a small percentage of the population that is going to be terminally addicted. It is sad. Instead of torturing them with prison and putting money into the pockets of the corporations who want “3 strike” rules we should treat them as humanely as possible and deal with the drug issue as what it is – a horrible social issue that needs treatment, not prison.