The Role Of Drug Abuse In The United States

How does one end the consistent drug problem going on in the United States? It is simple, take the emphasis off the war on drugs and start placing those resources elsewhere. Looking at the approach the United States has implemented, as it has been the most ineffective route taken. With the legalization of marijuana, America can take a major leap towards a progressive future.
Following the start to the war on drugs with its roots beginning with the Nixon presidency, the effects can be seen as detrimental to the prosperity of the nation. He is accredited with being one of the first presidents to place a substantial amount of pressure on the drug industry, citing, “America’s number one public enemy in the United States is drug abuse. In order
to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive” (Sharp 1). Forming the Drug Enforcement Agency, also known as the DEA, in 1973, their efforts directed straight to prevention of drugs being transported here from Mexico. As quickly as Nixon was able to place a restraint on the shipment of marijuana, another supplier, Colombia, came in and took its place.
As this was the United States first lesson in the rules of the drug trade. The black market for drugs will always restructure itself when one power falls, another will rise. The cause and effect of this business results in the creation of its own demons. With the increase usage of cocaine, marijuana became widely considered to be a gateway drug. The federal government decided to use this idea that marijuana decriminalization was not needed in order to hopefully curve the usage of other drugs. Harsh sentences began to be handed out and citizens were dealt lengthy sentences for non-violent drug charges. Regulations began to be passed as an example the infamous Rockefeller Drug Laws. The signing of this statute was ear marked with the ridiculous possibility of getting the maximum of life imprisonment based on the amount of drugs found in ones’ possession. As the authors Earl Smith and Angela J. Harrarty noted, “the penalty for selling two ounces (approximately 56 grams) or more of heroin, morphine, "raw or prepared opium," cocaine, or marijuana or possessing four ounces (approximately 113 grams) or more of the same substances, was made the same as that for .second-degree murder: a minimum of 15 years to life in prison” (390). Placing in context the severity of this sentencing, as it was equivalent to receiving a second degree murder charge. Over the next thirty years the prison population in New York State increased from ten thousand to seventy thousand inmates, as almost one third of those inmates were incarcerated for drug offenses (Fortner). This is a prime example of the government removing individuals from their families and communities, only worsening the situation at hand. As in 2016, the government is still trying to resolve the issues they allowed to linger for decades.
Since the Nixon era, evidence on how the war on drugs spiraled into the catastrophe it is today can be seen all around the United States.
The estimated total of funding from the government has come close to almost $1.4 trillion dollars (Editorial; Nixon's drug war still hurts the poor). For more than forty years, America has funded efforts to suppress the importation of illegal drugs and has had little to no success. Looking at the outcomes of this war, the results are hundreds of thousands innocents dead in other foreign countries. As in Mexico alone, the total rate of homicides was estimated to 11 per 100,000 individuals in 2005; by 2010, it was 18.5 per 100,000 individuals (Enamorado). The effects of the domestic war on drugs is spilling into other countries as a power struggle for who will gain control of the large US market. If marijuana was legal, this effect would no longer be relevant. Individuals would be less likely to seek out and buy the drug for recreational use through illegal
methods. In 2014 only, police arrested 1,561,231 for drug violations while 1,297,384 were simply for drug possession alone (Drug Policy). While African Americans and Latinos account for almost three fourths of the prison population even though whites equaled a large majority of illegal drug users and dealers in the United States (Lassiter). Taxpayers are forced to pay for these individuals who are sent to jail as a result of marijuana possession, costing billions of dollars every year. These statistics only prove further that what currently is going on right now is not working. This system is only placing the public into a deeper hole that is damaging to the community. Decriminalizing this drug will allow for the United States to free up a large portion of tax dollars, with hopes to boost the economy. Looking at the few states that have already legalized marijuana, their benefits have been substantial in just a short period of time. As famously, Colorado became the first state to allow cannabis to be used for recreational purposes. This monumental decision has served as the prime example of what could be the success for many other states in the near future. As the Amendment 64 allows for individuals over the age of twenty one to purchase up to one ounce from legal dispensaries and grow up to six plants within the privacy of their own home (Hudak 656). Marijuana is taxed the same as alcohol and tobacco in the state allowing the government to make an additional profit. While end of the year reports for the market revenue in 2014 alone was over $700 million dollars, with an estimated total $313 million dollars coming from recreational usage and another $386 million dollars in medicinal usage. $63 million dollars was the tax income that was generated from this industry, as another $13 million was also brought in due to licenses and fees (Ingraham). Colorado has able to use this money effectively as well, building new schools and repair old ones. Ironically, it has been reported that Colorado made so much from the taxation of cannabis they are being forced to give some of it back to its residents. Considering these figures and seeing there have been no negative implications since Colorado has legalized marijuana leaves individuals pondering why the federal government is still not implementing cannabis usage. In addition, the economy could have a berth in jobs and entrepreneurs as these individuals are the people who work at the dispensaries or own them. Including scientific discovery as botanists have manufactured over 700 different forms of cannabis. Not only have they crossed strained but as well figured out ways to place the main drug known as THC into foods known as edibles, such as gummy bears or lollipops. These are marketed towards the customers who might not enjoy smoking the plant form but still would like to enjoy it. With so much potential, this industry could be what the economy needs to supplement growth in the country.
Furthermore, for the better of the country the mindset and ideology must shift to a more progressive nature than before. Understanding the demand for drugs to always be high is something this country is just now realizing. A study done by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse shows that it is in fact easier for teens to get marijuana than it is for them to obtain alcohol. 35% of students who participated said marijuana was accessible compared to the 5% who said alcohol could be obtained (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse). Weed is a part of some people’s daily life, as they allow for individuals to coop, maintain their stress levels or simply sleep at night. It even has its own treatment purposes in the medical field as it is found to be an effective pain reliever in cancer patients as well numerous other illnesses (Nelson). Including the widely known fact that no one has ever died from smoking marijuana or ingesting
THC into their body in the different forms. While cigarettes on average kill more than 480,000 people annually in addition to 88,000 deaths related to alcohol, according the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The unfair stigma that marijuana has gained over decades, while things that commonly kill people on a daily basis are still legal. The ideal that allowing the public to enjoy marijuana is similar to using it. More people would rather stand up against alcohol and tobacco due to their harmful nature they bring but when it comes to cannabis, the ideal is widely rejected. Granting individuals the choice and the freedom that this nation was built on to enjoy marijuana and simply not be attacked for supporting something that offers more potential than harm. Overall the legalization of marijuana would allow the people to experience the benefits as well put to rest the age old war on drugs.
America has seen the losing side of a war the federal government can neither maintain nor continue to afford. Individuals are suffering at the hands of legislation for small infractions as the taxpayers are the ones who have to front the cost of this unnecessary witch hunt. Individuals would no longer have to buy cannabis illegally. As result the United States could stop wasting time and money, and increase its own revenue. While Colorado serves as a prime example as what the whole country could be benefit from if there was a more progressive standpoint on this issue. With the possibility of legalization occurring, it could be more effective in becoming the catalyst to getting rid of the black market drug trade rather than previous attempts in this country’s
history.