War on Drugs Has Failed

The Global Commission on Drug Policy recently released a report which, in no uncertain terms, declares the War on Drugs a complete failure.  The report goes so far as to say that the United States (and United Nations) "War on Drugs" has served to fuel organized crime, increase violence and has caused thousands of deaths.

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/insidestory/2011/06/2011636534486947.html

To many, the report comes as no surprise.  I have heard many of the same arguments from legalization activists for years.  The Federal government spent over $15 billion in 2010 on the War on Drugs, and to what end?  Drug related violence in Mexico and all over the world seems to be increasing every year, with more than 22,000 dead in Mexico alone since 2006.  That is absolutely a staggering number.

I think it's time that we grew up a little bit and got over the Reefer Madness perspective that dominates the religious right's arguments against legalization.  While I, personally, believe that legalizing marijuana is a fairly high priority issue, I would settle for decriminalization.  If the United States decriminalized marijuana and ended the phony war on drugs, there is no doubt that we would see the positive impacts far outweigh the negative.  It is the prohibition of drugs that enables violent cartels to gain so much power.  It is the prohibition of drugs that is causing prison populations to swell to global highs.  And how difficult is it to get a job or a home loan or a good education when you have a criminal record?  The fact is, most drug offenders are non-violent and have every desire to be productive members of society.

In related news, earlier this week the State of Arizona denied the first application for a medical marijuana dispensary.  The voters of Arizona passed a ballot measure last November to allow medical marijuana.  Just last week, the State of Arizona filed a lawsuit against the Federal government to clarify whether compliance with the Arizona law provides protection from federal prosecution.  The lawsuit was the result of a letter from the US Attorney in Arizona saying that saying violations of federal law (which still prohibits any growing, selling or possessing marijuana) will be prosecuted.

Now, maybe I'm just an optimist but I see this as a huge opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to come together and actually make something happen.  The timing could never be better for a compromise across the aisle.  With the federal budget looming on every politician's mind, the recent report by a commission of former heads of state on how the "War on Drugs" has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars and a lawsuit by the uber-conservative state of Arizona over an issue of states' rights, it is the perfect storm for real reform on drug policy.  Some have argued that the lawsuit by Arizona is a stalling method to prevent the law from ever really taking place, but like I said, maybe I'm an optimist.  I think the state wants nothing more than to stick it to the federal government.  What better way than attacking a federal policy that puts Arizona citizens at risk for following a law they themselves approved at the state level?  That should serve to excite the tea party and traditional conservative bases.  While the failure of the war on drugs, the increase in drug violence and soaring prison populations, made up of non-violent offenders, should serve to excite the liberal base.  The impact on the budget deficit and the national debt that would result from the billions saved on the war on drugs and the costs of imprisoning millions of people should serve to excite liberals, conservatives and independents alike.  This could be the trifecta that we need to achieve real reform on drug policy.

The biggest hurdle is the power of the pharmaceutical and alcohol lobbies, the two biggest lobbies in opposition of legalization/decriminalization.  How to overcome that hurdle is a mystery to me but I am hopeful.