So 22 medical experts state the War on Drugs "directly and indirectly contribute to lethal violence, disease, discrimination, forced displacement, injustice and the undermining of people’s right to health."
In Mexico 23,000 people were killed in drug related violence in 2016. Drug overdoses in the USA jumped to 59,000 in 2016. Arrest numbers in the USA in 2015 totaled 10.8 million. Drug related: 1.49 million; (Broken down: 1.25 million for drug possession; 340,000 for sale or manufacture.) 1.09 million drunk driving; 11,092 for murder or manslaughter.
Ratios of note: 438:1 Possession:Sale or manufacture; 1.25:1.5 Drunk driving:Drug related.
Government v Science: In 2009 a British psychiatrist and neuropsychopharmacologist was sacked from his position chief drug advisor position in government after publishing a list of most to least harmful drugs.
"Alcohol and tobacco are more harmful than many illegal drugs, including LSD, ecstasy and cannabis..."
He also stated horse riding was safer than ecstasy with 100 riding fatalities per year(on average).
The political blowback was massive. On the floor in House of Commons MPs vehemently rebuffed the document and its author. It was a parade of "my ignorance trumps your expert scientific opinion."
The congress and courts in the USA are no better. There's no official list but there is a pattern that has no scientific basis. The crack epidemic of the late 80's saw congress pass mandatory sentencing laws for crack. Crack is the crystalized version of cocaine. It was popular in the inner city minority population. Movie stars from the 80's would have a "cocaine nail." The nail on the pinky finger (it could be any finger) would be noticeably longer. Carrie Fisher in the Empire Strikes Back has one that really stands out.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/29/nutt-drugs-...
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/30/drugs-advis...
It was difficult to locate reputable sources of recent data on costs in the United States. Tobacco and alcohol combined total slightly over $600 Billion/year while illegal drugs are estimated at just under $200 billion.
https://www.verywell.com/what-are-the-costs-of-drug-abuse-to...
Joshua J. (2017) The Consequences of the Use of Illicit Drugs and Their Associated Private and Social Costs. In: The Economics of Addictive Behaviours Volume III. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
http://ktla.com/2017/05/09/23000-killed-during-mexicos-drug-...
http://www.occnewspaper.com/americans-are-still-getting-arre...
So you discussed your drug habit with your physician? Physician–patient privilege isn't a sure thing anymore. The police are requesting and getting warrants to access a person's medical files. I didn't know this was happening until I started writing this post.
https://www.aclu.org/other/faq-government-access-medical-rec...
Anythingnonidin has a good list of reasons.
A few others:
- Alcohol is legal yet it's the only drug where stopping cold turkey can be fatal. Most people have heard of DTs or the shakes. So drinking too much too fast and not drinking afters of hitting the bottle every day can both be fatal.
- It's impossible to overdose on cannabis. People do have bad reactions or trips and go to the hospital but it's nothing life threatening.
- For profit prisons (almost always) cannot take prisoners who've committed a violent crime. Wonder why the dealer to possession ratio was 1:438? This is probably a factor.
- We have 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's prisoners
- Tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis C - The sentence wasn't for live but these transmissible diseases are.
- "If we legalize drugs think of the damage to the economy. ATF, prison guards, police, cities that are only financially solvent because of the income from the courts and prisons would face financial ruin.
- Innocent until proven guilty unless there's a empty cell? How is this not a conflict of interest for the parole board?
- So we hear nothing about how many drunks get behind the wheel of a 3000lb vehicle. Only after 3-5 DWI's will they possibly face prison time. Someone smoking weed is "a threat to national security?" They pose a threat to the safety of the community. That car swerving down the road only get a slap on the wrist.
- I don't think it should be all drugs and I don't think the article made that argument. The point was to stop treating a health condition as a crime and end what Nixon started.