Prohibition does not work
@Auntylou (4264)
Oxford, England
November 29, 2015 12:49pm CST
Governments around the world have been declaring “Wars on Drugs” in an effort to reduce the use of such mood altering substances as marijuana for many years now.
And the result of all their efforts?
1. The rise of criminal gangs who know that demand for these illegal drugs is high and that they stand to make huge profits from their sale.
2. An increase in drug related deaths as players fight for territory .
3. Huge numbers ending up with criminal records and reduced employment prospects.
4. Long jail sentences for offenders , big and small.
5. Family breakdown .
6. Increased theft and violence on the streets as users face high prices.
7. Increasing costs to government both for incarcerating prisoners and taking care of their dependants .
8. In the USA today 1% of the population is in prison, much of this figure accounted for by drug related crime.
So the war has not been won , just as Prohibition in the early part of Twentieth Century America did not succeed in stopping the consumption of alcohol.
And organised crime has become very powerful. Again.
So what to do ?
Why not legalise marijuana, control standards, create farm jobs that pay and add a sales tax to bring in much needed government income as some States in the USA have done ?
What do you reckon?
22 people like this
2 responses
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
2 Jan 16
I completely agree with you.I think it will cause more issues than fix them.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
1 Dec 15
It will be interesting to see what happens!
2 people like this