Crime

New Report: ‘Global War on Drugs Has Failed’ and ‘Cannot be Won’

New Report: Global War on Drugs Has Failed and Cannot be Won

NEW YORK (AP) — The global war on drugs has failed and governments should explore legalizing marijuana and other controlled substances, according to a commission that includes former heads of state, a former U.N. secretary-general and a business mogul.

A new report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy argues that the decades-old “global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world.” The 24-page paper will be released Thursday.

Groups like the Drug Policy Alliance echo this sentiment:

“Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won,” the report said.

The 19-member commission includes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former U.S. official George P. Schultz, who held cabinet posts under U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Others include former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, former presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, writers Carlos Fuentes and Mario Vargas Llosa, U.K. business mogul Richard Branson and the current prime minister of Greece.

Instead of punishing users who the report says “do no harm to others,” the commission argues that governments should end criminalization of drug use, experiment with legal models that would undermine organized crime syndicates and offer health and treatment services for drug-users in need.

The commission called for drug policies based on methods empirically proven to reduce crime, lead to better health and promote economic and social development.

New Report: Global War on Drugs Has Failed and Cannot be Won

The commission is especially critical of the United States, which its members say must lead changing its anti-drug policies from being guided by anti-crime approaches to ones rooted in healthcare and human rights.

“We hope this country (the U.S.) at least starts to think there are alternatives,” former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria told The Associated Press by phone. “We don’t see the U.S. evolving in a way that is complatible with our (countries’) long-term interests.”

The office of White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said the report was misguided.

“Drug addiction is a disease that can be successfully prevented and treated. Making drugs more available – as this report suggests – will make it harder to keep our communities healthy and safe,” Office of National Drug Control Policy spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said.

That office cites statistics showing declines in U.S. drug use compared to 30 years ago, along with a more recent 46 percent drop in current cocaine use among young adults over the last five years.

The report cited U.N. estimates that opiate use increased 34.5 percent worldwide and cocaine 27 percent from 1998 to 2008, while the use of cannabis, or marijuana, was up 8.5 percent.

Comments (225)

1 2 3 ... 6
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:54am

    If we keep all these drugs illegal, we may as well make alcohol and cigarettes illegal. Alcohol is proven to have some of the worst effects on a person‘s body imagineable if you can’t manage it properly. just ask glenn beck. The war on drugs is directly in line with Prohibition. It’s the same thing, like it or not. the only way to defeat the crime is to legalize it all. all of it. you don’t like that, i know. when you legalize it, you take away the huge profitability of dealing drugs, thus, you destroy the drug cartels, and you destroy the incentive for kids in big cities to take up drug dealing.

    Report Post »  
    • Mr.Truth
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:00am

      Agreed 100%!!!

      Report Post » Mr.Truth  
    • Vyger
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:03am

      Couldn’t agree more. I don’t smoke and all of my friends are white collar productive members of society. But with 1 phone call I could get it. That tells me that we have lost the war. Plus you hardly ever hear of a dude getting stoned and beating up his wife like you do with people drinking.

      But they can’t tax it and therefore will never legalize it.

      Report Post »  
  • ED4237
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:52am

    This is waste of time you can not win this so called war. They should be legal if you want to use fine you don’t fine. They would be controled better and taxed and we need the jobs and revenue from a legal drug trade. I would not listen to the UN on this at all but here they are right. We could use our resources to go after a crime that is truely horriable and that is the trafficking of people and especially the pediphile trade. That is crime we should be going after and that is war you can win by locking up pediphiles for life and mean it, and the people that traffick the kids for life and those who make the money off that crime. That means you have to go after the corupt cops and politican and those communtiy organizers that help in that crime. Why wasn’t ACORN investigated after the James Okeef expose on that very subject? The politicans are afraid of what would have been found out by the public at large.

    Report Post »  
  • Mr.Truth
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:51am

    The war on drugs has been lost for years!

    Report Post » Mr.Truth  
    • voice in the wild
      Posted on June 3, 2011 at 6:53am

      Agreed, and our prisons are full of pot smokers while real criminals are let go because of overcrowding. Lets cut the budget and raise taxes (on weed).

      Report Post » voice in the wild  
  • JohnBirch
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:51am

    That’s because they treated it like a Police Action instead of a real War on Drugs!

    Report Post » JohnBirch  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:50am

    For all you insane Libertarians out there, remember this simple but important face: opium is the opiate of the masses.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:47am

    Sounds like a new TAX scheme. Make drugs legal, but TAX the user. The Federal Gov hates competition

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:44am

    The war on drugs can‘t be won because they don’t want to win the war on drugs. Just as with tobacco there is too much money to be made to defeat these battles. If they wanted to win the war of drugs they would start taking those individuals out, not putting them in jail.

    Report Post »  
    • hucksqr
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 5:15pm

      Yah sounds like you have a real love for the Constitution, and a real understanding of what Natural Born Rights means. People like you are every bit as much of a danger to my Liberty as the tyrannical big government ******* is. Please, point out to me in either the Constitution, or the Bible, where they say it’s ok to start killing off people that use drugs. Maybe you and people like you should actually read the Constitution, and follow it sometime. Stop advocating taking someone else’s Natural Born Rights from them, you haven’t that priveledge, afterall, I am pretty sure you’re not God.

      Report Post »  
  • wmcritter
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:44am

    DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Our grandparents learned this lesson with Prohibition back in the 20s and 30s. Why are humans incapable of learning from the past? Life is hard, people will always drink and get high. Making it illegal is just plain stupid.

    Report Post »  
  • JEDhbo
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:42am

    Too many businesses and too many individuals depend on the “war on drugs” continuing for it to be ended successfully or unsuccessfully. Remembering what Pogo said during one of our many visits to CAMP HAZE: “WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND HE IS US”!

    Report Post » JEDhbo  
  • starman70
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:39am

    This is just what the UN wants. A world population so spaced out on drugs that they can’t resist the takeover of the world by the UN. People so drugged that they don’t realize what is going on. Halucinogenic idiots willing to follow anyone who will provide them more and free fixes, of course that would be the UN, the one world government.

    I would almost bet that some of the members of this “Commission” have profited some way from the drug trade. Why else would they want to legalize them?

    Report Post »  
  • streetrodder
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:39am

    Thats because the government does’nt want to win it. Our great leaders make us get drug tested, but they don’t have to take drug tests.

    Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:39am

    Maybe it can’t be won, hasn’t been won… but what’s the alternative to fighting this war? Huh? Not fighting it? Just let the cartels and drug dealers take over neighborhoods like they have in Arizona and… Mexico? That’s no way to live, or to build a society. Just ask the 3000 that are found dead in these small Mexican towns every other week. Drugs are wrong… pure and simple. Never will be right. Legalizing something because you can’t yet defeat it is simply giving in to what is wrong.

    Report Post » jim  
    • CaptainKook
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:14am

      You mean the way the Mafia openly took over everything when Prohibition [which made them rich beyond their wildest dreams] ended?

      nonsense.

      TRUST ME: Organized crime wept the day Prohibition ended…but they were smart enough to buy into legitimate banks and corporations and now run the Republican Party.

      :-)

      yeah, right

      Report Post »  
  • stinkybisquit
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:38am

    A war against a lifestyle which has been encouraged by the government, the media, and entertainment; all the while they say they are fighting it. Can’t wait to see how the wars against Islam and social equality turn out, since they are fighting them the same way.

    Report Post »  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:38am

    No, it is not about teaching in the home or the parents. Good homes and good parents have kids that turn to drugs and alcohal. More often it is peer pressure that starts the downward spiral. The “just try a little”, the innocent weekend party that the parents are supposed to be watching, and the kids think it’s fun to sneak behind their back. The bad grade, the date turned down, all the stupid stuff in teen’s lives that start them down this slope. The other side of that coin is kids who grow up in a drug culture family-some even make it out, but not many. Oh, and don’t think t.v. and movies don’t get their share of being great examples. The political mess we are letting kids grow up helps too. All families can do is work like hell and pray and be the best example you can be, and you still might loose one.

    Report Post »  
  • I_Hate_Libs
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:36am

    You can not stop a Democrat from getting the drugs they want.

    The horror of the Democrat mind.

    Report Post »  
    • dizzyinthedark
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Never more honest words spoken. In 1986, we were in a storm off the coast of Nicaragua we sought safety on a Columbian owned island. The Harbor Master came to check us in. He brought us to his home where we were introduced to his family and our children were invited to spend the night with his for some games and a movie. During a conversation we talked about this subject of our fight to stop the drugs coming into our country and the Harbor Masters wife laughed. I learned after talking with his wife, that one of our Senators from Florida allows the shipments of cocaine into that State. So, the so-called war on drugs has been next to impossible when our own politician’s have a hand in the pot (so to speak)!

      Report Post » dizzyinthedark  
  • booger71
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:35am

    But how would the CIA black ops fund themselves?

    Report Post » booger71  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:35am

    Oh it can be won, but you have to about it in a different way.

    Report Post » Tickdog  
    • vennoye
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:11am

      Thank you! Name ONE government program, agency, regulation that works……….

      But yes, there is an agenda to this. Do you remember how many people in the Soviet Union became alcoholics under communism? Control the older generation with food supply, control the younger generation with drugs and you might think you had a mandate to do anything you wanted to do!! Then, the only thing you would have left to deal with is the Christians: Remember the joke (do you believe in jokes?) or quip Joe Biden made years ago about Christians: “When you get right down to it, Christians are all traitors, because they all believe in the violent overthrow of all of the world governments when their Messiah returns!”

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • ares338
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:34am

    The problem is bad choices people make while taking any kind of drug; legal or not. Supply and demand fuels the drug trade and demand will never stop.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:33am

    .
    Roll another one just like the other one. You’ve been holding on to it, And I sure would like a Hit…

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:33am

    This is just one segment of satan’s war against GOD and HIS kids. Unfortunately far too many people want the easy way out of life, and they opt for drugs to help them get through the pain of life. Bad choice.

    Governments, some bad-egg police agencies, and greedy people more interested in money than in human beings all profit from this arm of satan’s plan.

    Make no mistake. This is exactly what it is. It‘s been in AMERICA full bore since the 60’s, and most of the folks who were into the heavy drugs and revolution way back then are the very ones who today are leading the anti-AMERICAN way of life pack.

    Soulless. They are already in hell. They just don’t know how much worse hell for eternity is going to be.

    Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:30am

    Another Big Government Failure. Just like The War On Poverty etc. As will any venture run by fools and charlatans.

    Report Post »  
  • TexasCommonSense
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:26am

    He’s right. Everyone do what you want. Even if your intoxication endangers others’ lives.

    Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • SgtB
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:45am

      No no no. Texas, you misunderstand the situation entirely. Not one person is saying that you can go out and hurt people and have it be okay. Just like now, if a person is caught driving under the influence and risking the lives of others they will be prosecuted if we legalize drugs. Also, my bet is that smart people with children will continue to protect their children like they do now. How many couples do you know with kids who have a one drunk parent at a time rule? Obviously the people can take care of themselves. If however the use of drugs in a home becomes abusive to the children, it should be treated like any other child abuse case, and my guess is that most of the child abuse cases we have currently are already fueled by the individuals who are currently using drugs and would be the ones still using drugs if it were legalized. However, if drugs weren’t a felony and were only a social crime much like farting in an elevator, these parents and their children would probably be better off.

      Once again, if a person can use drugs without abusing anyone else, why is it anyone else’s concern outside of the immediate family?

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • Itchee Dryback
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:41pm

      SgtB
      Once again, if a person can use drugs without abusing anyone else, why is it anyone else’s concern outside of the immediate family?
      ____________________________________________________

      Because drugs make you stupid and gullible…you may remain clever and entertaining, but I don’t know 1 person who uses drugs that is not naive about human nature.
      The “harm none..do as you will” world view is not a product of some deep insightful thought…it is the product of lazy thinking imo.

      Report Post »  
  • smithclar3nc3
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:22am

    They need to concentrate on the really bad drugs Cocaine,Heroin,Meth,and LSD you need only go to a rehad clinic once to know that given up the fight to stop these will totally destroy a society from within. How about making it a capital offense to deal any of these substances and a corporal offense for using them.

    Report Post »  
  • Lone Ranger
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:21am

    This isn’t a war. In a war, you shoot the enemy on sight, you sink their boats and submarines, you shoot down their airplanes. And how do you fight a war when the enemy is given so much aid and comfort by your own citizens? The very people who say the war on drugs is a failure are the ones who are buying drugs.

    Report Post » Lone Ranger  
    • Mateytwo Barreett
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:44am

      As a matter of fact it is an American style war. In such kinetic engagements, First you hve to allow the situation to get completely out of hand.- – -Check
      You appoint 7-8 politicians to a Blue ribbon panel.–check
      You have the CBO arrive at a “sum cost” cut it by 75% and sell that number t the public- -check
      You allow, encourage and endorse gov’t agencies to do “stings” planned to fail- – check
      Use same plan for weapons- – -check
      Optional step: publicize the gun running to take a swipe at the 2nd am.- – -CHECK
      Make sure the Legal Aissistance to minorities groups are OK on and people- – -check
      Appoint the most racist, corrupt sleazeball AG to control the situation- – - check
      Make SURE that the cartels can drain the most money out of country by using legislation and executive order to subsidize the union-workforce, both public and private- – check
      Identify, isolate and demogogue any officials not falling in line- – -CHECK

      THAT”S how you fight a war- American style!!!! I notice they don’t have a drug USE problem in ****** countries- odd isn’t it?!

      Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:17am

    It’s all about the parents in the home; teaching the kids–the world cannot do a thing about it. Neither can American politicicians.

    Report Post »  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:24am

      They want us stoned.

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:29am

      As long as our borders remain unsecured, it is true, the war cannot be won. Secure the borders and we have a chance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXPpBLlc1U

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • HappyStretchedThin
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:38am

      *Please note extreme sarcasm**I am not condoning criminal activity!*
      Despite all the laws and vast networks of well-armed, well-trained, and well-funded armies of enforcement agents, scientists in labs, lawyers, and court officials, some people still choose to steal, cheat, and murder. I guess the war on crime has failed too. Maybe we should just make it all legal and regulate it. Only people who deserve it should get robbed, only people who harm others should get murdered. Or no, maybe there should be a special tax you can pay the govt for the privilege of murdering someone.
      You anti-drug-war people miss the entire point of fighting crime.

      Report Post » HappyStretchedThin  
    • Sinista MACE
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:41am

      I don’t think people really get it, so I’m gonna be crystal clear.

      “Kiss my ass, federal and state government. I’m gonna get high if I want to. It’s my body, not yours. I didn’t delegate the maintenance or management of my body to the federal or state government.”

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • OLDBIKEFIXER
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:49am

      Until the 1920′s just about all drugs were legal. You could buy Cocaine & Heroin via mail order out of the Sears catalog, or just walk down to the drug store and ask for whatever you wanted. Sure, there were people getting addicted, but that’s still happening even though thousands of laws have been passed to prevent it from happening.

      I say “legalize everything”, and let the idiots who want to use drugs for partying go ahead and kill themselves with whatever they want. America will be a better place without them. Also, the sight of stoners & addicts openly walking (staggering?) around in public will let curious young people know all about the effects of abusing drugs. Would a young person want to smoke pot after seeing a dirty, gooned-out hippie pointing skyward and mumbling “Whoa, like, uhh, wow… a bird!”

      Most people who begin using drugs do so because of the thrill of doing something that’s illegal. Once the thrill of breaking the law is removed, I believe that most young people won’t be attracted to drugs. Remember stealing a few beers from your dad’s stash when you were a teen? We didn’t do it because we were curious about the taste, we did it because we weren’t allowed, which made it much more exiting. In many European countries, where alcohol is not viewed as something “only for adults”, and where kids commonly have wine or beer with their meals, the alcoholism rate is much lower than in America.

      The illegal drug trade would be completely wip

      Report Post » OLDBIKEFIXER  
    • ME
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:52am

      Sherlock Holmes mush have been on the case:) It does not take a rocket scientist to realize you must be consistent. Cigarettes and alcohol are far more dangerous then weed with glaring hypocrisy like that there will never be a successful campaign against drugs. First it must be about health and not money, taxes and control for it to work. Only reason weed is illegal right now is there is no easy way to tax it if Uncle Sam could make some bank off it do you really think it would not be in vending machines by now???

      Report Post » ME  
    • CaptainKook
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:05am

      The phony “War on Drugs” was never meant to be “won”.

      Where else can international banks engage in moving huge quantities of cash around without government scrutiny [look up BCCI for the best-known example, and look up the very recent reports on Bank of America's money-laundering for the Mexican cartels] and where else can various nations’ intelligence operations raise untraced cash for their various operations [best-known example: Ronald Reagan's funding of Iran-Contra through massive cocaine smuggling into the US].
      And how else can the petro-chemical industry keep one of the most prolific plant-based alternative to their products off the market – the reason hemp was banned in the first place in 1937: hemp [not marijuana, a strain of hemp] can be processed into hundreds of products now made from petroleum – plastics, paints, etc and also ETHANOL which wpuld compete with Archer Daniels Midland‘s etc’s corn ethanol operation that has driven food prices up.

      END THIS FRAUD ON THE PUBLIC

      Report Post »  
    • escape_from_socialism
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:17am

      right on sinista

      I like all your posts.
      good bless you my friend

      Report Post »  
    • cemerius
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:19am

      Legalize and Tax it! Spend our monies on education and treatment……we send BILLIONS to countries that are just plain corrupt to the point we are subsidizing their private estates!! We have MILLIONS in prison because they smoke a little pot???

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:21am

      Why we spend taxpayer dollars on trying to control drugs is beyond me. Let them use if they want to. Then if they hurt someone, give drugs to kids, get stoned and drive or abuse children throw the book at them. Put them UNDER the jailhouse…

      We will in the end save tons of money and get the addicts in prison where they belong. No one that does not use now will start using. If you want to do it in the privacy of your own home, go ahead, I hope you O.D. too…

      BTW if you come to the hospital with an O.D. and no insurance…too bad for you.

      Report Post »  
    • stifroc
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:21am

      No the war on drugs cannot be “won” in terms of eradicating drugs.
      We CAN push the drug cartels back under the rug and force them to be a clandestine organization by be more ruthless than they are in our pursuit of and dealings with them. It‘s just that we don’t want the PR mess that would ensue. I wouldn’t care… but of course we all know there are those that whine and cry and bemoan the fact that violent criminals are being butchered.

      Report Post » stifroc  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:23am

      @Sinistamace
      Sometimes I agree with you. What you do with your own body is what you do with your own body, consequences and all. Why are we wasting so many tax dollars fighting this? For that matter, why do we pay taxes at all if all they do is keep printing more money?

      Report Post »  
    • fangbanger
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:40am

      micromanaging peoples lives is a progressive ideal and the war on drugs is a progressive war on you individual liberty. just because something is legal doesnt mean you have to use or buy it. the drug laws do not prevent people from using drugs, obviously, but they are a damn good way to strip rights away from people. especially voting and gun rights. our country has more prisoners than anywhere else on the planet, mostly for drug crimes, and yet we call ourselves the most free country on earth. if you are truly a small government conservative i really do not see how you can be for the prohibition of drugs. making them legal does not mean it will be fine to walk or drive down the street smoking a blunt or doing lines at the restaurant table or that they will be sold to kids. to those that are worried that being legal will make it easier for kids to get- when i was in high school, over 10 years ago, school WAS THE PLACE to go and get your drugs and they were illegal. From what I hear now its not much different

      Report Post » fangbanger  
    • IvanK
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:43am

      I’m quite convinced that the UN and other puppet masters HEAVILY DESIRE as amny people on drugs as possible. This way they can exercise more control over the population. A Stoned and addicted population will do ANYTHINGyou want them to do, so long as you keep them medicated.

      Report Post » IvanK  
    • Opinionmonger
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:44am

      It realy comes sown to one simple thing:
      EDUCATING YOURSELF AND EDUCATE YOUR KIDS.

      Report Post » Opinionmonger  
    • cous1933
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:16am

      Anytime the government declares “war on” any subjective matter you can count on two things;
      1. They’re going to spend billions of dollars and increase the size of government
      2. There is no chance of winning the so-called war

      “War on poverty”, “war on drugs”, “war on terror” – all multi-billion dollar government boondoggles. There is still poverty (mostly perpetuated by government programs), still drug abuse (probably more than ever), and still terrorists (probably in greater numbers due to our aggressive foreign policy).

      Drug use is a moral issue just like alcohol and tobacco use. All are addictive and unhealthy but only one is illegal. We should not legislate morality any more than we should legislate religion.

      Vote for Ron Paul and end all of the nonsense our government has gotten us into.

      Report Post » cous1933  
    • Vickie Dhaene
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:18am

      I don’t know about any of you, but I don’t believe any report that says “GLOBAL”

      Report Post »  
    • militiaman
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:46am

      Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 almost delivered this country into the hands of organized crime in every state in the union, but especially in Chicago and New York. If it had not be repealed and allowed to continue, mafia money would have corrupted politicians throughout the country, just as cartel money does in Mexico and many areas of the US Southwest today.

      US military intelligence declared recently the two most likely countries most likely to collapse were Mexico and Pakistan, and added they COULD collapse any day on a moment’s notice.

      Right now Mexican police, politicians and many business leaders are on cartel payrolls, which includes a substantial number of military personnel. Latin writers claim the corruption goes all the way to Caldron’s administration.

      These same drug gangs, according to Janet Napolitano are in at least 200 US cities today, with their influence and distribution points speading at a very rapid rate. Cartel politicians are rampant throughout the US Southwest as well. Obviously, illegal drug gangs today are further along to controlling the US and Mexico than the bootlegging crime syndicates were during prohibition, and it amounts to a war that will be won by drug criminals, if something isn’t done to stop its progress.

      When the states started having large budget shortfalls due to their increasing growth, gambling was legalized to acquire revenue and keep them solvent.

      Wil drugs be govt’s. new source of revenue?

      Report Post »  
    • kreese
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:47am

      The Chinese knew how to fix a drug problem!

      Legalize drugs? Try dealing with drug babies in a classroom. Most of them will never get an “education”.

      This problem is out of hand–has been for awhile. Unless we, as a society, are willing to take “severe” steps as a society, it will not stop.

      Dammit, Americans–these drug dealers are killing our kids. they have no right to do that. As I said, talk to the Chinese.

      Report Post »  
    • vidyohs
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:48am

      No the “war on drugs” can not be won period. And, to understand why we should simplify the way we look at the supposed problem.

      First we have to recognize that all drugs, alcohol and tobacco included, are simply consumer goods, just like ice cream, the shirt on your back, the gas you put in your auto. It is a consumer good.

      As long as there are people who want to consume, there will be those who will supply. It is a pure and simple market transaction. Ice cream is cheap. Make it illegal and you do not cure the urge for ice cream, you just drive it underground, like alcohol during prohibition. Illegal ice cream simply means that in short order there would be ice cream gangs competing over turf, there would be killings, all because the profit makes the risk acceptable to many people. Take this a step farther and try to suppress the consumption of ice cream by closing supermarkets. Think that will work? No chance.

      Sinsta Mace has it right, each of us has the creator given right to do with out bodies what we will. And the Oldbikefixer is right in that along with the exercise of that right comes the responsibility to suffer or control the effects on our bodies that our choices dictate.

      Many billions of people handle consumption of alcohol and have no problems with their lives. Why do we make the exact opposite claim about other drugs (we deem illegal)? That some people do not handle alcohol consumption is not the justification for denying those that can.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:04am

      I guess we could give out FREE heroin like Belgium or where-ever it is.

      Good thing we aren’t ruled by the U.N. – - – YET !!!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • vidyohs
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:10am

      In taking responsibility and being made to take responsibility for our actions is where the solution lies, and OLDBIKEFIXER is on the right track there.

      The “war on drugs” is not meant to be won, it is far to profitable to those involved in every facet of that activity. A distant cousin on the Missouri HP just loves the Asset Forfeiture program, even as a grunt he profits in shares when a seizure of property is made.

      Generally people are horrified at what I offer as the only real solution, and that is for government to back away and leave the market alone. In short order cheap legal drugs will sort out those who can handle it and those who can’t. Those who can must be permitted to go ahead and commit their own brand of suicide so that they serve as a very visible example of what happens when one doesn‘t control one’s appetites.

      The public should not be tasked and taxed to save people who show no desire to be saved. It is useless and obvious that they only come back on a gurney again. Let them come in on a gurney, shove the gurney to a side room and come back later to route the body to the morgue.

      In the final analysis, having each city invest in a meat wagon to collect dead druggies each morning would be infinitely cheaper and cause less violence or problems than anything else. This method of handling those who can not, or will not, handle themselves is the ultimate example to youth and other weak minded. The numbers to be picked up would drop dramatically v

      Report Post »  
    • American Soldier (Separated)
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:00pm

      Is that Mexican soldiers wearing US Army ACU uniforms? WTF?

      And yes, the war on drugs is a waste of time, money and life. Smoke dope if you want to. Destroy your life if you want to. Lose your job, there are plenty of responsible Americans who will fill in those slots. What you do to your body on your own time is none of my business, just as whether you like to drink a 5th of Vodka every night to get yourself to sleep. That’s none of my business. If you hurt someone or destroy property while under the influence, you’ll be punished as anyone else that hurts someone or destroys property. Simple.

      Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • Trance
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:21pm

      I found if funny that they say “making drugs more available” would cause some sort of harm. Drugs can’t be any more available than they are now. All our current policies are doing is draining our country’s wealth by imprisoning a very large number of people. People who want to use drugs are going to use drugs. This is a fight that cannot be won, and will only continue to create misery. Just one more example where government intrusion on individual liberties is causing far worse consequences than if the people were allowed to govern themselves.

      Report Post » Trance  
    • dizzyinthedark
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:34pm

      Finally they are speaking the ‘truth’ here. There really is nothing one can do but educate their own children to the dangers of life and all that go with it. Keep God alive in the family!

      Report Post » dizzyinthedark  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:58pm

      “We hope this country (the U.S.) at least starts to think there are alternatives,” former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria told The Associated Press by phone. “We don’t see the U.S. evolving in a way that is complatible with our (countries’) long-term interests.”

      Thanks for the spontaneous fit of laughter, Cesar!
      C’mon guys– let‘s do it for Columbia’s long term interests! They certainly are not planning on drug use going down….

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • shazam3
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:59pm

      This debate over the drug “wars” will never end between the legallization and not. Both have good sides but it’s a debate that is only when the whole drug use is out of control, which it is. To stop the drugs, the states or Gov have to deliver severe penalties which today will be eliminated by the ACLU and all the other liberal organizations, Along with the liberal judges. If you legalize it, then the GOV or the states will then become the drug suppliers to the addicts. The ACLU will decide that because the GOV supplies the addicts they will have to take care of their health issues. What do you want to do set up free drug clinics or close the borders and punish the dealers with more than suspended sentences.

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:00pm

      Morality includes having respect for ones body. Without morality, people are ungovernable and will ultimately descend into chaos.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 3:27pm

      So what is surprising the war on drugs has become an industry unto itself. Kinda like similar to the US military which figures out how to spend more than the rest of the world combined. Again, why should big government be the ones to tell people what drugs are ok and which are not. Alcohol is not exactly a wonderful drug and causes much more harm than pot every would. Legalize them similar to other drugs, pot and perhaps other mild recreational drugs in a manner analogous to alcohol and others could be regulated as prescription drugs.

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista MACE
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 5:05pm

      militiaman

      The War on Drugs was designed to target minorities (and by attrition, everyone), and in regards to incarcerating minorities, I would say it has been a great success.

      It is no great leap, nor is there any doubt, that the Law Enforcement of that day were working WITH the Mafia to bring about prohibition, because when there isn’t a black market, it isn’t as lucrative. Especially considering the Feds of today are working with the Mexican Cartels to move drugs, guns, and cash, and are simultaneously fighting a “War on Drugs”. They’re doing the same thing they did back then, fighting the public to keep prohibition alive in order to keep the black market alive.

      Drugs won’t be a NEW source of government revenue, it already has been for decades. The US Military is helping the Taliban grow, distribute, and protect their Heroin derived from poppies RIGHT NOW.

      The War on Drugs has failed miserably, as I BLAZE up this fresh Bubba Kush.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • Itchee Dryback
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:17pm

      Stupid idea from stupid people or starry eyed opportunists imo.
      The comparisons to alcohol are just ludicrous is you spend more than 30 seconds thinking about it.
      Dumb stoners pipedream.

      Report Post »  
    • fangbanger
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:35pm

      itchee your right- alcohol is far more harmful than marijuana. and i hate to break it to you but smoking a bowl is not like drinking a 5th of vodka. its not even in the same ballpark.

      Report Post » fangbanger  
    • v-vet1968
      Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:19pm

      does this mean that DC has enough drugs to sell!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • jackrorabbit
      Posted on June 3, 2011 at 11:26am

      Just imagine how much money we could save if we sent drug users to rehab instead of jail. Rehab is about half as expensive, and actually solves the problem more often than not. Jail is just a waste of time, because when the user comes out they go right back to the bad habit.

      Report Post »  
    • 4freedomssake
      Posted on June 3, 2011 at 5:08pm

      “will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won,” the report said.”. Their has never been a “WAR ON DRUGS (read plants)”! What it has been is a war on Drug Users and Drug Sellers.

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista MACE
      Posted on June 3, 2011 at 10:44pm

      (Jesus:) “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matt. 15:11)

      One believeth that he may eat all things. Another…eateth herbs. … Let us not, therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Epistle of St. Paul: Romans 14: 2,3,13,14,17)

      Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereupon thou hast attained. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-6)

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • Showtime
      Posted on June 4, 2011 at 5:41pm

      Blaze burned on this one. The video is from George Soros’s thugs.

      Report Post » Showtime  
1 2 3 ... 6

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love