Forty Years

Forty years can be a long time depending upon which angle it is viewed from. For some, it is, unfortunately, a lifetime. For others, it is only half of a life. Looking through the wide scope of the universe, it may barely be a nanosecond. In regards to social/political/economic issues, 40 years can represent many lifetimes over, a series of births and deaths.

The war on drugs was first referred to by then president Richard Nixon on June 17, 1971. There was obviously a tremendous cultural divide in the United States from the 1950s to the 1970s. Opposing viewpoints on many social issues, especially drugs seemed like a main contributing factor for the social division. Aside from the cultural conflicts, one of the main factors in the United States taking on aggressive anti-drug policies was in response to a growing epidemic of heroin use among returning Vietnam soldiers. Estimates were staggering and experts indicated that ten to fifteen percent of US soldiers who served in the war were addicted to heroin.

The ensuing 40 years would see over one trillion dollars spent on this war. Recently, The Global Commission on Drug Policy has stated that the “war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world." This commission is comprised of some very accomplished and high profile individuals. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. official George P. Schultz (who served under both Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon’s cabinet), former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, former presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, and the current prime minister of Greece are some of the members who make up this all-star panel. The people of the United States seem to concur, as polls indicated that over 75% of Americans believe the war on drugs is failing.

In nature, change can often take a very long and drawn out path (global warming, ice age, mountain formation, continental drifts etc.). Social issues and legislation can change by the day, but the War on Drugs seems to be moving more closely to nature’s pace, a glacial pace. Since Nixon first made his proclamation regarding the War on Drugs, the world has witnessed an incredible amount of change, all while this war remains constant. Over the course of the last forty years we have seen the end of the Vietnam War, the invention of the microchip, Internet in our homes, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of The Cold War, Iran Contra, Afghan-Soviet War, two attacks on the World Trade Center, eight U.S. Presidents, cellular phones, social networking, NASA rovers touching down on foreign planets, The Gulf War, The Second Iraq War, The US. Afghan Conflict, Stem Cells, The Patriot Act, Dolly the Cloned Sheep, etc. (clearly it would take pages to list all of the other significant events).

All the while, we still have seen a consistent War on Drugs. With both the international community and domestic community in agreement, the issue seems only poised to gain traction. There have been some domestic changes, specifically in marijuana laws, but still well over 30 billion dollars will be spent by the U.S. government in 2011 on this war. With a struggling economy and a consensus among both U.S. citizens and the rest of the world, are we getting close to witnessing a cease fire on this 40 year War on Drugs?

http://mises.org/daily/5175/Criminal-Justice-Is-No-Job-for-the-State

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/interviews/dupont.html

http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/13/ap-impact-years-trillion-war-drugs-failed-meet-goals/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43248071/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/global-war-drugs-has-failed-key-panel-says/

http://stash.norml.org/zogby-poll-76-of-likely-voters-believe-war-on-drugs-is-failing