American Drug Policy
American Drug Policy
AKA The War on Drugs The American Drug Policy is a social issue with many pros and cons. So many different areas are impacted daily by the laws of this policy when one tries to separate the issues and wade through the muck and mire of what, who, where, why and when, all sense of truth and reality becomes a confusing unreachable goal. Both sides of the debate have their own set of statistics that support their argument. I suppose in order to analyze this policy; one will have to approach this issue with an open unbiased mind. The problem is that because of the virtue of the drug laws, it is almost impossible to not take side or feel strongly one way or the other. As I am writing this I am listening to Drug Policy Debates on CSpan, and it is very perplexing to me the attitude of the moral majority when it comes to drug policy reform. When valid points are raised about the benefits of nonprohibition or legalization and regulation of illegal drugs, people seem to lash out and refuse to see the hard cold facts about what prohibition has created in our world.
Intended Outcomes The intended outcome of the Americas Drug Policy was to eradicate the supply and use of illegal drugs. When Nixon initiated the policies that are in place today he had high hopes and goals about eliminating the importing and sales of illegal drugs that were causing what he called our nation’s number one public enemy in 1971, drug abuse...Initially he spoke of treatment and education for drug addicts and sticker laws for deterring the suppliers. He knew the monastery costs of fighting this war could be high saying “ If we are going to have a successful offensive, we need more money. Consequently, I am asking the Congress for $155 million in new funds, which will bring the total amount this year in the budget for drug abuse, both in enforcement and treatment, to over $350 million.” (Nixon,1971). His plan involved the consolidation of nine federal organizations that at the
AKA The War on Drugs The American Drug Policy is a social issue with many pros and cons. So many different areas are impacted daily by the laws of this policy when one tries to separate the issues and wade through the muck and mire of what, who, where, why and when, all sense of truth and reality becomes a confusing unreachable goal. Both sides of the debate have their own set of statistics that support their argument. I suppose in order to analyze this policy; one will have to approach this issue with an open unbiased mind. The problem is that because of the virtue of the drug laws, it is almost impossible to not take side or feel strongly one way or the other. As I am writing this I am listening to Drug Policy Debates on CSpan, and it is very perplexing to me the attitude of the moral majority when it comes to drug policy reform. When valid points are raised about the benefits of nonprohibition or legalization and regulation of illegal drugs, people seem to lash out and refuse to see the hard cold facts about what prohibition has created in our world.
Intended Outcomes The intended outcome of the Americas Drug Policy was to eradicate the supply and use of illegal drugs. When Nixon initiated the policies that are in place today he had high hopes and goals about eliminating the importing and sales of illegal drugs that were causing what he called our nation’s number one public enemy in 1971, drug abuse...Initially he spoke of treatment and education for drug addicts and sticker laws for deterring the suppliers. He knew the monastery costs of fighting this war could be high saying “ If we are going to have a successful offensive, we need more money. Consequently, I am asking the Congress for $155 million in new funds, which will bring the total amount this year in the budget for drug abuse, both in enforcement and treatment, to over $350 million.” (Nixon,1971). His plan involved the consolidation of nine federal organizations that at the
References: Clinton, W.J. (1997, Febuary 25). Remarks Announcing the 1997 National Drug Control Strategy and an Exchange With Reporters. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=53779. Ford, G.R. (1976, Febuary 23) .Statement on Drug Abuse. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley,The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=5609. Nixon, R. (1971, June 17).Remarks About an Intensified Program for Drug Abuse Prevention and Control. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3047. Obama, B (2009, March 11). Interview With Regional Reporters, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=85870. Reagan, R. (1982, October 2) .Radio Address to the Nation on Federal Drug Policy .Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=43085.