Forget the Propaganda -- Here's the Drug War Data That Really Matters

[marmar]

Forget the Propaganda -- Here's the Drug War Data That Really Matters


The New York Times recently ran a piece discrediting the government's drug war propaganda by digging into Washington's numbers game. Rather than concentrate on meaningless data like how many poppy fields are in Mexico, Washington should focus on the numbers evidencing just how badly the drug war has failed.

From the NYT:

If there is one number that embodies the seemingly intractable challenge imposed by the illegal drug trade on the relationship between the United States and Mexico, it is $177.26. That is the retail price, according to Drug Enforcement Administration data, of one gram of pure cocaine from your typical local pusher. That is 74 percent cheaper than it was 30 years ago.

This number contains pretty much all you need to evaluate the Mexican and American governments’ “war” to eradicate illegal drugs from the streets of the United States. They would do well to heed its message. What it says is that the struggle on which they have spent billions of dollars and lost tens of thousands of lives over the last four decades has failed.

Similarly, king pins arrested or pounds of drugs confiscated are insignificant developments in the drug war when they fail to meet their goal-- to decrease illicit drug use in the United States: ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/1019874/forget_the_propaganda_--_here%27s_the_drug_war_data_that_really_matters/

[NYC_SKP]

1. Yes it has failed miserably. But Mexican poppy fields and cocaine prices?

Is there a connection???



Maybe the excerpts are just inartfully comingled.

[truedelphi]

2. One person who understands the importance of all this

Is pot smoking "loser," Sir Richard Branson, head of the Virgin Group.

Branson came out last year with the statement that if he had a business that took up so much time, energy and money and yet never succeeded in reaching even the bare minimum of its goals, as the USA's drug war on marijuana, he'd have to shut down that business. And of course 95% of all the drugs that are used by "drug users" in the US happen to be cannabis - with only 5% of all drug users interested in heroin or meth.

Obama seemed to "get" this issue for the first few years of his term. And then he somehow listened to someone (friends at Big Pharma?) that coming down hard and escalating the DOJ drug wars --against voter approved medical marijuana clinics-- was a good idea. I hope he goes back on this and embraces his former position.

[randome]

3. I can almost be swayed by the arguments to make MJ legal.

But cocaine? No.

[marmar]

4. Decriminalized.....ala Portugal, where crime rates took a dive after decriminalization.

nt

[randome]

8. Absolutely. Decriminalize MJ. But keep cocaine the hell off the streets.

The problem with the more vocal proponents of MJ (other than claiming it cures everything from cancer to warts) is that they want full legalization immediately.

If they truly wanted MJ to eventually become legal, they should push for decriminalization first and only.

[marmar]

9. Portugal decriminalized all drugs and the crime rates took a big dive.

nt

[hobbit709]

5. DEA always overinflates the value of drugs it seized.

I remember once in the 70's when they said a bust was worth so many millions. I got out my little calculator and it gave me a value of $943 per gram. At that price it should have gotten you off just by looking at it.
Especially when at the time I was getting tested 80%+ coke at about $60/gm in 1/2 oz quantities.

[bassooner]

6. I imagine you've heard of this guy.

I wish I could fact check all of his information, but he goes into great detail about the drug war.. so to speak..

Good article. Thanks for posting.

[malcolmkyle]

7. Stop!

Mexico's gruesome civil war is clearly a product of the failed policy of Prohibition.

Alcohol Prohibition was a tremendous failure due to the incredible amount of crime and disorder it created. Human nature hasn't changed since the 1920s when the distribution of liquor was turned over to a whole new group of criminal entrepreneurs. Drug Prohibition has turned Mexico into a civil war zone. Dangerous mind altering substances are again being manufactured, smuggled and sold by criminals. Our intentions in prohibiting these substances may well be good but the result of our inability to recognize the futility of such an action will both deepen and prolong the agony caused by this extremely counter-productive and dangerous policy.

The future depends on whether or not enough of us are willing to take a long look at the tragic results of prohibition. If we continue to skirt the primary issue while refusing to address the root problem then we can expect no other result than a worsening of the current dire situation. - Good intentions, wishful thinking and pseudoscience are no match for the immutable realities of human nature.

Colombia, Peru, Mexico or Afghanistan with their coca leaves, marijuana buds or poppy sap are not igniting temptation in the minds of our weak, innocent citizens. These countries are duly responding to the enormous demand that comes from within our own borders. Invading or destroying these countries, thus creating more hate, violence, instability, injustice and corruption, will not fix our problem.