There is a dangerous myth and misconception in the society that the war on drugs is coming to a halt, which is not the case. This idea arises from the legalization of cannabis which is slowly sweeping across the United and many nations across the world. People often assume that due to this slow legalization of cannabis, the legal prohibition against the utilization of drugs will soon be decreased or eliminated. In reality, the war on drugs has never ended and is even more ferocious. The war on drugs should end because of its deleterious impacts on society.
One of the primary reasons why the war on drugs should end is because it usually targets those that are vulnerable, especially the Blacks and the minorities in the United States and abroad. The modern war on drugs, which was conceptualized and initiated by President Richard Nixon in 1971, did not provide any harm decreasing options for black Americans who were dealing with issues regarding substance use and abuse. In lieu, the war on drugs was criminalized, and black Americans were arrested and locked up in masses. Even after four decades, the number of Americans that are behind bars has risen by more than 350% and by 2017 alone, more than 2.2 individuals were in jail or prison, and approximately 60% of these people were Latino and blacks (Pearl and Perez, 2018). This depicts racial profiling in the name of ‘fighting drugs’ meaning that the disproportionate effect on races and communities of colour is no coincidence. President Richard Nixon waged war on drugs as a response to the public outcry led by Vietnam war opponents and civil rights activists, forcing a narrative which associated protestors and black communities with drug use.
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The war on drugs should be stopped because it wastes a lot of resources and money, in otherwise, what can be considered as a small crime, especially in regards to marijuana. For instance, in the US in 2018, there were more arrests for marijuana in contrast to the previous years, despite cannabis being legal in more than 11 states, for individuals over the age of 21. As per the FBI, in 2018 alone, there were more than 663,000 arrests due to marijuana in the nation (Loewenstein, 2020). The citizens ought to be outraged because the police across the country continue to waste taxpayers dollars and limited resources of law enforcement by arresting citizens that are otherwise law-abiding, for the simple possession of marijuana.
The war on drugs should also be halted because, on a global basis, the war on drugs has even more destabilizing effects as it creates a black market for drugs which finance the violent operations of criminal groups, particularly in poorer nations where drugs are manufactured and trafficked to wealthier countries including the United States. This market is very lucrative as it provides significant monetary and influential benefits for these criminal groups and this is one of the main reasons why they are willing to go to war for it (Lopez, 2016). Therefore, the war on drugs in the US, fuels and incentivizes the global black market for drugs.
Conclusively, the war on drugs should end because of its adverse impacts on American society as well as the globe, in general. While there are several means of approaching the issue of drug use and misuse especially in the US, the current methods are unsustainable and affect the most vulnerable population and the minority groups and this disproportionate, and unfair targeting does not provide a comprehensive solution to the problem and should thus be ceased.
References
Loewenstein, A. (2020). Why the War On Drugs Must End. Retrieved 26 July 2020, from https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/476968-why-the-war-on-drugs-must-end
Lopez, G. (2016). America Can End Its War on Drugs. Here’s How. Retrieved 26 July 2020, from https://www.vox.com/2016/4/25/11445454/end-war-on-drugs
Pear, B., and Perez, M. (2018). Ending the War on Drugs. Retrieved 26 July 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2018/06/27/452786/ending-war-drugs/
