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U.S. and War on Drugs

Question 1. Should the US end the war on drugs?

For the purposes of this debate, the question is interpreted as pertaining to the efforts of law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest drug importers, processors, and sellers and, to a lesser extent, users. Drugs are defined as narcotics and marijuana (cannabis). These substances are harmful, and every effort should be made to discourage their use. The question is the most effective method of achieving control and reduction of drug use.

The problem with the "war on drugs" is that we are fighting the wrong war, in the wrong place, and with the wrong weapons. There are two "case studies" that relate to controlling similar "anti-social" substances, alcohol and tobacco. In the first case, based on the 18th amendment to the US constitution "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors" and "the importation thereof" was made illegal in 1919. This proved a disaster as huge and powerful illegal organizations sprang up overnight to produce and distribute alcohol. Fourteen years of massive police effort on both the local and national level did little but enrich the criminals involved while people continued to enjoy and abuse alcohol. Finally, with the passage of the 21st amendment in 1933 this ill-founded effort ended in abject failure.

The second case is tobacco. Did the United States declare war on tobacco? There are doubtless members of the management of tobacco companies that would feel this was the case. The use of tobacco products has decreased significantly, and more important, the profitability of growing tobacco and manufacturing tobacco products has been reduced. There is a legal component in the effort that brought this about. Tobacco advertising was controlled, and tobacco use in public places prohibited or controlled. Perhaps most important, through a process of education of the public concerning the risks of tobacco, cons

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U.S. and War on Drugs. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 10:34, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1689112.html