Did you hear three tons of pot was found near the Mexican border in an abandoned truck? Or that a grow house with 100 marijuana plants was found in Washington? Or that a man was caught smuggling pot in teddy bears?
We hear these news stories on a daily basis and we are still able to purchase marijuana with no problems. I bring this point up because I have two concerns. First of all, these busts can be claimed as victories for law enforcement, but it reveals the failure of public policy. Second, these busts show the strength and power of criminal organizations that exist within the U.S and Mexico. As our law enforcement officers continue to seize copious amounts of drugs, they consistently omit who the purchasers are.
A civil war has literally broken out between criminal organizations and law enforcement officers each of them funded by taxpayers. Mexican and American drug lords kill people left and right to exhibit their dominance and incite instability in the regions they control. Federal, state, and local authorities arrest nearly one million people annually and violate the rights we as Americans deserve. What are the paths this war can take?
1. Keep the Status Quo
Law enforcement would continue to arrest drug users and dealers; drug rings continue to smuggle more drugs. Innocent people, including citizens of the U.S and Mexico, and their law enforcement officers are caught in the crossfire of a war between the government and criminal organizations.
2. Enforce Illegality of Cannabis
Penalties for drug dealers and drug users could be ramped up. The death penalty could be enforced for any drug dealer. Iran is one nation that executes drug smugglers on a daily basis, but it does not seem like it has deterred the population from getting its drugs.
3. Decriminalization of Cannabis
Protect the consumers of the drugs. The government will not arrest the 800,000 or so people that are arrested normally, however, the illegal drug rings still profit, retain power, and will continue to use violence.
4. Legalization of Cannabis
Legalization would slash the revenue of drug rings in half, and would cut costs for drug enforcement organizations like the DEA and other local and state authorities. The revenue that would be generated from taxes could then be used to treat drugs as a public health issue rather than a crime problem.
This leaves us as Americans with a bit to think about. What are our priorities? Keeping our nation as drug free as possible? Protecting only our citizens from arrests? Or treating drug use as a health problem?
If God could not keep the Adam and Eve from eating the apple, what makes you think the DEA can stop us from using a Flower?
The Weed Street Journal