It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
In 2000, the National Drug Control budget exceeds $18 billion and the states will spend upwards of $20 billion more. This is a dramatic increase since 1980, when federal spending was roughly $1 billion and state spending just a few times that. Between FY1991 and FY2000 more than $140 billion has been spent at the federal level to curtail drug abuse, yet drugs remain cheap, easy to obtain and with higher purity levels than before the war on drugs was initiated.
>SNIP<
From 1987 to 1998 state spending on corrections increased by 30% while spending on higher education decreased by 18.2%.
State prison budgets are growing twice as fast as spending on public colleges and universities.
>SNIP<
Who Really Profits?
Organized Crime
Arms manufacturers, the prison industry, and other special interest groups.
Corrupt Law Enforcement
[url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/factsheets/economiccons/fact_economic.cfm]>Source
Originally posted by NGC2736
Not all cops are crooks, and some are coming out and admitting that this can't be handled the same old way.
Oh, absolutely. I'll venture to say the overwhelming majority of cops are good guys. I don't think there are any more crooks in law enforcement by percentage than there are in any other profession. And the admissions of the honest law enforcement officials will go as far to help alleviate this travesty as just about anything else.
Originally posted by InSpiteOf
I think in this instance, the US, and Canada should take a page out of the book of Amsterdam. Legalize virtually everything and cut down on the criminal element of the drug trade.
Originally posted by Blaine91555
Keeping the above in mind here is the problem with all this. Addiction. Addiction has to be factored in to the equation. What are its costs physically, mentally and financially? Would these costs actually be higher than the cost of this failed war on drugs? Maybe? If we legalize everything, we would be obligated to provide treatment which would amount to a tremendous cost to society. People who would never try an illegal drug would be tempted to experiment with drugs if they were legal. People who already use drugs would surely increase their use if the price went down and it was easy to obtain.
What about our children? We know that alcohol is the most abused drug by children because it is legal and easy to obtain for them. There is always an unlocked liquor cabinet in someones home or a less than responsible adult or relative willing to supply it. What would happen when the same is true of things like heroin, coc aine, meth, crack and other destructive, addictive drugs?
Bottom line. The money issue is a red herring. The costs of treatment combined with things like lost productivity, availability to children and destroyed relationships and families would be just as high if not higher. The real issue is one you mentioned. Should government legislate morality? Does it even have the right to legislate morality?
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
Now consider the loss of revenue from taxable income from these same drugs. i would reckon that 25 billion is pretty conservative if you estimate the tax revenue from pot sales.