drugs are bad, mmmmkay

8/2/2019 Drugs Are Bad, Mmmmkay

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Why We Should Change TheWay We Treat The War On

Drugs


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The 18th Amendment and related laws in 1919: Made alcohol illegal to sell, manufacture or transport in

US

Organized crime became widespread (black market,mob bosses, etc). Resulting in:

Progressively more violence.

Progressively more addiction problems.

Progressively more theft.

Progressively more inmates.

Ban ended in 1933 due to passage of 21st Amendment

which repeals the 18th Amendment What did we learn?

You cant pass laws to change peoples behavior.

Legal prohibition of a vice: Redirects money to people that do not follow the law.

Punishes addicts.


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Media Blitz (yellow journalism) According to the News and Media back then,

Marijuana: Causes car accidents

Causes loose morality

Causes acts of shocking violence Causes incurable insanity

Destroys the soul

Is deadlier than heroin or cocaine

In 1937, The Marijuana Tax Act passes US

Congress: It did notcriminalize possession or usage of hemp,

marijuana or cannibis

It didimpose: large taxes (for the time) on everyone that bought/sold

and a possible 5 year prison sentence.


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The drug war really took off once Ronald Reagan waselected President (1981). Since then, throughlegislators from both parties:

Prohibition of all drugs dramatically increases, includingMarijuana.

Drug users are criminalized Sent to prison instead of treated

Fined large amounts

Become more addicted in prison

Organized crime is indirectly given more power andmoney. Resulting in:

More violent crimes

More theft

More inmates

More addiction problems


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8/13

Pride? The US is the World Leaderin imprisonmentrates

We have more in prison for drug related crimes than allother offenses combined

We currently have more inmates in America than thepopulation of the state of New Mexico

52.4% are drug related

34.9% are non-violent drug related (possession, use)

Drugs are still more accessible than ever High Schools Middle Schools

of Americans supportthe drug war

of Americans consider the drug war a failure


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Prohibition of vice stilldoesnt work Empowers organized crime

Behaviors dont change

Imprisonment makes people worse

People become more addicted in prison Once a criminal, Always a Criminal

Harder to get proper employment

Harder to stay in the lawful path

Inmates network and make friends with other inmates.

Treatment of drug addiction as a medical condition is notconsidered in discipline, resulting in:

More addicts, more drug-related crimes, less productiveworkforce, more money from addicts go to fund more crime.


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Lets Treat Our Addicted

drugs are bad, mmmmkay

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