Drug War, It's time to end it now.

I last visited this topic 2 years ago and in that time I've become more familiar with the ins and outs of drug policy. Since then it has only strengthened my resolve.  I understand many conservatives support the war on the drugs which means by default many TEA Party people do as well.  This is slightly unnerving to me as the TEA Party filter takes no issue with the legalization of drugs.  Legalizing drugs, even the hard ones are fully supported by the ideas of less government, free market trade and fiscal responsibility.  What is a little weird now is suddenly the country is filled with discussion about legalizing marijuana and other drugs. Candidates, politicians, former presidents and special interest groups also believe that the War on Drugs needs to come to an end.

What's even more inspiring is that people are looking at Portugal and it's recent results. They were not winning the war on drugs, actually they were losing it handily. In desperation, they passed legislation with the effect of a de facto legalization of all drugs. The result was not rampant, widespread drug abuse. Drug use and addiction actually declined, as did violence and disease.

The economic crisis is helping the realization that the war on drugs has failed. Taxpayers have long been slow to recognize the economic burden of drug prohibition. For decades they've been told that we only need to spend a little more and remove a few more constitutional protections. With decades of broken promises, busted budgets with trillion-dollar holes, and a teetering economy in crisis, more and more people are saying no to the war on drugs. Even LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, recently released a report entitled "Ending the Drug War: A Dream Deferred" on the 40th anniversary of the War on Drugs.

It's time, why wait.

Cheers,

Mike