“And I see no changes can’t a brother get a little peace

It’s war on the streets and a war in the Middle East

Instead of war on poverty

They got a war on drugs so the police can bother me”

-Tupac Shakur

I am not a vices girl. Well with the exception of drinking way too much coffee and binging through TV shows on Netflix. But in the world of mass incarceration where the U.S. is leading in illicit drug use I can’t help but wonder, has the war on drugs doing more harm than good?

Well let’s see: if you are convicted or arrested for possessing marijuana you cannot vote, cannot possibly adopt children, and cannot enter Canada for whatever reason. As of 2014 over 50% of inmates in prisons were serving time because of non-violent drug offenses. Hundreds of millions of dollars and countless lives ruined and the number of people who use drugs hasn’t substantially fallen since Nixon’s war on drugs was first waged in the ‘70s.

Is doing drugs good for you? Well Marijuana can be very helpful to cancer patients, but generally not so much. Should doing drugs be a family game night activity? Well it might liven up playing Monopoly, but it would end badly. Most recreational drugs are not good for your body, mind, or teeth in some situations.

But should we really be in the business of banning things simply because they are not good for us? One of the many benefits of being an adult is that for better or worse you can make your own choices. You are responsible for your own actions, so the way I see it, as long as you don’t try to drive or perform open heart surgery who are you hurting really?

I personally am an advocate of informed choice. Adults are made aware very young of the many negative ways that tobacco and alcohol can impact their health. Honestly what good has every really come from telling adults what they should do with their bodies?

Nearly two centuries ago the temperance (anti-alcohol consumption) movement was in full swing. And let’s be honest they had some pretty valid points. People drank way too much and behaved badly. There were safety and health issues surrounding the way people were drinking and how they behaved under the influence. But, banning alcohol outright didn’t stop people from drinking excessively, it forced people to get creative about how and when people drank excessively.

It should be noted that drug addiction is a terrible thing and can be devastating not only for an addict but for those that love them. But the good intentioned war on drugs has over the years acquired as many casualties as drug addiction. Here are a few:

1. We’ve spent $51 billion on the Drug War.
2. Mandatory Minimums: As mentioned above half of inmates are in prison because of drugs. In the U.S. although it’s being challenged those arrested or convicted are required to be given often-lengthy prison sentences. Sentences longer then that of those who commit violent crimes. Additionally a drug record follows you and can continue to negatively impact your life years late.
3. Racial Bias: Statistically speaking 5 times as many whites are using drugs as black and brown people and yet people of color are sent to prison at 10 times the rate.
4. Mass Incarceration: Half of the inmates serving sentences are in prison for drug offenses, housing those inmates costs tax payers millions annually.
5. Addiction: Contrary to popular belief throwing people into jail for drug use or possession doesn’t get rid of addiction it simply criminalizes addiction.
6. International Effect: This ties into gun violence. Drug prohibition just creates opportunity for organized criminals and corrupt governments. For example since the U.S. exported anti-drug policies to Mexico already existing drug cartels have become increasingly violent.
7. Gun Violence: In addition to being expensive and let’s face it ineffective the war on drugs has increased violence. Since because of drug laws the only way to get drugs is through illegal prohibited markets that are enforced by violence in the absence of regulation.

Should we educate people on how drugs will impact their minds and bodies? Of course. Should we try to prevent children from using drugs (aside from medical usage)? Yes. Should we limit who can sell and produce drugs? Yes. Should there be laws about what kinds of activities one can participate in under the influence? Yes. But handing out life sentences for non-violent drug offenses if doing much more harm than good.

Maybe if recreational and medical drug use was legalized and regulated, it could become safer in the way that alcohol consumption has become in a post prohibition world.