While we cannot declare ‘mission accomplished,’ the claim that the war on drugs is a colossal failure is pure phony propaganda
The war on drugs, while not a complete success, is far from a complete failure. Just stop to think about how much more illicit dope would be available in the U.S. if it were not for the war on drugs.
There are four major factors standing in the way of victory in the war on drugs: (1) The insatiable hunger for drugs by many Americans; (2) the utter corruption at all levels of government, police and the military that is found throughout Mexico; (3) the disregard of the law by an overwhelming number of America’s pot smokers; and (4) a failure and unwillingness to vigorously enforce America’s laws against possession of illegal drugs.
Take Japan for instance. Laws against the illegal possession of drugs are vigorously enforced with a 95 percent conviction rate. Those convicted are either locked up in a drug treatment center or sent to serve time in prison. As a result, Japan does not have a drug problem on the magnitude of that in the United States.
The war on drugs is all about supply and demand. The mission can be accomplished, but only if we make the use of drugs unpleasant for the pleasure seekers. That will reduce the demand. And that will force the Mexican cartels to leave the illegal drug business for other criminal enterprises. The problem is that we do not have the political will to go after the users.
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