I was reading about drug wars on the Mexican American border and pondering about how to curb the problem. Why wouldn’t a criminal from an impoverished nation want to bring drugs into the United States of America for a large profit? For the same reason an underprivileged person sells drugs on the street.
Let’s say you are a young African American who lives in an impoverished neighborhood looking for a job. If you are lucky enough to find and get a job, why wouldn’t you turn to illegal sales of drugs to earn that same paycheck in less than a day? The constant presence of this temptation is not only unfair, but rather cruel.
So, problem solved. Legalize drugs. Kill many birds with one stone.
A really good movie to watch is called “13th” by Ava Duvernay, which was named after the 13th Amendment, and basically states that incarceration is the new form of slavery.
You can watch the trailer here: 13th Movie Trailer
It is easy for a white person to see this as a movie about black people problems. Try not to. For the most part this is a drug problem. What is utterly disturbing is how the number of persons sent to prison per year has risen almost exponentially.
Don’t buy drugs. Don’t do drugs. Don’t sell drugs. Easy enough, right? No, it isn’t. It isn’t working. The proof is in the pudding. “Just say no” defies the principles of supply and demand.
Over and over again people point to Prohibition of alcohol as a failed cause. It didn’t work. It was a huge waste of time, money and resources trying to crack down on the once illegal trade.
The same goes for drugs. However, rare is the politician who wants to stump on a platform of legalizing heroin. People don’t want to see drugs legalized. I don’t believe they intentionally want to keep the impoverished down. But, in their naivety, this is exactly what happens. Don’t get me wrong, drug abuse also affects the rich, but they are much more likely to get out of doing time in prison.
Here are a select few politicians who have spoken about the legalization of drugs. The best part starts at 1:35:
Let’s not forget that current studies show a brain isn’t fully formed until age 25, with common sense arriving last. This means that young people don’t even have the capacity to fully realize or anticipate the consequences of their actions. Dealers who are “lucky” enough to make it over the age of 25 without dying or going to prison understand the high risk/high benefit ratio, but don’t have the education or training for other fields of employment.
Speaking of education and employment, even now the legal system is going after doctors for “overprescribing” opioids. After all that hard work and expensive education, a doctor can lose his or her freedom and license to practice. This also works to the detriment of people who have real, chronic pain.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/files/SamplePatientAgreementForms.pdf
Gee, do you think some of these people might have to turn to the streets for relief?
Wake up and smell the poppies! It’s time for a change. Please write the man.
Wilfred Knight
Follow Wilfred Knight on Facebook
