You may have watched the Democratic presidential hopefuls pitch their “One Big Idea” during the debates these last two nights. However, they have no monopoly on ideas, big or otherwise. I posted three of my Big Ideas earlier.
Here’ my fourth Big Idea: Winning the War on Drugs
Here are my recommendations:
The real solution is simple – if you can’t beat them, join them. Stop the War on Drugs and get with the program. The US government should get into the drug business. I propose that the government buy drugs and sell them. I don’t mean buy drug from #South American cartels; I mean buy directly from the farmers in South America. This would cut out the middlemen: cartels, smugglers, drug pushers, etc. By cutting out the middlemen, the price of drugs should be very low, affordable and profitable. Drugs should be sold at special stores called… wait for it… “drug stores.” People would be able to purchase as much drugs as they want, provided they sign a waiver to forgo any medical treatment for drugs additions or drug induced problems. We allow drugs like alcohol and tobacco, and in some states, marijuana, so why not allow all drugs?
Here’s the impact of that solution:
1. The price of illegal drugs would plummet. This would reduce crime since more people will be able to afford drugs.
2. The prison population will drop. Per the Bureau of Prisons, there are 207,847 people incarcerated in federal prisons -- 48.6 percent are in for drug offenses. Per the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 1,358,875 people in state prisons -- 16 percent have a drug crime as their most serious offense.
3. Many new and legal jobs will be created for tax paying citizens. In 2015, in legalizing marijuana in Colorado, 18,000 new full-time jobs were created and more than $2.4 billion generated for the economic. Now consider the impact in 50 states and expanding to hard drugs.
4. Drug use may decrease. In Portugal, when all drugs became legal (over 10 years ago) there were fewer deaths by overdose and fewer cases of HIV.
5. The cartels, drug pushers, smugglers, etc. will be put out of business. Drug cartels currently earn $64.34 billion per year from their sales to users in the United States.
6. The government will collect the profits instead of the cartels. The government would also tax all sales.
7. This will free up money formerly used for the War on Drugs.
8. This will also save money. The cost of illicit drug use in the US is $193 billion annually.
9. The quality of drugs would be improved as the government regulates the drug market. Drug will become safer, causing fewer deaths.
Drug War won.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: To the humorously challenged, this is a satire—mostly.
Here’ my fourth Big Idea: Winning the War on Drugs
Here are my recommendations:
The real solution is simple – if you can’t beat them, join them. Stop the War on Drugs and get with the program. The US government should get into the drug business. I propose that the government buy drugs and sell them. I don’t mean buy drug from #South American cartels; I mean buy directly from the farmers in South America. This would cut out the middlemen: cartels, smugglers, drug pushers, etc. By cutting out the middlemen, the price of drugs should be very low, affordable and profitable. Drugs should be sold at special stores called… wait for it… “drug stores.” People would be able to purchase as much drugs as they want, provided they sign a waiver to forgo any medical treatment for drugs additions or drug induced problems. We allow drugs like alcohol and tobacco, and in some states, marijuana, so why not allow all drugs?
Here’s the impact of that solution:
1. The price of illegal drugs would plummet. This would reduce crime since more people will be able to afford drugs.
2. The prison population will drop. Per the Bureau of Prisons, there are 207,847 people incarcerated in federal prisons -- 48.6 percent are in for drug offenses. Per the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 1,358,875 people in state prisons -- 16 percent have a drug crime as their most serious offense.
3. Many new and legal jobs will be created for tax paying citizens. In 2015, in legalizing marijuana in Colorado, 18,000 new full-time jobs were created and more than $2.4 billion generated for the economic. Now consider the impact in 50 states and expanding to hard drugs.
4. Drug use may decrease. In Portugal, when all drugs became legal (over 10 years ago) there were fewer deaths by overdose and fewer cases of HIV.
5. The cartels, drug pushers, smugglers, etc. will be put out of business. Drug cartels currently earn $64.34 billion per year from their sales to users in the United States.
6. The government will collect the profits instead of the cartels. The government would also tax all sales.
7. This will free up money formerly used for the War on Drugs.
8. This will also save money. The cost of illicit drug use in the US is $193 billion annually.
9. The quality of drugs would be improved as the government regulates the drug market. Drug will become safer, causing fewer deaths.
Drug War won.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: To the humorously challenged, this is a satire—mostly.
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