Around 2 million people in the United States are incarcerated: the highest of any modern country, even more than the likes of communist China and Russia (Highest to Lowest - Prison Population Total). These surprising statistics are due in part to the drug war, which has only resulted in the increase of illicit drugs and the mass incarceration of American citizens. The action America takes may affect the future in ways that could damage families across this once great land in a very similar way the American Prohibition did so long ago. Drug abuse as a result should be decriminalized, as otherwise innocent people are spending countless years of their lives being judged by society and not getting the help they so desperately need.
In June 1971, …show more content…
During the turn of the millennium in 1999 Portugal, a country that at the time faced massive amounts of addiction with 1 percent of citizens addicted to some type of illicit drug, would decide to take a different approach after a forceful approach proved unsuccessful. Paradoxically, the United States and state governments spent more than 36 billion taxpayer dollars on funding the drug war which has only created more problems than it strived to solve. (Brosious). In a way, decriminalization would take on the problem even more as the drugs will always be available in some shape or form, it is the simple concept of supply and demand as long as there is demand for a product, the supply will be there no matter how hard it may be suppressed. By taking care of the demand we can ensure that the collateral damage of drug abuse is under control and ensure that there are no lethal street additives in the drugs. Moreover, no more will people be torn away from their families, when all they need is professional help not harsh
In June 1971, …show more content…
During the turn of the millennium in 1999 Portugal, a country that at the time faced massive amounts of addiction with 1 percent of citizens addicted to some type of illicit drug, would decide to take a different approach after a forceful approach proved unsuccessful. Paradoxically, the United States and state governments spent more than 36 billion taxpayer dollars on funding the drug war which has only created more problems than it strived to solve. (Brosious). In a way, decriminalization would take on the problem even more as the drugs will always be available in some shape or form, it is the simple concept of supply and demand as long as there is demand for a product, the supply will be there no matter how hard it may be suppressed. By taking care of the demand we can ensure that the collateral damage of drug abuse is under control and ensure that there are no lethal street additives in the drugs. Moreover, no more will people be torn away from their families, when all they need is professional help not harsh