...Drugs have been produced since the 18th century in the United States. There are essentially seven types of popular illegal (and some legal) drugs that are used improperly in many ways which are: marijuana, LSD(acid), opium, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, codeine, and oxytone. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, anti-drug policies were ineffective, politicized and possess questionable data. Drugs were coming from different parts of Latin America, eventually coming to the U.S. from Europe. Drug policy in America has been ineffective more than actually being achievable or successful. Drugs are the enemy of the nation bringing crime, violence, addiction, foreign and economic policies in an immense catastrophe....
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...United States Drug Policy on Mexico and Colombia Drugs are not new to this Earth. Mankind has grown and consumed drugs for millennia. Marijuana, or more appropriately Cannabis, is indigenous to Central and South Asia, and has been consumed widely since 3000 B.C.E. (ElSohly 8). In more recent times (1938), Albert Hoffman synthesized Lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, while searching for treatments for psychiatric diseases (Hoffman). Initially, many drugs were used in religious/spiritual functions. In several instances, the strong fibers of the Cannabis plant were used for building, much like jute, and the narcotic aspects of the plants were not even explored (ElSohly 8). However, today, drugs are frequently used recreationally, and as a result are highly profitable commodities. It is common knowledge that across the world, the vast majority of drugs are illegal or are restricted in some way. Almost nightly, proponents for the legalization of drugs, decriminalization of certain drugs, and the continued ban on drugs debate their positions through the media. This debate is a hot button issue that is almost entirely centered upon the views and policies of the world’s largest drug consumer, the United States of America (CIA Factbook). Governments and the media very often focus on drug consumption trends and drug flow into the United States, while largely ignoring Latin American perspectives and impacts on Latin America. Though drug production and drug use are major...
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...world the United States of America faces many different threats and issues globally. As a result like many other countries America has and continues to implement more foreign policy for the overall well being of the American people. Even at its closest neighboring borders within Mexico lie huge drug war problems both nations are attempting to resolve through the use of a variety of different foreign policy including military intervention, sharing of information, and stricter border control. Yet it would seem that all of which have been ineffective in solving the problem and may have even worsened it. These costly and terrible policies are hurting both nations and only tarnishing the...
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...The War on Drugs: What is America Fighting For? Sandra Gailer COM/172 September 25, 2013 + The War on Drugs: What is America Fighting For? With the number of arrests having more than tripled in the past 25 years, and billions of dollars spent annually to fund the war on drugs, the United States (U.S.) should consider decriminalizing and regulating illegal drugs to reduce the number of people incarcerated and produce tax revenue from distribution. Since it was first declared by President Nixon in 1971 (Drug Policy Alliance, n.d.) the drug war proves to be causing America more harm than good. With no end in sight, the government should not be focusing on drug prevention but rather drug policy reformation. The US has been funding the war on drugs for decades. Although the intentions behind declaring the war are to help Americans, the reality is the war continues to be causing more harm than good. America has spent at least $1 trillion dollars on the war so far (Drug Policy Alliance, n.d.). In 2010 alone, the federal government spent over $15 billion dollars funding the war, that is at a rate of about $500 per second (Drug War Clock, n.d.). With the amount of debt increasing over a billion dollars every day, our government should be directing efforts towards creating revenue instead of continuing to spend money and increasing taxes. One way to accomplish generating revenue would be if some of the drugs that are considered illegal were decriminalized and regulated by the federal...
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...From an Economic Standpoint 12/2/2012 The Legalization of Marijuana in America ID: 1175376 Introduction After the recent 2012 United States Presidential Election, whereupon Colorado and Washington passed the policy to legalize marijuana for “adult purposes,” government officials faced conflict as to whether to legalize the drug on a federal level or not (Smith 1). There is a battle between the Supreme Court and federal government regarding enforcement as state law allows production and consumption of the drug while the federal law prohibits such activities. When a state officer finds marijuana on the persons of a Colorado resident, there is no charge; however, when a federal officer finds marijuana on the persons of a Colorado resident the extent of the penalty could be arrest and incarceration. Due to conflicting enforcement policies, America is forced to examine the issue and come to a consensus between the policies to ensure homogeneity between the two lawmaking bodies. One means of analyzing the issue is through an economic perspective. As economics is the study of “how society manages its scarce resources” and the manner in which a society makes decisions, the economics behind a controversial policy can help determine acceptance or rejection of the proposed law (Mankiw 1-1). Based on fundamental economic concepts, historical evidence, global data, and future forecasts, the effects of legalizing marijuana will be analyzed. After analyzing the economics of the legalization...
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...Journal number six focused on the policies that were implemented to help alleviate the war on drugs in America. The war on drugs have been going on in America for many years. Many different polices have been implemented to gain control on the war of drugs. The U.S. government implemented the anti – opium drug law for the Chinese, anti – cocaine law for African American men, and the anti - marijuana law for Mexican American. Although President Dixon no knock warrant and immediate mandatory sentencing policy did not help the society causing a higher incarceration rates; his gesture brought attention to the war on drugs. President Clinton implemented and gave 1.5 billion dollars to assist with the importation and exportation of drugs from the...
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...Core 8 [FOreign Policy in latin America](Paper taken to writing clinic: hannah) | | Every country’s foreign policy consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations. Its goal is to interact with other countries and non-state actors. Foreign policies are designed by the government through high-level decision making processes. The US has been involved in foreign affairs with Latin America for some time now. How are the US and Latin America with Foreign Affairs? Are Latin Americans’ Intellectual Properties being robbed? Are Latin American countries being restored and growing? There are many other questions to ask regarding the foreign policy issues concerning Latin America. One huge problem with Foreign Affairs/Policies is the Drug Trafficking from Latin America into the United States. Cuba is not necessarily a drug producing country but it is a transit one. In 1998 nearly 7.2 metric tons of cocaine were seized in Colombia on its way to Cuba. Also, there was a 50% increase in drug over flight, which includes people carrying drugs as mules on planes and the dropping of drugs into American water from Cuban planes heading to the States (House Government Reform Committee) Castro had once said that he did not want the United States interfering with Cuban drug relations. Most American government officials believed him to be the main cause of drug transportation in and...
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...America's War on Drugs: Policy and Problems In this paper I will evaluate America's War on Drugs. More specifically, I will outline our nation's general drug history and look critically at how Congress has influenced our current ineffective drug policy. Through this analysis I hope to show that drug prohibition policies in the United States, for the most part, have failed. Additionally, I will highlight and evaluate the influences acting on individual legislators' decisions to continue support for these ineffective policies as a more general demonstration of Congress' role in the formation of our nation's drug policy strategy. Finally, I will conclude this analysis by outlining the changes I feel necessary for future progress to be made. Primary among these changes are a general promotion of drug education and the elimination of our current system's many de-legitimating hypocrisies. However, before the specific outcomes of Congressional influence and policy impact can be evaluated it becomes important to first review the general history and current situation of drugs today. Our present drug laws were first enacted at the beginning of the century. At the time, recreational use of narcotics was not a major social issue. The first regulatory legislation was for the purpose of standardizing the manufacturing and purity of pharmaceutical products. Shortly after, the first criminal laws were enacted which addressed opium products and cocaine. Although some states had prohibited...
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...Underlying the U.S. Drug Policy “Drugs and Society: U.S. Public Policy,” edited by Jefferson M. Fish (2006) offers insight that would be helpful in future drug reform policies. In this book, Fish goes through an extensive history of drug policy in America, the influence of missionaries on drug policy and law, the nature of creating criminalization of addiction, the traditional justifications offered by pharmaceutical industry and psychology experts and in conclusion, he suggests that all of these are used to cover up deeper societal issues that existed previous to drug-induced conditions and that drug users are the “scapegoats” for all the wrongs in our society today. One of the core issues that Fish presented is the effect of America history on drug policy and regulation. The beliefs of Christian missionaries, which originated in the opium control policies in the Dutch colonies, helped to drive the control of the use of narcotics (Fish, 2006). Many religious-minded people who believe behavior plays a key role in maintaining social order also instigated prohibition of alcohol. Nonetheless, these people have neglected the economic impact that these inhibitions may do to our society and that the government’s involvement may actually create and perpetuate a larger concern of all of society than the mere misbehavior by the users of the substance (Fish, 2006). Throughout the book, Fish explored the various facets of how U.S. drug policy has not alleviated the problems it sought...
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...Justin Cottingham English 101 TTH Mr. Mark Rooze November 23, 2009 Drug Trafficking in the U.S. In the United States, there are two basic roots of evil that inspire more than a majority of all criminal activity, greed and drugs. Money and drugs go hand in hand in the U.S. and many places all over the world. The drug epidemic has been sweeping the world and the United States rapidly. More and more Americans are admitting to using drugs regularly. “An estimated 14.8 million American currently use illicit drugs” (Go). This means there is a huge demand and a wide range of demographics for drug dealers. “The 2004 National Drug Threat Assessment reports that in adults, age eighteen to twenty-five, 15.4 percent report having used cocaine in their lifetime, 53.8 percent report having used marijuana, and 15.1 percent report having used MDMA (commonly known as "Ecstasy")” (Swanson). The U.S. government is spending billions to fight a so called war on drugs. For the past 50 years the drug trade has increasingly grown in popularity. It is the biggest money making industry in the world. It is estimated that the highest annual income is around $400 billion with a gross profit margins of 300 percent, making the drug trade worth more than the annual budget of the U.S. DOD (Department of Defense). The demand for illicit drugs is greater worldwide than the demand for textiles and automobiles. It is said that of all international trade, 8% of that is illegal narcotics, while textiles make...
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...Drug Policies and Laws CRJ 212 4/28/11 Michael Hall The use of drugs in America is a consensual crime; meaning it involves individuals who commit the crimes willingly. Consensual crime enforcement is a highly debatable topic that attempts to enforce morals in which not all people believe. Scholars debate on which policies better benefit society, whether it is legalization, decriminalization, or restriction, and each have valid arguments. This is important to an American policing standpoint because law enforcement official are the one who have to enforce these policies on a daily basis. To first understand these positions on drugs we must look at their history and effects. A society with little to no drug use is rare in human history (Barkan, 2009). Drug use has occurred throughout history, and was very common in the United States in the late 18th century (2009). Natural drugs (tobacco, marijuana, ergot funguses, coca plants, poppy plants, etc.) and manufactured drugs (ecstasy, methamphetamine, derivatives of plants listed above, etc.) both serve or attempted to serve medical purposes in order to help people. Most people use drugs at one time or another and many frequently use them; aspirin, tobacco, and caffeine are just a few common ones used. In the American society there are “good” (legal) drugs which are socially acceptable, and “bad” (illegal) drugs which are socially unacceptable. Both “good” and “bad” drugs can cause psychological and physical dependence. It is...
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...Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law Howard R. Burke Strayer University Abstract This research will point out that the United States’ current policy on drug prohibition, the so called “War on Drugs,” is ineffective. The current draconian prohibition policies against drug consumption may actually increase their use. As well, contrary to claims made by current drug policy supporters, increased drug enforcement can reduce public safety and compound the individual and social costs of drug use. The U.S. drug policy, born over a hundred years ago, has gone through several transformations becoming more voracious with each new invocation. The War on Drugs is an expensive and failed concept which has incorporated racism in its administration, increased crime rates, imposed harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses, facilitated police corruption and aggressively eroded civil liberties. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Research Research Questions Significance of the Research Assumptions and Limitations Organization of the Remainder of the Study LITERATURE REVIEW CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law INTRODUCTION The United States has conducted a long experiment of drug prohibition. The prohibition of marijuana and other illicit drugs has only increased their...
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...International 101 Research Paper - Assignment 7 25 November 2013 Drug War: World Issue? Question: Why do certain countries try to stop the drug war and drug trade when it is such a high commodity all over the world? An important part of our world today, which has a high fascination in cultures all over the world is drugs. Drugs have been around for a while but they have not been regulated in any way by many governments. Amsterdam has made marijuana legal which taxes it which goes to the government. TV shows revolve around the use of drugs in society; reality and fiction. Although drugs are something that multiple people, politicians, and government officials all have an opinion on. Even suburban parents and the teenage stoners have a stance on drug trade or drug regulation. Which prompts the question, why do certain countries try to stop the drug war and drug trade when it is such a high commodity all over the world? Studies have show, as displayed in the text of America's Holy War explains that tax policies and property and crime directly correlate with drug trade and problems within a modern society. America is an example of bad drug policy whereas other places, for example Europe, have more liberal drug policy and they live more peaceful lives. The contamination of drugs can spread AIDs and many other life threatening diseases. We spend tax dollars to keep drugs out yet they still find a way back in the American border because they are such a commodity and addiction...
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...Prof. Imogene Lim GLST 490 9th December, 2014 The Mexican Dream: Drug Cartels The American dream, a dream that does not come true for every man or woman that is in search of it. According to Ellies, the American dream represent: “each person has the right to pursue happiness, and the freedom to strive for a better life through hard work and fair ambition.” But, would not that same dream be the dream for Germans, French, Spanish, Brazilians and every single country in the world? The truth is that according to the level of access a person has in order to pursue happiness and to strive for a better life has been indisputably the gap among developed and undeveloped countries for decades. However, hard work does not seem to be the key factor to achieve happiness and/or a better life. Then, what does? During the beginning of the 1980’s decade, Mexico among other Latin-American countries started to adopt Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in response to the neo-liberal ideology that was starting to spread around the world as the avenue for global well-being. The World Health Organization states that Structural Adjustment Programs: “were economic policies for developing countries that have been promoted by the WB and IMF since the early 1980s by the provision of loans conditional on the adoption of such policies.” The economic policies promoted by the IMF and WB were meant to encourage the structural adjustment...
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...Drug Trafficking In the United States Angela Nicholson English 122: English Composition II William Johnson Date: 08/23/2011 Drug trafficking is an illegal drug trading system to which drugs are brought from other countries into the United States; to list just a few of these drugs; cocaine, heroin, hashish, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and opiates. Terrorists are being funded by many of these drug trafficking operations in America. Another huge issue in The United States is the drug trafficking inside our country. In Florida and Texas, it is epidemic, the pill mills and grow houses are a major concern because they are supplying the entire United States with access to these drugs at a steady rate. As a result, there are many individuals and families that are being affected by addiction, illness, overdose, and death. The United States Government believes they have this under control and are helping to solve the situation, but in reality, drug trafficking in the United States is out of control. “Drug Trafficking is an activity that involves the cultivation, manufacturing, processing, importation and distribution of drugs” (Desroches, 2007). Going down the line of drug trade you have what is similar to an assembly line. You have the manufacturer or grower who grows and makes the actual drug which then is processed and packaged to be smuggled into the country. Eventually, making its way into America’s neighborhoods, by which is called the dealers. This is a process...
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