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House Democrats have scheduled a horrible drug war bill for a vote tomorrow (Wednesday). The Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2010 (H.R. 5231), would expand problematic drug conspiracy laws, apply mandatory minimum drug sentences to more people, increase racial disparities, and subject Americans to incarceration for drug offenses and public health interventions that are legal in the foreign country in which they’re committed.

People Arrested for Cannabis Law Offenses this Year 113,159

Police arrested an estimated 858,408 persons for cannabis violations in 2009. Of those charged with cannabis violations, approximately 89 percent were charged with possession only. An American is arrested for violating cannabis laws every 30 seconds.

Source: Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Report of the global commission on drugs says the global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. It suggests to end the criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs but who do no harm to others. Challenge rather than reinforce common misconceptions about drug markets, drug use and drug dependence.

The story cites all the horrors of the drug war, but doesn't aknowledge that it is the drug war itself, that is the problem. It mentions than Iran is the biggest user of heroin. Don't they have strict drug laws? It's the "worlds" job to control drug use

With American drug use levels essentially the same as — and levels of drug-related violence either the same as or lower than — those in countries like the Netherlands with liberal drug laws, public support for the War on Drugs appears to be faltering. This was most recently evidenced in the victory of major drug decriminalization initiatives in Colorado and Washington. Some misguided commentators go so far as to say the Drug War is “a failure.” Here, to set the record straight, are fifteen ways in which it is a resounding success.

In the war on drugs, federal grant programs like the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program have encouraged state and local law enforcement agencies to boost drug arrests in order to compete for millions of dollars in funding. Agencies receive cash rewards for arresting high numbers of people for drug offenses, no matter how minor the offenses or how weak the evidence.

"The apocalypse never happened" as some predicted when the country of Portugal decriminalized ALL illegal drugs eight years ago. The country did NOT become a haven for drug use, and drug abuse & drug crime actually FELL.

Drug users know their stuff
November 24, 2009 Drug users know their stuff

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Drug users are well informed about the harms associated with the drugs they use, and perceive alcohol and tobacco to be amongst the most dangerous substances, according to a survey by UCL (University College London) and Imperial College London researchers. The findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, suggest that the current system of classifying psychoactive drugs in the UK may need to be revisited.

'American Drug War: The Last White Hope'

A Film by Kevin Booth

Uploaded by TheStraight911Truth

Thirty-five years after Nixon started the war on drugs, we have over 1 million nonviolent drug offenders living behind bars.

The War on Drugs has become the longest and most costly war in American history. The question has become, how much more can the country endure. Inspired by the death of four family members from "legal drugs," Texas filmmaker Kevin Booth sets out to discover why the Drug War has become such a big failure.