The piece of legislation that can be identified as being the start of the War on Drugs was the Harrison Tax Act of 1914, which restricted the sale of heroin. Shortly thereafter the sale of cocaine was restricted as well. We have been waging war on drugs for almost 100 years! Fast forward 97 years and you find that We spent roughly $40 Billion dollars in 2010 alone and arrested over 1.6 million people in 2009! The lives ruined and the amount of money wasted on a war that is clearly lost is unfathomable. However, we may be better off with drug cartels and street gangs controlling the recreational drug industry.
Ever wonder why cannabis was made illegal? The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which attempted to tax marijuana into oblivion wasn’t enough. Even though Marijuana had not been shown to be dangerous, the perception that it might be a "gateway drug" for heroin users–and its popularity among Mexican-American immigrants-(read illegal immigrants)-made it an easy target for Harry J. Anslinger and others. Mr. Anslinger As Commissioner of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics, waged a campaign against cannabis on radio and in national print media. Mr. Anslinger is credited with the following quotes: "Smoke a joint and you are likely to kill your brother", "Darkies who smoke marijuana think they are as good as white folk" and "This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negros, entertainers and any others". Some suspect that Mr. Anslinger had connections to the DuPont petro-chemical company which didn’t want competition with hemp products. William Randall Hurst, the publisher and media magnate, was another warrior against cannabis.
Thomas Jefferson once said that (paraphrasing) ‘a government given power will, in small steps, over time, transition into tyranny’. When the government controls us, controls what we do as individuals for our own good and under the presumption of providing protection from ourselves, are we not living in tyranny? I do not advocate anarchy but I do support freedom. I believe that I should have the right to do whatever I want to as long as it does not harm others or infringe on their rights. I believe I was born with this right, god gave me free will, my government takes it away and that is so very far from the principles this country was founded on. It is a shame. Can anyone who values smaller government, less taxes, individual freedom and personal responsibility justify this misguided maligning of our liberties, freedom and security?