If prohibition didn’t work the first time, why attempt it again? Today, America finds itself neck-deep in the War on Drugs, and the drugs are putting up a fight. These infamous substances have long been the object of fear, hatred, and contempt, but under closer examination, these long-feared narcotics and hallucinogens could be an immense help to society. Drugs need to be legalized in the United States, now, for one reason: money.
People across the country are pleading to Congress for an economic bailout. I have a bailout plan of my own, and it can work if everyone can keep an open mind. According to the United Nations, the global drug market is worth more than $322 billion, and the good old U.S. of A. holds a $90 billion piece of the scrumptious drug pie. If drugs were legalized, the government could tax that $90 billion, creating new jobs and extra revenue to help pull America out of this recession. Over $45 billion could be put into the treasury every year if drugs were legalized, not counting the money that would be saved on law enforcement costs.
The cost of the War on Drugs becomes even more apparent when the annual expenditures of law enforcement are examined. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) states that the Federal government spends approximately $22 billion to fight drugs every year; the State and Local governments spend a combined $33 billion. ONDCP also estimates that collateral damage from drug crimes total $26 billion a year.
If my statistics seem to be confusing, let me explain using this simple equation: tax revenue ($45 billion) + reduction of Federal government spending ($22 billion) + reduction of State and Local spending ($33 billion) + reduction of collateral damage ($26 billion) = $126 billion every year.
With $126 billion extra in the treasury every year, our government could do a lot to help our country. Or, the government could do the unthinkable and save the money! Either way, drugs need to be legalized. The entire world needs drugs to be legalized, and the movement can start in America
