 Drugs long been considered public safety problem in the U.S.  Beginning in early 1900s federal gov’t began efforts to criminalize use of certain drugs that were found to be harmful or addictive  Through highly addictive drugs like heroin & cocaine remained a problem up through 1950s, problem had little impact on mainstream America

 During 1960s, era of protest and social rebellion, use of marijuana and LSD became fashionable among youth & symbol of counterculture lifestyle  By end of decade experimentation led to addiction and problems for thousands of Americans and soldiers returning from Vietnam  Eventually studies began to show abuse of illegal drugs was linked to other criminal activity and could lead to health risks

 Caught attention of law enforcement & politicians eager to crack down on “culture of lawlessness”  President Nixon elected in 1968 & in 1973 consolidated federal offices and programs to create Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)  Decision often seen as beginning to “war on drugs”-eliminate activities surrounding illegal controlled substances

 Rationale: limiting access to drugs- by making it illegal to buy or sell- was best way to stop health and crime problems

 Int’l crime orgs from Central/ S. America began flooding U.S market w/ new, powerful drugs- new culture of violence  1980s: drug related crime skyrocketed when crack began appearing in U.S cities  Easy to produce & highly addictive  Lead to increases in street gangs and organized foreign criminal drug orgs (cartels)

 Urban homicides & drug-related gun violence drew media attention and paralyzed communities in fear  1986: Congress passed Anti-Drug Abuse Act- $1.7 billion to fight illegal drugs & est minimum sentences for drug possession  Harsher sentence for possession of crack

 Crack epidemic wreaked havoc on mostly poor, working class citizens  Increase in powder cocaine by middle/upper class symbolized excess of 1980s & message it sent to youth seen as a major national problem  1984, Nancy Regan, launched “Just Say No” public service campaign  Designed to encourage kids to stay away from drugs

 Celebrities joined effort through TV specials & ads with strong anti-drug message  “Partnership for a Drug-Free America” also launched series of hard-hitting TV ads showing dangers of drug abuse  Most famous: sizzling egg with “This is your brain on drugs” caption

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 Drug use among youth dropped slightly in 1980s but gains erased with intro of new drugs  1990s emergence of “club drugs” (MDMA/Ecstasy) brought war on drugs to suburbia  Home based labs used to produce methamphetamines (crystal meth) began popping up in residential neighborhoods

 Chemical process used to make meth involves readily available ingredients- dangerous impact on communities even more strongly felt  Abuse of powerful prescription pain meds (Vicodin, OxyContin) have created new industry of illegal drug trafficking

 Most of illegal drugs consumed in U.S. are grown and produced elsewhere & smuggled in country by land, sea & air  Mexican land border and costal border along southern U.S are most common points of entry for drugs  Drug orgs in Mexico and C. America engage in increasingly violent tactics- prompting U.S to give billions in aid to help countries of the region fight against cartels

 2011: 22.5 million Americans 12 or older (9% of population) reported using illegal drugs  Meth and cocaine dropped but marijuana and prescription pills increased  Cost of enforcing and prosecuting/imprisoning those who break law costs U.S about $40 billion a year

 U.S imprisons 1 out of every 100 adults-world’s highest rate of incarceration  Largest % of prison population have been convicted of using/selling drugs  Housing inmates is expensive  2011 Supreme Court ruled that California prisons so crowded that incarceration there amounts to “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of 8 th Amendment

 Marijuana most widely used illegal drug  Nearly ½ of all nonviolent drug arrests are marijuana-related  20 states and DC allow sale and use of small amounts of medical marijuana to adults with doctor’s prescription hp?resourceID=000881

 Cancer patients and chronic pain sufferers report quick and effective relief from marijuana w/o side effects of more potent painkillers  However, federal authorities can still prosecute anyone who grows, sells or possesses if it is legal in their state  2012 Gallup poll- Americans almost equally divided on questions of legalization of marijuana

PRO  Marijuana is safer than alcohol and medically useful.  Jailing people for possessing small quantities ruins lives and wastes law enforcement resources that should be targeting violent criminals instead.  Legalizing marijuana would make individuals and communities safer. CON  Marijuana is a harmful, toxic substance  The drug reduces alertness and causes learning and memory problems.  Legalizing it would increase use as well as treatment and rehab needs  Users would be more prone to traffic accidents and less productive at work and school

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 The question: is this fair?  Specifically: is this fair to people who go through the appropriate and legal channels to obtain their marijuana? To people who are severely ill?

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