 The Daily Lobo (August 24, 1997, p.4) |
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Research on the state of New Mexico's criminal justice system illustrates that nearly 14% of the state's prison population is incarcerated due to a conviction for an illegal drug charge -- a great percentage of these inmates were non-violent offenders (1). Most of these prison inmates were convicted for minor marijuana and cocaine possession or simple trafficking charges. Each year, New Mexico's citizens spend approximately $14.5 million to house these individuals (2). This is money that cannot be used for drug abstinence education, drug rehabiliation programs for addicts or other social problems. We allocated this money to house, feed and play Mom to a handful of "street pharmacists." Many of these convicts will leave the Pinta and commit crimes of a more serious nature -- it is estimated that approximately 70% will end up back in jail. Our current drug enforcement policy takes rookie delinquents and turns them into professional criminals. Our society appears to be afraid to talk openly about marijuana and cocaine. Research is scarce about both these substances. The years of prohibition have limited scientific research, but the years of prohibition have not reduced the general use patterns by the U.S. population and kids. We should be remember the following comparisons: |
500,000 Americans die each year from disease and illnesses related to tobacco; 100,000 Americans die each year from alcohol-related causes; and 12,000 Americans die each year from illegal drug use. |
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We support the tobacco and alcohol industries, yet dedicate close to $20 billion of our tax dollars annually to combat the trafficking and use of illicit drugs. Compared to the illicit substances, alcohol kills over eight times the number of Americans each year and tobacco kills nearly 50 times! Am I advocating illicit drug use? Definitely not! I'm calling for an end to this irrational prohibition. As a society, we should have learned from our failed efforts in the 1920s and 1930s that we, as a nation defined by an open democracy, could not prohibit the use, sales or transport of alcohol. When one examines the outcome of the prohibition on alcohol, it is clear our policies worked only to further a culture of gangsters and criminals. The War on Drugs is replicating this phenomenon. Currently, we are in a social arms race. The bad guys use BIG GUNS to protect their turf and investments; the police require more advanced armament to stay equal -- yet we fail to fund our law enforcement personnel properly and they are always a step behind. This places our officers in a deadly position. We now use the Armed Forces to assist this War. The result is that innocent people are being killed in the crossfire. It is guaranteed that we will see more innocent civilians killed -- more will die accidentally than from abusing these supposedly dangerous substances. Drug prohibition has created a culture of gangs and violence in this country. Where do you think the term "Gangsta Rap" came from? Listen to the words within this music, it focuses on the drug trade. This music emphasizes an "US v. THEM" attitude, and our police are being characterized as the THEM. Inner city African American singers, primarily male, popularized this genre of music. Suburban Whites and other Ethnic groups now idolize these modern "heroes." Drug lords hire many of our young children. Kids make perfect "runners" and lookouts for their business. Why would a kid work at McDonalds for minimum wage when he/she can sell dope and drive a BMW by the age of 16? Our drug policy is creating an upside down incentive system. Americans are a unique bunch of folks. We are very different from French, Italians, Germans or the English. In these countries, individuals are born into their nations, and thus, into their cultures. Americans are given the opportunity to accept both their culture and their country. One is not born American, it is a choice to be made. One either accepts the "American Creed," so eloquently stated in our Declaration of Independence -- Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, or we are asked to hit the road. This Creed constitutes the glue that binds us as a people and that makes our nation what it is.
It will be education that reduces the use and abuse of illicit substances, not prohibition. If you are familiar with basketball, think back to the mid 80s. The Boston Celtics drafted Len Bias for their number one pick. Some thought he would surpass the accomplishments of Larry Bird or Michael Jordan. That night, after the draft, Len Bias celebrated in a hotel room with some friends. They celebrated by inhaling cocaine. Len Bias was dead the next morning. Doctors stated that cocaine was the cause of his death. I have asked many of today's youth whether they heard about Len Bias. Most have not. The death of Len Bias, I believe, had a strong impact on many young males in America. At this time, Miami Vice was one of the country's most popular TV shows. The show featured fast cars, cool guys and hot women, guns and lots of cops and robbers action. The show revolved around the cocaine trade. The death of Len Bias countered the subliminal messaging in the TV program. Len Bias was a giant of an athlete. He could do things on the basketball court that most of us only dream about. Cocaine took Len away in his prime. The message is that cocaine is a very dangerous substance.
We need athletes, entertainers and visible "young" people to speak to American's youth. I believe we underestimate the common sense of our children. Children learn by example. They see their parents smoke, drink and use illicit drugs. They see their friends and cultural heroes do so as well. Our children imitate these heroes and follow what they see. Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwartzenegger, President Bill Clinton, many female celebrities -- even Michael Jordan -- have been shown smoking cigars. Statistics now show cigar sales have risen dramatically. Look at what goes on in Hollywood. I have not seen a movie lately that did not subliminally or directly emphasize smoking. In each of the movies, the character's part could have been played without the use of tobacco products. Hollywood is fascinated with smoking -- they always have been. We control sex and nudity in television and movies, yet we accept violence, tobacco addiction and the irresponsible consumption of alcohol. Why do we allow our world to be this way? It is, after all, a government of the people.
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