Let’s take a look at the war on drugs today.
Eight of the forty one people booked into the Washington County, UT jail in the last 48 hours were there for drug related charges – mostly paraphernalia (not even the actual drugs).
In Atlanta, 3 police officers were sentenced to jail for lying to get a warrant for a no knock raid, killing the occupant when she fought back against the mystery intruders, and then covering up that she had nothing to do with drugs by stashing seized drugs in her apartment.
American citizens sued a Swiss bank to keep their names private from the US Government. They have to bank abroad for privacy since the US no longer has private banking, because of laws done in support of the “war on drugs” but that are unfortunately used as well in the “war on the productive”.
Police now dress like this not this. Courtesy the war on drugs.
The Supreme Court is finally hearing a case on abuses of property seizures done in support of the “war on drugs”. Alverez v Smith debates whether police can seize property they believe involved in a drug-related crime and hold on to it for 187 days without any court test of the validity of their claim. These seizures are used by police to feather their budgets and motor pools.
All in all, I’d say it is time for us to stop fighting the “war on drugs” and start fighting against the “war on us” caused by the war on drugs.
Caveat: I’ve never used drugs, never will, but if you aren’t related to me, I don’t care if you do.