perfidy

It has been commonly observed that there are many parallels between Prohibition and the War on Drugs. The lack of any real effect in terms of decreasing alcohol or drug use, or even effecting prices; vast increases in organized crime activity; erosion of civil liberties; increases in government police powers; etc, etc. These problems are well known and not really contested by anyone. Those who are for the war on drugs largely use the same script as the prohibitionists - drugs (alcohol) are destroying our youth, drugs (alcohol) are contributing to the immorality of women, and so on. They argue that the costs to society of not banning these drugs is higher than the costs of fighting them.

But who actually, really benefits from the drug war? Arguably, through our efforts, we have saved children from addiction. Or convinced some who might have used drugs and damaged their lives to take a different course. Those who feel the need to take a moral stand on other people's behavior feel a righteous and warming satisfaction.

But there are two groups who clearly and greatly benefit from the drug war. Drug dealers and federal law enforcement agencies.

If drugs were legalized, the vast drug cartels would be out of business in weeks. Just as the rumrunners and bootleggers had their legs cut out from under them after prohibition was repealed. There is no way that drug dealers could compete with walmart in distribution. Drug dealers are selected for willingness to commit crime or violence, not business or logistical acumen. They have a great deal at stake in keeping drugs illegal.

Federal agencies tasked with prosecuting the drug war also have much at stake. It means budget, personnel and bureaucratic turf. Those who make the most busts get bigger budgets. Possibly even more enforcement power, as was the case with the RICO statutes and civil forfeiture. (And civil foreiture allows agencies to keep some of the money or property that they seize.)

The people who are hurt by taking drugs do so largely out of their own decisions. Much like alcoholics. For them, there should be education and treatment programs like there are for alcoholics. Those who are hurt by the crime that surrounds the drug trade are not - they are hurt by the direct results of government policy. Every innocent bystander killed in drug related violence is the victim of government decisions. And that goes far beyond merely pragmatic arguments for ending the drug war.