THE HIGH COST OF THE DRUG WAR

As Quoted from 2008 News Clippings in the MAP DrugNews Archive

While the U.S. deficit approaches $1 trillion, many states and local
communities also face major budgetary shortfalls. Yet, despite the
economic crisis, your tax dollars continue to fund drug war costs like these:

$40 billion for the drug war. "Despite a $40 billion-a-year 'war on
drugs' and political speeches about a 'drug-free society,' our
society is swimming in drugs: cigarettes, sugar, alcohol, marijuana,
Prozac, Ritalin, Viagra, steroids and caffeine."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n913/a03.html

$700 million to build prisons in just one state; $100 Million per
year to run them. "[The state prison in Scotland County, North
Carolina] is one of six that state lawmakers have approved since 2001
to address a dire need for prison space, and they are already being
expanded. When complete, the construction and expansions at all six
facilities will have cost more than $700 million and operating costs
will top $100 million annually."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n702/a11.html

$400 million more to Mexico. "This past June [2008], Bush struck a
deal with Calderon to approve $400 million toward additional drug war
assistance (representing a 20% increase in the Mexican anti-narcotics
budget) -- for still more helicopters, military training, ion
scanners, canine units, and surveillance technology."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n940/a04.html

$225 million for regional anti-drug efforts. "It [High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area program] is one of 28 similar efforts
nationwide, with the federal government spending about $225 million
annually to coordinate federal, state and local law-enforcement
campaigns." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1082/a02.html

$702,969 to prosecute drug offenses in just one U.S. county. "Lake
County [Illinois] will spend $702,969 prosecuting drug offenses this
year . Except for an estimated $30,000 in revenue from asset
forfeitures, county taxpayers absorb the difference."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n793/a06.html

$178,290 for drug testing in just one school district. "A $178,290
drug prevention grant means 5,900 drug tests for the Victoria [Texas]
school district." http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n712/a01.html

$615,000 for all kinds of things. "[Sheriff] Smith Used $615,000 in
Federal [forfeiture] funds for Tuition, a Lease, Private Lawyer and
More .. $14,400 on employee training and associated travel . a
28-foot boat . $100,000 for a scholarship at Georgia State University
. About $9,000 to help a boxing club owner pay her lease . $4,000 in
retainer fees for Brunswick lawyer."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n654/a13.html

$60,000 for just one police force to buy drugs. "Estimating
controlled drug buys for the average local case run his task force
$200, Centeno figured his officers spend at least $60,000 a year just
to purchase the drugs they need to seal the average of 300 cases."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n526/a01.html

What if, instead of spending such shameful sums, we instead taxed and
regulated illicit substances?

"By legalising drugs we can apply the same controls to their
production, distribution and consumption as we apply to alcohol and
tobacco. And there's a triple bonus to society: spending on crime
prevention will plunge, not just on drug-related policing but on all
the criminality arising from the activities of drug-financed gangs;
crime levels overall will plunge; and the government becomes a net
recipient of monies from drug consumption rather than a net spender
via law enforcement. Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that
the United States spends $44 billion a year fighting the war on
drugs. If they were legal, the U.S. government would realise about
$33 billion a year in tax revenue - a net swing of $77 billion."
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n388/a07.html

If you think that your tax dollars can be better spent, then you know
it's time to change drug policy.

Here's what you can do to end our failed and expensive War on Drugs:

A. Join DrugSense or other local, state, or federal groups working
on drug policy reform here and around the world. Our Drug Policy
Central provides web services to more than 120 drug policy focused
organizations. Check out
http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/hosting/clients.htm for a group in your area.

B. DONATE. We're able to get the word out about the incredible
harms of the drug war and alternatives to prohibition because people
like you DONATE. It's quick, easy, and secure. Just visit
http://www.drugsense.org/donate/

Help us uncover more government drug war waste.

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