WHO'S THE ENEMY IN THE WAR ON DRUGS?

In recent news, that champion of rectitude Rush Limbaugh allegedly returned
from a drug-rehab program and a young man in Corpus Christi was shot and
killed in an incident begun when police officers said that they smelled
marijuana coming from the victim's car.

Added to that news was the federal government's refusal to tolerate
California's new law permitting the medicinal use of marijuana.

And around the globe American special operations people are aligned with
unpopular regimes ostensibly fighting the left-wing insurgents who are
using drug profits to further their aim of revolution. From Columbia to
Afghanis-tan, the war against drugs is played out year after year, ad nauseam.

Here at home, local officials and newscasters eagerly report every
mega-million-dollar seizure of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy found hidden
in vehicles attempting to pass through this area.

Apparently, "just say no" isn't working. At the same time that the drug war
consumes billions of dollars and we continue to stress enforcement and
punishment rather than rehabilitation, we are bombarded by pro-drug
messages that seem to sponsor every popular televisions show.

Awash In Drug Messages

We are told that anxiety can be helped by taking a drug; just call your
doctor. Constipated? Take a drug. Incontinent? Take a drug. Baldness can be
stopped and reversed by taking a drug; call your doctor. Impotent? Take a
drug and see your doctor. Tired? Take a drug. Arthritic pain? Take a drug,
but be sure to call your doctor first. Can't sleep? Take a drug. Sleep to
much? Take a drug, but don't forget that important call. Too fat? Too thin?
Too active? Too lethargic? Is there any problem that those good folks at
our drug companies haven't been able to help us with?

And of course, the most damaging drug of all, the one that kills far more
than any of the illicit drugs aforementioned, is perfectly legal. It is so
heavily promoted that one begins to feel left out of all that is fun by
refusing to use alcohol.

Our rate of alcoholism is on a par with Russia and some statisticians claim
that we are essentially a nation of alcoholics. Yet, alcohol, even in the
form of beer, is culturally accepted. Non-alcoholic drug users are
sometimes ridiculed by their peers. It's an "in" thing to be wasted at times.

This societal confusion, which distinguishes between good drugs and bad
drugs, has overloaded our prison system. Nearly a third of federal
prisoners are incarcerated on drug charges; some for only possession. None
that I know of have been jailed for possessing Budweiser, Tecate, or merlot.

The message being delivered to our young people is so confusing that no
wonder the result is ineffectiveness. It's OK for adults to use their
"good" drugs, either for health or recreation, but it is bad for certain
drugs to be used on the street or in the board room.

Good old Rush had absolutely no use for those who sought the
de-criminalization of certain drugs, but at the same time was apparently an
addict to pain killers in such volume that his purchases cost nearly
$10,000 at a time. What was that adage about glass houses? Will Limbaugh
now join forces with those who argue for a sensible drug policy and an end
to a war guaranteed to be as successful as prohibition? Or will he continue
his position as master hypocrite?

A Phony, Immensely Costly War

The war on drugs is a phony and it has always been that. Unfortunately it
has consumed so many people and so much in national resources that it
continues to be waged no matter what the consequence. Like Iraq, it is
difficult if not impossible to admit we are wrong and stop a course of
action that produces not victory but continuing misery.

A colleague once asked if I thought America would ever grow up and join the
family of mature Western nations. So far, there's little evidence to
suggest that it is occurring.