The new National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH… one of my favorite acronyms… I like to call it “No Shit, DUH!) from the Subtance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA… sounds like a drunk calling for “Samantha”) for 2007 is now online. I wonder why it was released without much fanfare during the landfall of a hurricane and the beginning of the Republican National Convention? Surely the drug warriors would prefer the news of their incredible successes not get buried beneath so many other headlines, right?
Let’s see what major accomplishments have been acheived by the latest Drug Czar, John Walters, in the five years he has been on the job (2002 vs. 2007)
In 2002, of the population aged 12 and over, there were 19.5 million users of “any illicit drug” in the past month. In 2007, the figure is 19.9 million.
In 2002, in that same demographic, there were 14.5 million marijuana users in the past month. In 2007, the figure is 14.4 million.
So what would that headline be? Drug Czar reduces monthly pot smokers by 100,000, but hard drug users increase by 400,000.
In 2002, of people 12 and over, there were 92 million who have ever used marijuana in their lifetime. In 2007, the number has topped 100 million for the first time.
In 2002, 614,000 people were arrested for possession-only marijuana crimes. In 2007, 739,000 were arrested.
Headline: Marijuana users top 100 million for first time, despite 20% increase in arrests.
In 2002, for kids 12 to 17, the percentage of those who perceived a “great risk” of smoking marijuana “once or twice a week” was 51.5%, for heroin it was 58.5%, and for LSD it was 76.2%
In 2007, the marijuana number increased to 54.7%, but the heroin number dropped to 57% and the LSD number dropped to 74.2%
Headline: More kids see risk in frequent pot smoking, but less risk in frequent heroin and acid use.
Now remember, the reason Walters tells us we have to arrest people for smoking weed is because of the children. Won’t you think of the children? What kind of message do you want to send to the children? Only by keeping marijuana illegal and arresting its users can we get the message through to the kids that marijuana’s use is unhealthy and harmful.
In 2002, 15.2 million teens aged 12 to 17 used tobacco products. In 2007, the number has dropped to 12.4 million.
Headline: Teen tobacco use drops 18% while adult tobacco arrests remain steady at ZERO.
John Walters, as Drug Czar for the past five years, has spent $12.6 billion taxpayer dollars and made 3,396,180 arrests for marijuana possession, and yet marijuana use remains steady. Tobacco has been legal the whole time and through education and regulation, its use has plummeted.
Headline: Drug Czar John Walters is a colossal failure.
Little more than 200 yrs ago i believe 55 men and 13 colonies stated that “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
We are allowed the persuit of happiness if someone does something illegal and hurts others while they are persuing then they should be put away for the crime the original persuit, “Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government”, the government arresting over 700000 ppl for personal use possesion to me seems that someone is taking ppls freedom for their right to persue what they feel will give them happiness. If the ppl speak the government should listen if they dont our fore fathers were sure to put an escape clause, although i dont suggest all out rebellion yet, next time we go to vote it is time to make sure our voices are heard and get rid of the mighty idiots that think once elected they are there for life!!! ( One last comment be sure to know your rights don’t let them find you and give you a felony conviction because besides being a negative on your background check they also take your voice at the ballot boxes, Hmmm if we lock up all the pot heads then they cant vote against us? just a thought)
It’s funny watching the government try to control something they can’t, but scary when you think they don’t really care if they control it.
They don’t care because it is a $12.6 billion (your number) industry. You know how many drug enforcement officials and politicians salaries that money pays for – a lot. This is the real reason why they don’t want to legalize it.