Draft:America's War On Drugs

America’s War On Drugs

The government’s opinion on drugs has almost always been harsh, but the opinion on drugs the government hands out to its citizens isn't entirely true. In fact it can be seen as a harsh lie to some to hold its citizens away from mind altering substances. Many would question if the government is lying which is and could be a strong possibility. Though the main question is why would the government feel the need to lie; is it a control factor, a protection deal for their citizens. They don't exactly say, do they? But in order for there to be control over something or someone, people need to be given reasons. There are biased reasons for everything, the government is full of very biased people. Opinions decide everything, not facts. In order to make liable safe decisions facts are what needs to be seen. The American Drug War has been the cause of death for millions, unfortunately that shows the invectiveness of the government's war against various substances. Why And What Started America's Drug War

America’s infamous Drug War started in 1971; when U.S. President Richard Nixion stated that the abuse of drugs was to be ‘Public enemy number one’. He began to increase federal funding to control the output and production of drugs. There was also an increase of enforcement and penalties became more severe for drug offenders. There was an increased curb of recreational drug users in the 1960s which is believed to have turned President Nixon to try to reverse that curb. People may argue that America’s Drug War started in the 1970s due to the fact many deemed ‘anti’ drug bills were produced since the 1930s. The bills started out as a taxation on substances in particular like Marijuana, though they became more harsh as the 20th century went on.

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was the first bill or act made by the United States Government that had any concern with the output and control on drugs. The bill attempted to presume that Marijuana was not a danger and or threat to anyone; though they increased the tax on buying Marijuana, Cannabis, or Hemp (plants containing tetrahydrocannabinol). The Act was introduced by Rep. Robert L Doughton. The act did not criminalize the possession of Marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) producing plants, though it criminalized not paying the federal taxes on the plants that this bill enacted. You could be caught with a hefty fine of up to 2,000$ and or 5 years in prison. Marijuana was considered a ‘gateway’ drug for Heroin, and Marjiuanas popularity with hispanic immigrants made it an easy target for the United States Government.

Eisenhower And The Boggs Act

The Boggs Act of 1951 amended the Narcotic Drugs Import And Export Act. The Boggs Act made sentences mandatory for drug possessors. Possessors of Marijana would get mandatory sentences up to 2 years and penalties of up to 20,000 dollars. The Boggs Act was a stepping stone for the U.S. President Eisenhower, who was the first official president to make a call to war on drugs. President Eisenhower established the U.S. Interdepartmental Committee on Narcotics which was his call to war on the recreational use of drugs.

The 1969 Borderline Case

The government lawmakers have officially stated and blamed the Hispanics. Marijuana has been officially listed as a “Mexican slang term’. So The Nixon Administration looked for different ways to stop Mexico's import of Marijuana, which got the advice from radical nativists who were stating the government should close the border. This caused strict and tight searches on different people who make it through the border to force Mexico to figure out and crack down on its Marijuana issue. Nixon Vs. Drugs ‘Number One Enemy’

Nixon was the official start to the drug war, using the war as a pin on immigrants was just a leverage. Though the blame helped create a cycle of hate and discrimination dragging a minority down to fight a war. Nixon targeted the Psychedelic tendencies that drugs produced and began to push drug addicts (especially those addicted to Heroin) to seek treatment. Medical

Though people knew certain drugs and the way they are used could and would be beneficial. People decided to enact medical laws. People with mental or physical health issues, including autism, cancer, ADHD, chronic headaches, etc. could get a medical card which would give them legal access to substances particularly involving Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Is America’s War On Drugs Making The Situation Worse America’s War On Drugs has brought negative effects on our country including a decline in our economy, a surprising increase in the amount of drug abusers in the United States, and drug related violence. America’s War On Drugs has had a significant effect on the amount of overdose deaths occurring, increasing it to an extreme amount. Hospitals in some states can perform involuntary drug tests on patients, which would cause hospitals to lose the trust of their community and make those who are overdosing or have past drugs that have an existing part in the blood stream for over a 2 week period time (Marijuana users may have this issue) fear seeking medical care or attention. Which is a harsh truth and reality to the deaths occurring. Patients fear that HIPPA may be violated and they could suffer jail time for the recreational use of drugs. Which shows the government can install fear in its people, it installs a fear so they have control over people.